Job Description

Your Opportunity:
Embark on a career that combines your passion for nursing with the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of individuals facing complex mental health challenges. The Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre (SAFPC) has an opportunity for a highly skilled, empathic, and driven Assistant Head Nurse (AHN) to work in our facility. SAFPC is a designated mental health facility that provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary court-ordered assessments, temporary treatment and stabilization for individuals who have decompensated while in custody, and treatment and rehabilitation for those found Not Criminally Responsible due to Mental Disorder (NCR-MD) or unfit to stand trial. Reporting to the Patient Care Manager, the AHN key responsibilities include supporting triage of referrals, adequate staffing, and day-to-day workload flow/assignments. The AHN is a key clinical in-scope leadership position providing direction and guidance to multi-disciplinary clinical staff, patients and their families. The AHN will possess advanced skill, knowledge, and experience in Addiction and Mental Health nursing, with an ability to educate and mentor staff. The AHN will be expected to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team and be involved in quality improvement and program development, planning implementation and evaluation to ensure the delivery of quality care to patients and families. The AHN will communicate any appropriate clinical concerns and/or staffing issues to the most appropriate management team. This position has transitioned to Recovery Alberta effective September 1, 2024. By applying on this posting, if you are the successful candidate, you agree to and will become an employee of Recovery Alberta.
Description:
As an Assistant Head Nurse, you will be responsible for staff assignments, patient flow and acting as a role model, clinical resource and advocate for nursing staff. In addition to providing frontline nursing care, as required, you will take a leadership role in the promotion of quality patient care and the implementation of operational priorities. Your in-depth knowledge and skills, advanced judgment and clinical experience, will assist in providing solutions for complex health care issues at all levels with patients, interprofessional teams, administrators and policy makers. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality patient and family centered care while reflecting the shared vision and values of AHS.

Transition Company:

Recovery Alberta

Classification:

Assistant Head Nurse

Union:

United Nurses of Alberta

Unit and Program:

Southern Alberta Forensic Psychiatry Centre

Primary Location:

Southern AB Forensic Psych Cen

Location Details:

As Per Location

Multi-Site:

At (UNA only)

FTE:

1.00

Posting End Date:

17-NOV-2025

Temporary Employee Class:

Temp F/T Benefits

Date Available:

27-NOV-2025

Temporary End Date:

27-MAY-2026

Hours per Shift:

7.75

Length of Shift in weeks:

4

Shifts per cycle:

19

Shift Pattern:

Days, Evenings

Days Off:

Other

Minimum Salary:

$44.71

Maximum Salary:

$61.18

Vehicle Requirement:

Not Applicable

Required Qualifications:

Completion of an accredited nursing education program. Active or eligible for registration and practice permit with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA). Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP).

Additional Required Qualifications:

Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to effectively manage the workings of a fast-paced service in a flexible manner. Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a complex service delivery system with an interdisciplinary team that includes a staff mix of professional. Ability to establish priorities and flexibility to adjust those as needed by the service demands. Knowledge and experience related to mandated court ordered assessments, emergency admissions, temporary absences, Criminal Code Review Board (CCRB) dispositions, Not Criminally Responsible (NCR-MD) population, and unfit to stand trial. Working knowledge of the DSM-V. Within the last eight years, minimum of 5 years with an FTE: clinical experience in Forensic/Correctional/Acute Inpatient Mental Health setting. Charge nurse/leadership roles (days/evenings) for a mental health inpatient unit. Previous experience with various treatment modalities in mental health.

Preferred Qualifications:

Within the last 5 years, 1-3 years proven skills and experience in psychiatric assessment, medical assessment and crisis intervention. Familiarity of the expectations of medical capabilities within mental health and be able to provide treatment as directed, assess potential difficulties, and respond to medical emergencies. Recent forensic/corrections experience. Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) certification. Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). Understanding of Change Management.