Job Specification

Purpose :

To develop and implement health care policies, standards, protocols, practices and procedures, and plan, coordinate, direct and evaluate health care programs/services within a small-to-medium size secure facility.

To lead a multidisciplinary team in ensuring a safe environment for both inmates and staff through the effective delivery of medical and nursing programs/services.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Coordinates, directs and evaluates health care programs. Ensures the delivery of efficient, quality health care services including nursing, medical and other related health care services, specialized treatment units, and on site infirmary.

2. Manages pharmacy program, including ordering, reconciling, and distributing, and ensures the maintenance and security of all medications, office equipment and medical treatment supplies.

3. Coordinates various physiological tests (e.g. urinalysis, TB testing, blood tests) and the preparation of referrals for psychiatric, treatment, X-ray, optometrist, laboratory, dental and physiotherapy.

4. Develops, plans and implements the delivery of health services education programs for both inmates and staff.

5. Maintains records and statistics to identify trends and developments that have critical program/service delivery, policy and planning implications and formulates recommendations for mitigation.

6. Provides professional expertise and consultative advice to the Superintendent and other managers involved in operational delivery. Ensures compliance with relevant legislation and professional standards. Establishes critical liaisons with other correctional health care providers to establish and maintain professional linkages and consult regarding contentious issues.

7. Reviews and processes Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for offender medical information and determines information that may be released. Responds to enquiries from the Ombudsman and other sources with respect to offenders on health care matters.

Managerial Responsibilities
1. Delivers a program/service through supervision, planning, and coordinating the daily operations of assigned team.

2. Supports a values-based and inclusive team through technical, administrative, and operational direction to staff. Assigns and coordinates work, evaluates performance, identifies staff training needs and escalates employee relations matters.

3. Controls and monitors allocated operation budget for the unit/program and regularly provides assurance reports on financial activities.

4. Provides quality client service to stakeholders.

Qualifications :

Registration as a Nurse in Ontario.

Factors :

Knowledge :

Ministry program and operational objectives, policies and service delivery models, to supervise a team in a ministry program, service or initiative area, to identify and recommend program resource requirements and to ensure adherence with program/service goals and objectives.

Human resources practices, policies and collective agreements in relation to recruitment, training and development, and employee relations; to complete performance agreements, mentor employees, monitor performance, address employee issues and to promote an inclusive and engaged employee team.

Government and ministry financial and administrative procedures, in order to reconcile and report on allocated fiscal, material resources and annual budgets.

Basic project management principles and methodologies in order to meet the operational program deliverables.

Correctional philosophies, policies and procedures relating to health care services in a secure correctional facility in order to work within a multidisciplinary team environment and understand the roles and responsibilities of other professionals and operational staff in order to coordinate nursing services/programs.

Applicable legislation and regulations, and professional standards, guidelines and practice expectations to ensure compliance of health care programs/services.

Computers and related software, including specialized software programs for health care services, in order to track activities and patients, medical procedures performed, and compile data to monitor service delivery.

Program Responsibility :

Responsible for providing day-to-day administration of health care programs and services within a small-to-medium size secure facility and ensuring the quality of care provided inmates.

Responsible for maintaining quality of healthcare services by monitoring trends and developments that have critical program/service delivery, policy and planning implications, and formulates recommendations for improvement.

Responsible for ensuring adherence to relevant legislation, policies and procedures, as well as for advising on continuity of health care operations, and the development of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP).

Analytical Thinking :

Determines what offender medical information can be released for FOI requests.

Identifies trends and developments that have critical program/service delivery, policy and planning implications and develops recommendations.

Assesses risks, diagnoses medical problems/symptoms and makes sound determinations surrounding continued health care and special services needs such as transfer to local hospital for further treatment.

Identifies opportunities for and recommends improvements to processes, procedures and practices to maximize service delivery.

Planning / Coordinating :

Plans and administers the program operations; estimates and recommends financial, material and human resources needs, coordinates operations with other areas of the branch and division, develops work plans to meet program objectives, and provides input to divisional results based and strategic planning processes.

Plans, develops, implements, coordinates and oversees the overall provision of in-service education and health service programs and coordinates physical, human, fiscal and material resources in the provision of effective medical, treatment and psychiatric services.

Plans, organizes, and directs the effective day-to-day delivery of all nursing and medical services as well as human resources management for effective use of health care resources.

Leadership/Guidance :

Responsible for the daily operations of its assigned work unit for the delivery of product, programs and/or services.

Supervises and coordinates work by setting and communicating standards and priorities, scheduling, assigning, and reviewing work, monitoring progress, evaluating work performance, coaching and training staff, and identifying and escalating performance issues.

Participates in recruitment, identifying staff development and training needs, communicates job expectations and values, develops individual and team competencies, prepares learning and development plans and makes recommendations on employee relations matters.

Independence of Action :

Reports to a manager and works within established processes and frameworks in order to deliver day to day program/service and unit objectives.

Participates as a member of the branch management team by providing input and technical expertise on identified and emerging program issues, trends and matters including strategic planning and matters affecting program directions.

Decisions are made with respect to unit/functional work, program/activities and seeks guidance in non-routine or contentious circumstances.

Accountability for the management and oversight of nursing and health care staff in a small-to-medium size secure facility is exercised under the broad direction of the Deputy Superintendent and within the operational guidelines which guide day-to-day decisions in the maintenance and evaluation of procedures and methods for health care service delivery and the delivery of education and health service programs.

Assesses staff response to health care problems, symptoms, or emergencies and leads decision making regarding continued health care needs in cases such as transfers to local hospitals for further treatment and emergency care.

Resolves disputes and diffuses situations, with prime consideration being given to inmate's health care needs, to ensure that the balance between security and care is maintained in an institution with a wide range of activities.

Identifies gaps or the need for changes in the health care program based on professional nursing knowledge and develops nursing service goals/programs, objectives and standards.

Provides direction to staff and ensures compliance with standard nursing practices, policies and procedures.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Communicates with facility staff including Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, professional and administrative personnel to discuss health care concerns and to resolve issues.

Provides consultative advice and expertise to subordinates, staff and managers as well as to respond to various professional service delivery issues with inmates and their families, other health care community agencies and organizations.

Exchanges information and provides advice to colleagues, managers in nursing, Public Health Unit personnel, and general/psychiatric hospital personnel.

Discusses medical problems and histories with Workplace Safety and Insurance Board adjudicators and offenders' family members.

Liaises with nursing associations to research professional standards, trends and developments and with educational institutions to arrange student placements and continuing education.

May be required to attend court proceedings or Coroner's inquests as a witness or to give testimony.

Participates on relevant work committees (e.g. Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Professional Development Committee, Nursing Advisory Committee).

Physical Effort :

The majority of time is spent in health care services areas within a secure facility/institution with frequent opportunity to move about. Occasionally, moves/lifts light objects such as nursing supplies.

Sensory Effort :

Requires moderate level of visual attention and concentration to analyze and assess inmate health and medical histories.

Working Conditions :

Work is conducted within a correctional facility with exposure to verbal abuse and the potential for physical danger.