Job Specification

Purpose :

To provide enterprise infection prevention and control, outbreak management, technical expertise, advice, and education to support the planning, coordination, and implementation of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programs in the province's workplaces in compliance with directives, IPAC best practices, legislation, policies and accepted standards.

To plan, develop, evaluate, recommend and implement provincial policies, programs, and sector specific strategies, standards and policies, across all ministries.

To act as Ministry representative and participate in operational policy development and implementation for Ministry programs related to infection control, health care programs and other initiatives within the overall ministry policy framework and directions.

To provide expertise and advice across the OPS to Ministry staff and senior management, technical committees and sector inter-agency groups on infection prevention best practices, regulations, policies, directives and programs, and on early identification of contentious Health and Safety issues as it pertains to infection prevention and control.

To build and maintain relationships with inter-ministry partners and external stakeholders to promote the OPS strategic direction and to inform government policy, program and business operation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Develops and implements strategies to ensure optimal health and safety performance and reduction in occupational illnesses resulting from infectious diseases.
2. Plans, develops, recommends, and evaluates the implementation of ministry IPAC program and sector-specific strategies, standards and policies which meet the OPS
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IPAC mandate. Applies IPAC risk assessment skills and adopts a risk-based, solution-focused approach that is responsive to the IPAC needs of the varying OPS workplaces.
3. Ensures the alignment of the Ministry's mandate with IPAC best practices and guidance by providing advice (e.g. strategies, options papers, business cases, resource implications, etc.) to senior Ministry and other governmental officials (Ministry Deputy Minister, Assistant Deputy Minister, Chief Prevention Officer) on health and safety legislative and policy matters.
4. Implements legal opinions on legislative interpretations provided by the Legal Services Branch into field guidance materials to ensure consistent interpretation of health and safety legislation province wide.
5. Provides advice, in a time-sensitive environment, to senior management, Deputy Ministers and Ministers, and in response to demands/requests from stakeholders and industry representatives, on a range of sector issues that may impact government and ministry priorities and program delivery, labour relations, IPAC issues and/or health and safety across all sectors.
6. Provides advice on all infection transmissions and infectious diseases resulting from exposure hazards in the workplace, routine precautions and additional precautions, cleaning, disinfection and sterilization standards, surveillance of workplace-acquired, viral respiratory and related infections, trends in infection rates, and health promotion activities. Reviews data on workplace-acquired, viral respiratory and other infections and, when necessary, brings concerns to the attention of senior management , and appropriate decision makers or oversight bodies as required, with recommendations for action.
7. Provides input to the preparation of submissions to Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet, the Public Service Commission, and other decision-making bodies. Provides statistics and prepares annual reports released by
Branch/Division/Ministry. Provides leadership on strategic planning and continuous quality improvement initiatives related to IPAC. Provides technical program knowledge, and develops sector specific standards and guidelines, information bulletins and alerts, to ensure that Ministry field staff and key stakeholders are apprised of new/revised Ministry directions and requirements for occupational health and safety.

8. Demonstrates leadership in the development of partnerships and collaborations across organizations, stakeholders or sectors, and is experienced in leading stakeholder engagement initiatives.
9. As subject matter experts, identifies IPAC training needs to respond to initiatives, legislation and policies and develops and/or collaborates in the development of operational manuals, training and education materials and delivers training programs for OPS staff enterprise wide.
10. Identifies current and possible future workplace IPAC issues arising from present day trends focusing on those of concern to the regions, identifying those with province-wide/national/international implications and recommends, leads or supports/participates in additional study in these areas.
11. Researches and analyzes OPS, provincial, national and global epidemiology data for infection transmission and associated health trends and determinants with particular reference to the workplace.
12. Identifies and evaluates unusual clusters of illnesses or outbreaks of infectious diseases, provides guidance to ministries and programs, and makes recommendations to programs to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with protocols and standards.

13. Provides IPAC leadership around emergency response planning activities.

14. Collaborates with and leverages Joint Health and Safety committees across the OPS to address IPAC-related concerns and promote IPAC best practices.

Factors :

Knowledge :

Current infection prevention and control practices, typically acquired through certification in Infection Control, to keep abreast of new developments/trends (e.g., early identification, research, guidance development and dissemination of ongoing knowledge about emerging infectious disease) and to maintain specialized knowledge and skills by engaging in professional development activities and membership with professional associations to maintain credibility as experts.

Federal and Provincial legislation and regulations (Occupational Health and Safety Act, Health
Protection and Promotion Act, Ontario Public Health Standards, Public Hospitals Act, Private
Hospitals Act, Provincial Offences Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act, Freedom of
Information & Protection of Privacy Act, Canada Health Act) partner ministries related policies, standards and other guidelines relevant to the Ontario health care system in order to provide guidance/advice regarding interpretation, application, compliance and enforcement.

Subject matter expertise, i.e., comprehensive knowledge of technical, scientific, social, economic, and political considerations in assigned portfolios, to ensure that Ministry strategic objectives and policies, Branch goals and objectives, policy submissions, compliance and enforcement strategies, advice to senior ministry officials and consultative work/presentations to stakeholders consider these considerations.

Occupational health and safety and IC principles, loss control management/risk management theory, the principles, or risk assessment, the current occupational health and safety environment, the limitations of government resources, the requirements and expectations of client and industry groups and current trends and developments in health and safety, technology and labour relations in order to provide sound advice to senior Ministry officials on the development revision of regulations, policies and programs and advice to stakeholders.

Policy and program development principles/techniques and government policy development and approval processes to ensure compatibility with Ministry directions for promoting and enforcing workplace health and safety, lead policy development projects and develop policy options.

Specialized knowledge and skills related to the practice of infection prevention and control through professional associations and others in the field.

Communications to build/maintain working relationships with staff and stakeholders, promote consistent application of accepted healthcare and ministry principles/programs, represent the ministry on committees/task forces, prepare reports, correspondence, and response to inquiries, make presentations to stakeholders and staff and prepare briefing materials.

Oral and written risk communication to lead executive-level briefings, conduct meetings, prepare, and present technical reports, recommendations, correspondence, and other materials.

Computer applications to prepare briefing materials, presentations, correspondence and to conduct research, program development activities and prepare reports.

Analytical Thinking :

Research, analyze, interpret, and synthesize provincial/national/global epidemiological data, and research data to use in the program strategy and policy development.

Interpret and apply policies, program frameworks and legislation to a range of occupational program issues and situations.

Provide infection control assessments and expertise in emergencies and contribute expertise to the development of solutions to resolve complex regional and/or provincial IC issues.

Anticipate, identify, and assess emerging trends and issues; consult and make recommendations for changes to program strategies, policies, standards, and guidelines.

Early identification, research, guidance development and dissemination of ongoing knowledge about emerging infectious disease.

Planning / Coordinating :

Coordinates own activities and priorities within operational and legislative deadlines and manages delivery of services to a portfolio of clients.

Leadership/Guidance :

Provides expert technical advice and interpretation of Health and Safety legislation and regulations which governing the infection prevention and control, as well as IPAC best practices and evidence-based guidance, to Ministry staff and stakeholders.
Provides advice to the Minister, Deputy Minister, and senior management in response to demands/requests from stakeholders and industry representatives.
Provides advice on LR implications to senior management (ADM, Associate DM, DM, and Cabinet) in response to requests from stakeholders on a range of issues that may impact OPS IPAC procedures, occupational health, and safety priorities.
As subject matter experts, position will identify enterprise-wide training needs to ensure compliance and enforcement, initiatives, legislation, and policies and develops and/or collaborate in the development of operational manual training and education materials and delivery of training programs.

Independence of Action :

As subject matter expert, makes recommendations for the development of ministry strategies, policies, best practices, and guidelines concerning infection prevention and control, and on risk management strategies.

Decisions are guided by legislation, regulatory guidelines, policies, professional practices/protocols, and infection prevention associations/organizations/government bodies.

Interpersonal/Communication :

Leads consultations and reconciles different viewpoints/ positions with clients/stakeholders with respect to Ministry policies, strategies, and initiatives. Works with OPS Joint Health and Safety Committees to address IPAC concerns and leverage committees to move the IPAC mandate forward.

Consults with peers/professionals within the field, to develop unambiguous policies, standards, protocols, and guidelines.

Provides expert, persuasive advice, and clear guidance to Ministry management and staff.

Physical Effort :

Work is performed in the office, or field environment with frequent opportunity to move about.

Sensory Effort :

Requires visual attention and concentration when reading for prolonged amounts of time, analyzing data, conducting research, reviewing information, or creating reports/presentations.

Requires periods of concentrated listening when attending meetings, discussions with clients or partners with the ability to multi-task when dealing with interruptions.

Working Conditions :

Work is performed in an office, or field environment.