Job Specification
Position Title:
Psychologist
Job Code:
09382 - Psychologist 2
Purpose of Position :
To provide workplace harassment and violence subject matter expertise from a psychological perspective in support of the Ministry's policies and programs to ensure protection, compliance and enforcement in workplaces across the Province.
To perform WHAPP research, policy and program development and review, and represent the program by participating as an expert in related committees and meetings with internal and external contacts engaged in WHAPP-related work.
To participate directly in specific, sensitive investigations and provide specialized, professional expertise in support of the investigation.
Duties / Responsibilities :
As the sole professional psychologist for the program established to design and deliver the Ministry's role in the Ontario Government's It's Never Okay: An Action Plan to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment (Action Plan) and related Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions, collectively known
as the Workplace Harassment Action Plan Program (WHAPP), the Job requires:
1. Researching and developing the practical program and related operational policy specifics of the Unit's role in the Division's implementation and execution of the WHAPP program to support protection, compliance and enforcement in Ontario businesses and industries.
2. Developing, delivering and evaluating related training content and learning materials and tools for Inspectors, Regional Program Coordinators and management in the field and other operational personnel and management.
3. Spearheading practical support for implementation and operation in the field, including case-specific practical guidance to Inspectors, Regional Program Coordinators and Managers in the field, providing policy and program interpretations (e.g. re scope of their roles, the intent of the Action Plan and its relationship with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S Act) and other legislation such as the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FIPPA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code).
4. Providing ongoing professional, policy and program expertise and direct support during inspections and investigations in the field. Inspectors may be required to take statements about alleged workplace harassment in a poisoned and emotionally-charged workplace atmosphere.
5. Evaluating reports and recommending action. Advising Inspectors and Operations managers about options, risks and next steps. (E.g. referral of matters to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) if there is a possible reprisal situation, appeals to the OLRB that may leave a complainant subject to further workplace or personal risk, since many such infractions happen in private.)
6. Advising Management and legal specialists and providing expertise and opinions to support their action within the scope of the WHAPP. (E.g. providing management with tactical perspective regarding best options for supporting a lone worker who is non-unionised.). Reviewing the evidence and monitoring the environment to assess if there may be other unreported cases in a particular workplace. (E.g. judging whether or not these would be considered and accepted as ''normal'' by employees, or whether they did not report them out of fear and/or ignorance of the law.) Making recommendations for Ministry action, where possible. (E.g. Consciousness-raising campaigns.)
7. Representing the program by participating as an expert in related committees and meetings with internal and external contacts engaged in WHAPP related work.
8. Support of cases of an appeal and/or where prosecution is recommended. Serves as an expert witness in appeals and in court.
9. Support and advice to the field and other Ministry programs regarding psychological matters affecting workplaces.
Management has the right to assign other duties.
Staffing and Licencing :
Current registration with the College of Psychologists of Ontario as a Psychologist in the Province of Ontario.
Knowledge :
The Job requires:
- Knowledge of the science and practices of psychology, including a full range of workplace relevant assessment techniques, to plan, research, develop and advise on prevention, protection, compliance and enforcement policies, programs and performance measures regarding workplace harassment and
violence.
- Remains apprised of trends, developments and advances in workplace harassment and violence and related subjects, and consults with professionals inside the ministry and externally to remain current.
- Knowledge of, and a demonstrated ability to interpret and apply related legislation (occupational health and safety, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, FIPPA, Ontario Human Rights Code), the Ontario Government's Action Plan, related policies and programs, and policy and program evaluation techniques, in order to research, develop and recommend policy and program options, and evaluate and report on policy and program effectiveness.
- Understanding of organizational theory related to relationship dynamics in the workplace in order to anticipate and respond to developments and issues sensitively and effectively.
- Knowledge of due process, confidentiality/privacy issues, workplace harassment and workplace violence issues and trends/developments in other areas to be able to evaluate and respond to emerging issues.
- Knowledge of the Ontario business/industrial community, the occupational health and safety system, and the human rights framework to use as a context for policy and program development and review, as well as individual investigations.
- Knowledge of common office software.
Skills :
The Job requires:
- Oral and written communication skills, listening and documentation skills, to obtain and communicate information and expert interpretations of policies and programs; conduct sensitive interviews; evaluate and report on assessment approaches/findings and next steps options to own Manager and Operations Manager(s) concerned; expressing professional terms, complex findings and ideas in clear language when communicating with laypeople; preparing, delivering and evaluating training and presentations.
- Discretion and due regard for confidentiality regarding the revelation and discussion of sensitive, personal information.
- Persuasiveness to obtain the trust of complainants and employers, co-workers and others involved in WHAPP activities.
- Interpersonal skills to obtain and sustain trust, and maintain and strong working relationships with multi-disciplinary staff and diverse contacts in the business and industrial and professional community.
- Analytical, logic and problem-solving skills to design and execute valid research into policy and program content and develop policy and program content; and conduct sensitive assessments in the field and ensure their validity.
- Identifies opportunities for improvements and works with Ministry staff on their implementation.
- Time management skills, to balance competing demands at the Occupational Health and Safety Branch and in the Regions, especially where complaints are involved.
- Leadership, teamwork and project management skills in order to participate in/lead program activities and committees, projects, etc.
- Ability to use common office software to perform research, gather and analyze data, prepare reports, policy and program materials, education materials and correspondence.
Freedom of Action :
The Job requires:
- Using judgement and discretion to design interviews and investigations; evaluate the findings and recommend action; and follow-up sensitively but assertively.
- Using judgement to design and conduct research and develop practical and effective policy, program and compliance materials to implement, enforce and support legislation and best practices in workplace harassment and violence protection in a wide variety of Ontario workplaces and into recommendations for statutory changes; design and deliver educational and training materials for a wide variety of audiences; and perform periodic reviews to assess their effectiveness and need for change.
- Using discretion and judgement to advise, collaborate, work collegially and negotiate agreement with Inspectors, managers and others in the field, as well as a wide array of contacts at middle and senior levels in the Ministry, with other ministries (and their agencies, boards and commissions), industry,
business, professional associations, labour organisations, etc.
- Work is performed in accordance with Ministry policies, Divisional/Branch priorities and operational plans and the professional standards governing the practice of psychology.
- Unprecedented and/or unusual problems are referred to the Manager for guidance.
- Work is reviewed occasionally for compliance with policies, standards and procedures and for quality and timeliness.