Job Description

CLASSIFICATION:

Program Specialist, Long-Term Care; Non-Contract

STATUS:

Regular Full Time

POSTING:

004N25

WORK AREA:

Vancouver

HOURS:

75 hours biweekly (1.0 FTE)

08:00-16:00; Monday-Friday

SALARY:

$70,000-$100,005

SUMMARY OF ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Providence Living is a non-profit Catholic-sponsored health care organization focused on long-term care, assisted living, housing, and other community services to support residents and their family members. We are committed to re-imagining the resident experience and to creating communities and fostering a culture where residents are empowered to make decisions that affect their quality of life.



Reporting to the Executive Director, Quality, Practice & Program Development, Seniors Care, the Program Specialist, Long-Term Care informs the program and operations direction and is responsible for providing leadership and expert advice and guidance in the area of long-term care, including resource planning, research, and professional development. As an expert advanced practitioner, the position receives direction from the Executive Director, Quality, Practice & Program Development, Seniors Care, works within established Professional Practice best practice parameters on professional matters, and collaborates and works with Clinical Group/Service Leaders/Directors, Clinicians, Educators, Nurses, other and other health care professionals to achieve excellence, improve and advance practice and patient/resident outcomes in the area of dementia care initiatives throughout Providence Living. Leads in the planning, development, and implementation of clinical policies and programs designed for improving the quality of adult/older adult services. Responsible for specialty specific standards of practice, remains current with literature on long-term care practices, and promotes the advancement of a research and theory based autonomous practice for long-term care services. Assumes a leadership role in advancing the practice of long-term care services through education, communication, research, and support for quality and utilization initiatives. Facilitates services across the continuum of care, collaborating with acute and residential care partners to ensure consistency of quality services. Provides leadership and expert consultation to Clinicians, Educators, staff, patients/clients and families/significant others.


All staff have a part to play in preventing adverse events and in promoting safety for resident and staff by being aware of and adhering to all policies and procedures including promptly reporting any risks or safety concerns relating to resident or staff safety.


Services at Providence Living are guided by our Mission, Vision, Values, and Ethical Framework. All employees are expected to demonstrate respect for the safety and dignity of all residents, staff and volunteers. Every employee makes a vital contribution to our Mission of providing care with compassion, by exemplifying our core values of respect, excellence and compassion in their work and demonstrating Indigenous Cultural Safety, cultural humility and anti-racism principles.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Exemplifies and promotes excellence in dementia care practice by providing advanced level expertise and clinical support and advice to the multi-disciplinary health care team.

Utilizes practice opportunities to ensure expert care to patients/residents or groups of patients, to evaluate dementia care practice, and to provide clinical learning activities for staff.

Provides input and collaborates with other health care disciplines within Providence Living and the community to develop and (with Executive Director, Quality, Practice & Program Development, Seniors Care approval) implement, evaluate care standards, clinical practice guidelines and other processes that help to inform Providence Living long-term care practice services and support excellence in service delivery consistent with provincial and national guidelines.

Influences practice in the field of dementia care by participating in patient/resident care advocacy issues directed toward improving practice, coordinating services, and the quality of patient/resident care. Participates in provincial/national groups related to long-term care.

Develops and (with Executive Director, Quality, Practice & Program Development, Seniors Care approval) implements, evaluates integrated systems and processes to promote the development of competent staff, support professional and clinical practice and decision-making and enhance collaborative working relationships across the continuum of care.

Provides consultation and advice/guidance to nurses and other members of the interdisciplinary team on planning, implementing and evaluating services within the continuum of long-term care.

Ensures support for people with dementia and their families across a continuum of care and services. Coordinates the evaluation of patient/resident care outcomes. Works with staff to identify patients/residents at risk, and problem-solves issues.

Works with Educators to promote an atmosphere conducive to learning and to develop, implement and evaluate education strategies for staff and patients/residents that support effective, efficient, best practice long-term services. Collaborates in the development of clear guidelines, performance standards and effective processes to assess competencies of staff and students and to facilitate continuing professional development of long-term care in compliance with professional standards and codes of ethics.

Identifies research topics, supports research amongst the interdisciplinary team, and administers research projects to promote clinical knowledge development and research-based clinical practice. Critiques current research findings related to dementia care. Makes presentations on research findings as required and disseminates approved research findings encouraging staff to incorporate recommended evidence into practice. Collaborates with colleagues in determining the effectiveness in the practice setting.

Participates in relevant committees as required.

Mentors and supervises graduate and undergraduate students, assisting them to develop a thorough understanding and skilled application of advanced nursing practice and related competencies. Provides professional expertise in dementia care to health care professionals, internal and external to the organization, on matters related to practice, including clinical, research and educational activities.

Provides input into budget planning to ensure the budget meets fiscally responsible clinical practice requirements and professional standards.

Provides advice and guidance to appropriate leadership for essential services designation planning as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training and Experience



Masters' degree in a related health care field (with a focus on Gerontology or Dementia) with an undergraduate degree in Nursing. Current practicing registration with the relevant regulatory professional body. Five years of recent, related clinical and leadership experience.

Skills and Abilities


Ability to apply system-wide thinking to develop, implement and evaluate programs that inform management in areas of clinical practice. Ability to perform in-depth holistic patient/family assessments, plan, implement and evaluate care for complex care situations, and guide interdisciplinary team members in care planning. Ability to provide effective consultation for individuals and groups. Ability to conceptualize research questions and collaborate with researchers to conduct research. Ability to role model expert practice. Ability to assist in the development of professional skills for interdisciplinary teams. * Ability to synthesize, present, utilize and implement relevant clinical/research findings into dementia care practice.