Advocate

Do you have a passion for ensuring Albertans receive the best possible health care?  Are you looking for a way to make a difference while using your skills to make a difference in people’s lives?

Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society is currently recruiting for Advocates! The roles and responsibilities for this position are outlined below. We are a non-profit organization based in Alberta that offers free advocacy services for individuals in our province who are struggling with their healthcare needs. We empower individuals to have a voice, and offer guidance, resources, and support to help navigate our challenging healthcare system. 

Please apply using the form at the bottom of our volunteer page: https://openarmsadvocacy.com/volunteer/. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview, but we thank all applicants for their interest in supporting our mission! 

Role and Responsibilities: 

Advocates are the heart and soul of Open Arms. The role of an advocate is to work with clients to achieve their desired goals, which will look different depending on the individual client’s needs. Advocates typically have at least 3 clients at a time, but the workload may vary depending on how many cases the organization receives each month. Advocates are also responsible for providing a written update to the Advocacy Chairs each month, prior to the monthly advocacy meeting.  

Some of the duties of an advocate may include: 

Guiding clients on how to obtain any necessary medical records, information, or documentation. 

Providing resources and programs to clients to meet their goals. 

Attending medical appointments with the client (depending on scheduling; we understand this is a volunteer position!) 

Assisting the client in taking notes, drafting questions, or sending emails to healthcare professionals. 

Facilitating open and respectful communication between clients and their healthcare providers. 

Supporting the client in becoming their own advocate and having a voice. 

Charting all interactions in SharePoint between the advocate, client and healthcare professionals.  

Attending all training sessions and workshops to improve skills as an Advocate.