Job Description
Position: Research Assistant I (Peer Mentor-FCHI)
Compensation Grid Range: $22.28/hour - $27.86/hour, commensurate with demonstrated and documented experience
Job Type: Temporary (Maximum 12 months), Part time (up to 12 hours/week)
Dept. /Health System: Institute for Better Health
Trillium Health Partners - Institute for Better Health
Trillium Health Partners (THP) is the largest community-based hospital network in Canada. Comprised of Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital and the Queensway Health Centre, Trillium Health Partners serves the growing and diverse populations of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities. THP is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto and home of the Institute for Better Health.
If you are passionate about your career, motivated to improve the health of the community, committed to excellence, quality and patient safety consider joining our Better Together team!
The Institute for Better Health (IBH) is a critical component of THP Solutions, the research, innovation and revenue generating division of THP driven to find innovative, evidence-based approaches to solving the most complex health care challenges and building a culture of innovation at all levels across THP with our partners beyond our walls. Learn more about our Institute for Better Health here: Institute for Better Health
The Role
The Peer Mentor role within IBH will work closely with and be trained by the research team within the Family and Child Health Initiative (FCHI) ( https://familyandchildhealth.ca ) to support a research project entitled “
Type 1 Diabetes Exercise and Mentoring – the TEAM Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial”.
Project Description
Adolescents living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face daily challenges related to blood glucose management during a critical stage in their development. These challenges can negatively impact their quality of life and mental health. The diabetes-specific distress and anxiety that accompany these challenges can be overcome by increasing daily physical activity levels. This study aims to use peer mentors to support adolescents living with T1D to increase their physical activity (PA) and improve their mental health. We will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a peer-led, behavioural intervention to standard of care on daily PA and quality of life. The young adult mentor will build internal motivation for behaviour change by fostering autonomy, mastery and a sense of relatedness.
Role Requirements
We seek one
(1) Peer Mentor aged 21 – 30 who live with type 1 diabetes. Candidates require no previous experience, as all training will be provided. The ideal candidate will be driven to learn, grow, and contribute to shared learning.
Core Qualifications And Skills
- Successful completion of High School diploma (Grade 12) or equivalent; lived experience shall be considered as applicable to the job posting
- Must have lived experience with type 1 diabetes
- Must be between the ages of 21 – 30
- Currently sufficiently physically active to have enough experience navigating exercise while living with T1D to mentor others on how to approach exercise (self-reported meeting of physical activity guidelines: at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity weekly for at least 2 years).
- Must have experience with continuous glucose monitors
- Must be comfortable leading a small group of youth
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to handle sensitive situations in a professional manner
- Must be respond promptly to study participants as well as the research team
- Must have ability to multi-task, prioritize, and stay organized with minimal supervision
- Motivation to engage with local communities
Additional Qualifications That Are An Asset To The Role
- Completion of a Bachelor’s degree an asset but not required
- Experience working with a diverse client population (i.e., teen/youth populations) is a strong asset
- Interest in learning more about research processes and contributing to evidence-base
- Lived experience with type 1 diabetes during their adolescence is an asset, but not required
Responsibilities
- Deliver a 12-week behavioural intervention for adolescents living with diabetes, including weekly group sessions and weekly individual communication to support behaviour change – this may be after school or on weekends, depending on the availability of the youth group
- Provides feedback to the research team on how to improve weekly group sessions
- Tracks individual progress of adolescents and reports back to the research team; specifically, adherence and self-reported hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia, and attendance and updates logbook regularly
- Attends 40 hours of training to be a mentor
- Creates connections with participants and along with the weekly group sessions, has weekly check-ins via phone with all participants
- Prepares for all group sessions, runs the sessions, and cleans up after the sessions
- Builds and maintains connections with youth and their families
- Follows study protocols and helps to update protocols as needed
- Prepares study packages/materials
- Provides the research associate with appropriate information to update the database
- Meets with other research associates/peer mentors, study coordinator and study investigators regularly
- Works flexible hours
- Performs other duties as assigned or as required
Please submit the following application components in a single file:
- Cover Letter detailing interest in the role, reason for applying and any relevant experience
- CV
What’s in it for You?
- An opportunity to be part of a team of health research, innovation and improvement leaders in a culture of service and improvement supported by collaboration and partnership
- A team and organization that is genuinely invested in your development and growth
- Many active and ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion activities and committees you can be part of
Building An Anti-Racist, Equitable And Inclusive Team And Why It Is Important To Us – A New Kind Of Health Care For a Healthier Community
When we set out to build our vision and future, we connected with and heard from our community - patients, families, visitors, physicians, staff, and volunteers. Our plan to create a new kind of health care for a healthier community means advancing health across the hospital, the system and the community and is built on an inter-connected system of care organized around patients - inside and outside the hospital. Recognizing this mission could not be realized without also assessing and investing in our internal practices, culture and processes we are building an organization where everyone at THP feels they belong, their voice matters, and contributes to our collective success. We commit to making systemic fairness a reality for all and are working to ensure that the community we serve is reflected at all levels, and in all professions at THP. Diversity is our strength, and we recognize and value teaching and learning we all contribute and benefit from in our environment; our unique lived experiences matter and shape our actions and behaviors. In becoming an antiracist organization, we acknowledge the existence of oppression, racism, bias, and complicity, and we have been working steadily to make changes in the way we work to dismantle these barriers. This includes developing and realizing an action plan to advance racial equity and embed anti-racism accountability across IBH, starting with our anti-Black racism priority initiative.
Important Message for Potential Applicants: If you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code to consider this opportunity.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with our hiring processes. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process for this opportunity and you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please inform our Human Resources Recruiter to request specialized accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equitable participation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.
Internal Candidates who believe they possess the necessary qualifications and experience for this position and who have been in their current position for at least six (6) months are encouraged to apply.
Candidates are selected on the basis of their skill, ability, experience and qualifications.
Where these factors are relatively equal seniority shall govern providing the successful applicant.
Trillium Health Partners’ (THP) is an equal opportunity employer who values the importance of antiracism work and is committed to integrating antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion best practices throughout THP operations, policies and culture. Therefore, we ask that even if you do not see yourself fully reflected in every job requirement listed on this posting, we still encourage you to reach out and apply. Research has shown that candidates from underrepresented groups often only apply when they feel 100% qualified. We encourage all applicants who are members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the Ontario Human Rights Code based on race, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nations, Métis or Inuk/Inuit person to consider this opportunity.
In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and the Ontario Human Rights Code Trillium Health Partners will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment and selection process to applicants with disabilities. If selected to participate in the recruitment and selection process, please inform Human Resources of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.
All personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Trillium Health Partners is identified under the French Language Services Act.
Applicants must be eligible to work in Canada.
As a condition of employment, we require all staff to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, in addition to other vaccinations required by the Public Hospitals Act.
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this position, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
About Us
Trillium Health Partners (THP) is one of the largest community-based acute care facilities in Canada. Comprised of the Credit Valley Hospital, the Mississauga Hospital, the Queensway Health Centre, and the Reactivation Center at Humber. Trillium Health Partners serves the growing and diverse populations of Mississauga, West Toronto and surrounding communities and is a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.
Our Mission:
A New Kind of Health Care for a Healthier Community
Our Values:
Compassion, Excellence, Courage
Our Goals:
Quality, Access, Sustainability
Our Enablers:
People, Education, Innovation, Research
