Human Rights Consultant

One of Unity Health Toronto’s core values is inclusivity.  Driven by this value and our legacy of caring for persons experiencing disadvantage in our community, Unity Health Toronto is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all of our employees and patients.  Key to fulfillment of our strategic objective related to anti-racism, equity and social accountability will be the organization’s proactive approach to fulfilling its human rights obligations and ensuring the very best human rights practices pertaining to education, consulting, workplace practices, complaint support and issues resolution. 

Through their specialized skills and expertise in handling discrimination and harassment issues (both Code based and OHSA based), including sexual harassment/violence, accessibility and accommodation, the Human Rights Consultant will contribute to the advancement of Unity Health Toronto’s priorities of anti-racism, equity and social accountability.

Unity Health Toronto particularly welcomes applications from candidates who identify as BIPOC who would bring the value of their own lived experiences to the performance of this role. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports the development of an organizational strategy to proactively reduce the likelihood of human rights complaints and issues through system auditing, providing specialized consulting and developing and building organizational competence
• Recommends and/or implements plans, policy, and programs and reviews/monitors Unity Health Toronto’s compliance with relevant human rights legislation
• Provides consultation and advice to organizational leaders on organizational policies and matters pertaining to Human Rights, workplace violence and accessibility
• Participates in fulfilling the educational mandates of Unity Health Toronto pertaining to Human Rights - by designed developing and implementing workshops and specialized training designed to raise awareness about issues such as harassment, discrimination, accommodation, accessibility and other issues
• Partners actively with the Director, Anti-racism, Equity and Social Accountability to support the shared objectives of the Equity portfolio and the responsibilities of the Human Resources Department in fulfilling human rights obligations and building a welcoming and inclusive work environment.
• Partners with the Patient Experience team to help to bring a human rights lens to support health equity planning and programming to support access and quality of service to the patients of Unity Health Toronto
• Contributes to the development of a supportive human rights reporting system that provides trauma-informed guidance to workplace parties who wish to bring forward human rights concerns and complaints
• Performs intake, investigation and resolution support for the organization’s most complex human rights complaints and provides expert consultation and mediation services within a conflict resolution framework
• Works in close collaboration with colleagues in Human Resources Services and organizational leaders to ensure a consistent approach to the intake and handling of human rights concerns/complaints and investigations
• Conducts efficient and fair investigations, balancing the rights of all parties
• Provides coordination support to external investigators that may be retained to conduct Human Rights investigations under Unity Health Toronto’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment
• Tracks, monitors and prepares reports for the organization pertaining to human rights themes and opportunities utilizing the organization safety events reporting system or internal systems of tracking developed to support this function
• Leads and/or assists with the coordination, preparation and/or dissemination of various Human Rights publications and other communication vehicles
• Acts as a lead in promoting respectful workplace behaviours and expectations through partnership with Leadership and Organizational Development in the development and implementation of a Civility in the Workplace framework and educational program for leaders and staff
• Works collaboratively with the Talent Acquisition and broader Human Resources team in the ongoing review of human resources practices and policies to ensure compliance with the Human Rights Code as well as to identify opportunities to institute equity-based best practices
• Reviews and analyzes existing Unity Health-wide policies, recommending and/or drafting revisions

QUALIFICATIONS

• Completion of a recognized Bachelor’s degree program in a related area of study required
• Formal Human Resources and/or Diversity Equity and Inclusion education/certification strongly preferred
• At least three (3) years of experience providing expert consultation and leading complex policy and project initiatives in the area(s) of diversity, employment equity, accessibility management, and/or human rights in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Occupational Health & Safety Act and other relevant legislation
• An accomplished track record in dispute mediation, conflict resolution, investigations and human rights, with demonstrated experience in facilitating the resolution of complex complaints/conflicts between individuals or groups
• Sensitivity to and awareness of Indigenous, gender, and disability-related issues and their intersection(s) with other identities including race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status, etc.
• Highly skilled in building personal and professional relationships that result in collaborative partnerships and mutually beneficial results
• Effective communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills with a keen ability to engage with various stakeholders and members of the healthcare community, and build rapport with staff, student, and physician groups

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