Job Type: Existing vacancy, Part-Time, Permanent
HOMELESS HEALTH PROGRAM
The Homeless Health Program is a Nurse Practitioner-led initiative that provides essential healthcare services to individuals who are homeless, precariously housed, or transitioning out of homelessness in the Peel Region. We understand the unique challenges faced by those without stable housing, and our goal is to make healthcare accessible, integrated, and responsive.
Our dedicated team includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, and Personal Support Workers, all working together to ensure our patients receive the care they need, where and when they need it. We remove barriers to care for those facing housing instability and poor health.
The program manages 45 medical beds at the Dundas Street Shelter, providing 24/7 care, as well as daytime mobile primary care services at other shelters and drop-ins across the region.
By providing these services, we help hospitals make the best use of their emergency and acute care resources. Patients who no longer need to stay in the hospital but still require medical support can continue their recovery in a shelter bed with healthcare services. We also offer additional support for people in shelters who may need extra medical attention, helping to prevent unnecessary hospital visits.
Our medical services include:
- Care for chronic conditions like diabetes
- Medication management
- Support for substance withdrawal and pain management
- Wound care
- Mental health services and stabilization
- Chiropody (foot care)
- Monitoring and support after hospital stays
This program ensures that structurally vulnerable populations in our community have access to the care they deserve, improving overall health and wellbeing.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides advanced primary care for patients with complex health needs, ensuring culturally safe, trauma-informed, and equitable access to care. Care is delivered both independently and collaboratively with an interprofessional team and community partners, in-clinic and through outreach to meet clients where they are, supporting the health and well-being of newcomers and their families.
The role emphasizes delivering comprehensive, integrated care across a wide spectrum of services, including primary care, mental health and trauma counselling, women’s and children’s health, chronic disease prevention and management, and infectious disease assessment and treatment. The NP will coordinate this care in collaboration with the interprofessional team and community partners to ensure timely, equitable, and culturally safe access for patients. Interpretation services are used as needed to reduce barriers and foster trust
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Conduct comprehensive and focused health assessments, histories, and physical exams across the lifespan.
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests and investigations, ensuring timely follow-up.
- Formulate differential diagnoses and develop evidence-informed care plans in collaboration with clients, interprofessional team members, and partner agencies.
- Provide holistic care through prescribing and managing medications, therapeutic interventions, and follow-up within NP scope of practice (CNO standards, CDSA compliance).
- Manage acute, chronic, and complex conditions, including infectious diseases, chronic disease management, reproductive and obstetrical care, children’s health, and mental health.
- Select appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, health counselling, and health promotion/disease prevention/management strategies.
- Deliver preventive care, immunizations, and culturally safe health promotion tailored to newcomer populations.
- Ensure timely referrals and smooth care transitions with internal programs, settlement agencies, specialty care, and community services.
- Collaborate with other members of the team including mental health counsellors, and community ambassadors to create seamless, wraparound care pathways.
- Advocate with and for clients to address systemic barriers and promote equitable access to services.
- Maintain accurate and timely EMR documentation; participate in audits, reporting, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of policies, protocols, and workflows that support client-centered, culturally responsive care.
- Act as a preceptor for students, provide mentorship, and support interprofessional education.
- Engage in ongoing professional development to maintain clinical competency and equity-focused practice.
- Participate in team meetings, case conferences, and organizational committees as required.
QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
- Hold an undergraduate degree in Nursing (Master of Science in Nursing preferred) and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate.
- Maintain current registration and good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (NP-PHC) and have completed the CNO-approved course in prescribing narcotics and controlled substances.
- Bring a minimum of three to five years of nursing experience, including at least one year in community or primary care.
- Hold active membership with RNAO or NPAO and maintain liability insurance.
- Demonstrated experience providing care to refugees, newcomers, and/or populations facing systemic barriers.
- Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build trust and adapt communication to different literacy levels.
- Applied knowledge of mental health, addictions, harm reduction, and the social determinants of health.
- Proficiency in trauma-informed practices, motivational interviewing, and other evidence-informed treatment modalities.
- Ability to work collaboratively in interprofessional teams and with community partners.
- Proficiency in EMRs, Microsoft applications, and confidence navigating digital tools.
- Hold a valid driver’s license and have access to a vehicle.
- Fluency in South Asian, or African languages, or Spanish is considered a strong asset.
- Satisfactory Police Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening.
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, unless exempt under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Exposure to individuals in crisis or with escalated behaviours.
- Fast-paced environment requiring sound decision-making under pressure.
- Frequent sitting and data entry; occasional standing and light lifting.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY
WellFort is an inclusive and equitable employer. We encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experience of poverty, homelessness, or systemic marginalization.
Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
As a condition of employment, new WellFort staff must be fully vaccinated unless they have received an exemption from vaccination under the Human Rights Code. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination status will be required before the first day of work or, proof of religious or medical exemption, if or where applicable.
Fully vaccinated is defined as having received the completed series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, as recommended by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and having received the final dose at least 14 days before your employment start date.
The candidate will be asked to provide WellFort with proof of full vaccination, prior to their employment start date. Acceptable proof is a Ministry of Health Dose Administration Receipt (or such other proof of vaccination that the Province of Ontario sanctions). This can be obtained through the Provincial portal https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof/ (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof/).
The requirement to be fully vaccinated is subject to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If the candidate is unable to vaccinate for a reason protected by the Code, a request for accommodation can be requested and written proof satisfactory to the organization will be required.
