Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist - Sioux Lookout, ON, Canada - Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority

Description

Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist – Harm Reduction – Ref #

Job Summary:

The Approaches to Community Wellbeing is a regional resource to 31 First Nations communities. The Approaches to Community Wellbeing provides expertise, support, services, and programming in public health to the region. The program also supports communities in the development, implementation, and monitoring of their own Approaches to Community Wellbeing. Harm Reduction is a component of Preventing Infectious Diseases under the Healthy Living section of the model.

The Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist – Harm Reduction will work with the Harm Reduction team to provide expertise around Harm Reduction practices to support communities in the prevention of infectious diseases and deaths. This will include supporting the Harm Reduction team in the development of educational materials, delivering presentations, and participating in community outreach activities. Additionally, the Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist will work towards increasing the awareness of the Approaches to Community Wellbeing's harm reduction initiatives (e.g., needle distribution and naloxone), providing training, supporting community suboxone programs in prioritizing needs, and developing strategies to address addiction and mental health issues. Overall, the role of the Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist will be supporting and enhancing community health services in a wide spectrum of harm reduction approaches.

The Community Wellbeing Nurse Specialist – Harm Reduction is directly accountable to the Harm Reduction Manager.

This position is based in Sioux Lookout, ON.

Salary for this position ranges from $73,585 – $94,708 per annum.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Persons of First Nations ancestry will be given preference (OHRC, Part II, Special Employment)
• Current Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario in good standing
• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BScN) from an accredited University with identifiable community health nursing content
• Current CPR certification
• Minimum 3 years of experience in public/community health nursing, program planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Ability to understand and practice harm reduction principles as they relate to substance use and sexual activity
• Training and education related to substance use, harm reduction, mental health, and trauma informed practice
• Knowledge of, and/or experience with, principles of adult education, health promotion, and community mobilization
• Knowledge of the Ontario health care system, particularly in regard to mental health and addictions
• A strong understanding of the social determinants of health and the impact on First Nations
• Knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture and government health policies and regulations as they apply to First Nations
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and foster relationships with stakeholders within SLFNHA and the communities
• Excellent interpersonal, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent facilitation, team building and conflict management skills
• Demonstrated organizational and time management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with individuals and groups, including demonstrated ability to provide presentations and written reports
• Proficiency in areas of documentation and Microsoft Office suite skills including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel database applications
• Willing to travel
• Valid Ontario G driver's license and access to a vehicle
• Ability to speak fluently in one of the Sioux Lookout area First Nations dialects, and/or write in syllabics is an asset.
• Ability to perform the requirements of this role on a regular basis.

Roles and Responsibilities:

1. Identify health issues and needs related to substance use relevant to First Nation communities and participate in population level health planning.
2. Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing programs and community-based initiatives using the current knowledge of practices and trends related to the field of public health.
3. Participate in the development and evaluation of education materials and provide support to health promotion activities for the Harm Reduction team.
4. In collaboration with the Harm Reduction team, provide education and health promotion on infectious disease and harm reduction principles to Chiefs and Councils, Health Directors, community-based nurses, community-based health workers, and community members through community visits, radio shows, local newsletters, school programs, community workshops, presentations, webinars, videoconferences, social media, etc.
5. Support and build capacity of community-based harm reduction programs through:
   
   1. Mentorship
   2. Developing and providing resources
   3. Facilitating access to professional development opportunities
   4. Conducting training and workshops.
6. Provide clinical expertise to the Harm Reduction team, ACW Community Wellbeing Nurses, and community health care providers.
7. Establish and maintain close working relationships with each First Nation community's leadership and health staff in order to build capacity and promote awareness and self-determination within Harm Reduction programming and services.
8. Facilitate community development and community mobilization.
9. Provide orientation to SLFNHA's Approaches to Community Wellbeing department and Harm Reduction program to primary health care providers and facilitate continued learning opportunities regarding harm reduction and best practices.
10. Advocate for clients and communities to enhance health determinants.
11. Liaise and work in partnership with internal and external committees, working groups, task forces, organizations, and coalitions as a representative for SLFNHA, to accomplish the roles and responsibilities noted above.
12. Maintain required professional memberships and professional competence through participation in professional development programs and by self-directed study.
13. Perform other duties for SLFNHA as directed.

Closing Date: Open until filled