Job Description

This position is part of the Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach and Behavioural Support Services to Long-Term Care (LTC) homesin the Champlain region.The goal is to assess the complex mental health needs and assist in the management of responsive behaviours for older adults living in a variety of LTC homes in order to foster a supportive care environment, optimize 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 care partners in collaboration with The Royal’s Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach services to LTC homes. This includes direct practice, education, coordination, research and ongoing evaluation.

Duties

Direct Practice/Consultation

• Establish positive working relationships with staff of LTC homes.Develop alliances and demonstrate best practice approaches to improve the care of older adult 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 and participate in joint practice partnership with the Geriatric Psychiatrists
• Assist staff and care partners to develop behavioural care strategies/plans and to monitor resident’s responses over time.
• Facilitate transfer of knowledge into practice and enhance staff’s 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 quality of care.
• As a member of the Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach services to LTC, support transitions and communication between LTCH, The Royal’s Geriatric Inpatient service, acute care hospitals, Ontario Health at Home and Specialized Behavioural Support Unit (SBSU) as appropriate.
• Facilitate the coordination of referrals to most appropriate resources on the Geriatric Psychiatry/BSO teams.

Education

• Collaborate with LTC management and staff to identify staff learning needs in regard to Geriatric Psychiatry and behavioural support within the BSO mandate. Design a curriculum in partnership with the Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant (PRC) and implement both formal and informal learning opportunities for all levels of staff (including LTC Leadership, RNs, RPNs, Health Care Aides, Recreation teams, 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 The Royal 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’s Anti-Racism, Discrimination and Harassment-Free Workplace policy.

Qualifications

• Registered Nursing Diploma required. Baccalaureate in Nursing preferred.
• Current unrestricted registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Minimum two (2) years experience in Geriatric mental health nursing.
• Two (2) years current experience as a Registered Nurse in LTC is preferred.
• CNA Certificate in Psychiatry and Mental Health Nursing and/or Geriatric Nursing preferred.
• Computer skills and familiarity with Epic electronic health record (EHR) preferred
• Training in BSO Foundations, P.I.E.C.E.S. TM, U-First!, Gentle Persuasive Approach, and DementiAbility,or willingness to successfully complete training will be required. Coaching certifications preferred.
• 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. Prior experience with clients in LTC and the community preferred.
• Specialized skills in assessment of dementia, delirium and mental health & addictions.Knowledge of best practices in these areas and community resources.
• Excellent clinical reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving, physical assessment skills with the ability to deliver non-pharmacological and pharmacological behavioural management approaches.
• 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.
• Flexibility in working hours to meet the needs of clinic schedules with psychiatrists, LTCH staff, residents and their families.
• Research and Program evaluation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide facilitation, coaching, mentoring and adult education skills.
• Valid G driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for work use is required.

Language Requirements

• English level A- is mandatory in oral expression, oral comprehension, reading comprehension and written expression. Bilingual (French/English) is preferred.