Permanent Part-Time Position: 28 hours per week

Position Expected Start Date: May 7, 2025

Salary: $28.69- $34.44 per hour

LAMP Community Health Centre is a multi-service, community based charitable organization that provides a wide range of programs and services to improve a person's health. LAMP uses a coordinated approach to connect people to medical services and other programs that build personal resources. By providing services that improve physical, emotional, social and economic well-being, people can better control their health and environment.

Job Summary

The Client Advocate provides leadership, assistance and support to individuals and their families working from a social determinants of health framework, with an understanding of anti oppression and anti racism. The work will involve connecting individuals who face barriers to access to resources that will improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. The Client Advocate will assess the individual needs and case manages accordingly by providing clients with internal and external client referrals, systems navigation and advocacy. Reporting to the Manager of Health Promotion & Community Relations, the Client Advocate will work with an interdisciplinary team identifying key partnership contacts to effectively and efficiently serve clients, and practice innovative approaches to service delivery.

Primary Responsibilities

•   Advocates with and for East Mississauga clients as they navigate health and social services, and seek to access resources and supports.

•   Provides resources to East Mississauga Community Health Centre’s staff and clients in assisting to navigate the healthcare, public services and social service system.

•   Participates in case coordination for clients with complex needs in cooperation with other members of the Health Centre’s interdisciplinary team to ensure those from our priority populations have access to information, referrals, follow-up and advocacy.

•   Provides support to client in crisis or urgent need to navigate the complex public service systems by advocating on their behalf (i.e. immigration status, Interim Federal Health Paper, legal aid, CPP Disability, CPP Benefits for seniors, ODSP/OW, housing - eviction and homelessness, basic needs - food and clothing, etc.)

•   Assembles diverse internal and external parties to gain a deeper understanding of client needs, and then develops, assesses and implements creative solutions for effectively meeting those needs.  Thus adding value to the relationship while enhancing services for East Mississauga Community Health Centre.

• Negotiates with external organizations and compassionate drug program including Trillium Drug Benefit to cover expenses such as prescription drugs, lenses, training/transportation fees when not covered by Social Assistance program.

•   Assist clients in completing necessary Government forms (i.e. name/gender designation change, housing, unemployment, CPP, OW/ODSP, Immigration, etc.)

•  Participates in team and staff meetings, chart reviews, case conferences and other meetings and committee work as appropriate to support both service delivery and organizational goals.

•   Provides ongoing consultation to Primary Health Care and Health Promotion staff about resources for non-insured clients.

•   Engages in ongoing conflict resolution and mediation with clients in need of additional support.

•   Works from a social determinants of health framework, takes a client-centered approach, to assist in building client’s own capacity to achieve health and well-being.

•   Establish and maintain relationships and collaborations with community partners, particularly around anti-poverty and marginalization. 

•   Participates in community outreach including workshops, presentations and community events.

•   Maintains and updates the Information and Referral Services resources for East Mississauga Site.

•   Provides mentorship and supervision for placement students and volunteers.

•   Contributes to program planning and evaluation.

•   Completes administrative duties including data entry.

Required Qualifications

•   Undergraduate degree/college diploma in Social Services or a relevant discipline, or an appropriate combination of education and 3 to 5 years’ experience working in a community setting.

•   Experience in peer support and individual advocacy working effectively with culturally, economically, and socially diverse populations.

•   Commitment to high levels of quality service provision through accurate, friendly and excellent client relations.

•   Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to work effectively across all levels of the organization’s diverse workforce.

•   Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to clearly convey information and ideas.

•   Positive attitude, empathetic, flexible and dependable with strong initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team oriented atmosphere.

•   Strong knowledge and understanding of anti-racist and anti-oppressive frameworks.

•   Excellent knowledge in assisting clients with navigating the complex public services systems, community resources, and social support programs in Peel (including harm reduction practices).

•   Build relationships with partner agencies in order to provide the best services to clients.

•   Knowledge in program development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

•   Excellent administrative skills, including keyboarding.

•   Open minded, eager and willing to constantly learn and improve oneself.

•  Knowledge of East Mississauga Community Health Centre, the Peel Region community, and/or a second language that is reflective of the community being served are all preferable assets.

As part of our mandate for inclusivity, reasonable accommodations can be made for all incumbents to perform the described physical functions of the aforementioned job.

LAMP Community Health Centre is dedicated to achieving a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community it serves and encourages applications from equity seeking groups.