Open Arms Patient Advocacy Society requires at least a one to two year commitment depending on the role. The amount of time you give is entirely dependent on your desire to make a difference; this may be a few hours a week, fortnight, or month! However, we expect all volunteers to be able to commit to a minimum of 5-10 hours per month to the Society.

Learn about the volunteer roles we’re looking for below, and apply using the form at the bottom of this page.

CURRENT OPENINGS

Advocate

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.  

Vice Chair

Roles and Responsibilities: The Vice Chair of the Board will work with the Board Chair to support and sustain the work of Open Arms and provide governance leadership and strategic support. This position requires prior experience working with a Board and/or non-profit governance. Some of the key responsibilities include:   

• Supporting the facilitation of board, committee, and other strategy meetings with the Board Chair. 

• Overseeing Society affairs, including the annual budget, auditing and other financial reports, and ensuring all legal and fiduciary responsibilities are met. 

• Assisting with strategic and succession planning, periodically consulting with board members on their roles, and helping board members assess their performance and strategize for the future.  

• Supporting the recruitment of new directors and volunteers. 
• Supervising the affairs of the Board and ensuring policies and procedures are in accordance with the Bylaws and Objectives of the society. 
• Serving as a spokesperson for the Society, promoting our services and representing the organization to media, external groups, healthcare officials, and the community in a positive manner. 

Media Director

Roles and Responsibilities: The Media Director will work in collaboration with the Marketing Chairs, Outreach Director, and the Marketing & Outreach Team to promote the services of the Society through news outlets and other media. The ideal candidate will have experience with news reporting and media, or is willing to be trained to do so. Some of the key responsibilities include:  

• Develop and implement media strategies that will be optimal for Open Arms in collaboration with the Marketing and Outreach Team. 

• Develop and maintain relationships with news outlets across Alberta.  

• Serve as a primary spokesperson for the Society in collaboration with the Board Chair.  

• Work with clients and advocates to bring media attention to their case, if desired. 

• Evaluate media efforts and determine measures of success.  

• Collaborate with the Marketing Committee to produce social media posts, blogs, and newsletters related to Alberta healthcare matters/news on a regular basis. 
• Stay up to date on current healthcare issues and matters surrounding patient care.