Job Description

This position is part of the Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach Services to Long Term Care Homes (LTCH). The goal is to address the complex mental health needs and assist in the management of responsive behaviours for seniors living in a variety of community Long Term Care Homes (LTCH), in order to foster a supportive care environment, optimized qualify of life and prevent unnecessary psychiatric admissions and emergency room visits. It is a change-agent role which provides comprehensive nursing consultation to staff, administrators, residents & their families in collaboration with ROMHC Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach services to Long Term Care Homes. This includes direct practice, education, research and ongoing evaluation.

Duties:

Direct Practice/Consultation

• Establish positive working relationships with staff of LTCH. Develop alliances and negotiate best practice approaches to improve the care of elderly residents with mental health issues, with a particular emphasis on dementia care and related behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
• Provide specialized (Geriatric Psychiatry) nursing interventions appropriate to individual residents including preparation and prioritization of clinics.
• Participate in joint practice partnership with the Geriatric Psychiatrists in assessment of referred elderly residents of LTCH who generally have complex medical, mental health and behavioural issues, assist staff and family members to develop behavioural care strategies/plans and to monitor resident\xe2\x80\x99s responses over time.
• Provide the on-going follow-up and support for the LTCH staff, working with residents who present with complex care issues and their families.
• Facilitate transfer of knowledge into practice and enhance staff\xe2\x80\x99s ability to manage responsive behaviours and care plan interventions through role modeling, coaching, mentoring, non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches.
• Act as consultant to LTCH Management Teams to address systemic problems that impact on quality of care.
• As a member of the Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach services to LTCH provide liaison between LTCH, ROMHC Geriatric In-patient service, acute care hospitals, CCAC and Behavioural Support Unit (BSU).
• Facilitate the coordination and participate in the provision of Electro Convulsive Therapy for clients.

Education

• Collaborate with LTCH management and staff to identify staff learning needs in regard to geriatric psychiatry , behaviour management, set goals, negotiate resources, i.e. extra staff so direct care staff can attend teaching sessions, time lines, and criteria to measure quality improvement in care and resident\xe2\x80\x99s health outcomes. Design a curriculum in partnership with the Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant (PRC) and implement both formal and informal learning opportunities for all levels of staff (Administrators, RNs, RPNs, Health Care Aides, Recreologists, and Housekeepers) with multi-variable evaluation strategies.
• Participate as a member of or resource to the Geriatric Psychiatry Program Education Committee. Assist in staging community conferences, act as facilitator, both at ROMHC and other health care facilities, in order to share knowledge and develop skills in other community care givers.
• Participate in Community Investment Fund Project #7118 education initiatives as requested by PRC.

Research

• Participate in Geriatric Psychiatry Program research team to design research activities to measure impact of outreach service on patients/families, service providers, identify research questions and carry out appropriate research activities in order to validate approaches to patient care and to contribute to geriatric psychiatry nursing clinical knowledge.
• Encourage staff to become more empirical through introduction of research articles related to specific care issues.
• Member of or resource to the Geriatric Psychiatry Program Research Committee. Review potential research protocols and support ongoing research activities.

Program Development

• Participate with Geriatric Psychiatry Program in ongoing development of outreach activities in response to a growing elderly population in order to serve more individuals in the most cost-effective manner in the community. This may include: expanding the multidisciplinary team, forging partnerships with other agencies to share expertise, identify needs, and attain funding for innovative programs.
• Member of or resource to the Geriatric Program Consumer Advisory Committee which is a forum for consumers to respond to established services, identify community concerns, and participate in problem-solving, planning activities.

Continuous Quality Improvement

• With Outreach Team, ensure that measures are in place to capture outreach activities and that level of satisfaction of patients, families, and community care givers is consistently monitored so that interventions can be better tailored to meet needs and expectations.

Miscellaneous

• Work in a manner that is in compliance with staff and patient/client safety practices, policies and procedures of The Royal.
• Ensure a work environment that is conducive to The Royal\xe2\x80\x99s Anti-Racism, Harassment & Discrimination Free policy.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nursing Diploma required. Baccalaureate in Nursing preferred.
• Current unrestricted registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• CNA Certificate in Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing and/or Geriatric Nursing preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years experience in Geriatric mental health nursing.
• Two (2) years current experience as a Registered Nurse in long-term care is preferred.
• Prior experience with clients in Long Term Care and the community.
• Computer skills and experience/familiarity with RAI-MH documentation, including assessments, resident assessment protocols (RAPS) and care planning functions, as well as workload measurement tools.
• Teaching of staff in Long Term Care regarding geriatric psychiatry issues. Training in P.I.E.C.E.S. TM, Gentle Persuasive Approach, U-First! Montessori or willingness to successfully complete training will be required.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm, flexibility, and ability to cope with change.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Long Term Care (LTC) Home Act & regulations, and other legislation that is relevant to the location in which care is provided.
• Specialized skills in assessment of dementia, delirium and mental health & addictions. Knowledge of best practices in these areas and the effect on the resident, families and care providers.
• Excellent clinical reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving, physical assessment skills with the ability to deliver non-pharmacological and pharmacological behavioural management approaches.
• Strong knowledge of community resources for seniors with mental health & addictions issues.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to work in a collaborative, team model, yet show independent practice initiative in organizing and prioritizing work effectively and with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to form collaborative working relationships with LTCH staff and other community partners.
• Flexibility in working hours to meet the needs of clinic schedules with psychiatrists, LTCH staff, residents and their families.
• Gentle Persuasive Approach Certified Coach preferred.
• Research and Program evaluation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide facilitation, coaching, mentoring and adult education skills.
• Automobile for work use is required.
• English level A- is mandatory in oral expression/comprehension, reading comprehension and written expression. Bilingual (French/English) is considered an asset.

The Royal