Description
Status: Part-Time, 14 hours (2 days) per week
Location: Community Health Centres of Northumberland in Port Hope, with home-based visiting (when required)
Reports to: Manager, MINT Memory Clinic
Clinical Reporting to Memory Clinic Physicians, and Seniors Care Network
Background
The MINT Memory Clinic provides interprofessional memory care, including assessment, early diagnosis, and ongoing care for persons with cognitive impairment and dementia in a primary care setting. Supported by a specially trained team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, occupational therapists, and community agencies, the MINT Memory Clinic team works closely with a client’s primary care provider, specialized geriatric services (including geriatric and geriatric mental health services), and other health and social service providers to provide compassionate, person-centered care for clients and their family members/care partners.
The MINT Memory Clinic is funded by Ontario Health East and hosted by the Community Health Centres of Northumberland. This primary care-based memory clinic is offered on specific days, and is delivered through a collaboration between the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, the Northumberland Family Health Team, and Seniors Care Network. The clinic is staffed by clinicians from CHCN, NFHT, and the Alzheimer Society through an inter-agency agreement.
Position Summary
As part of an interprofessional team, the MINT Memory Clinic BSO RPN is responsible for cognitive testing, geriatric assessment, and care planning for clients and their families/care partners. The BSO RPN combines clinical competencies in interprofessional practice and geriatric assessment, with discipline-specific knowledge of cognitive testing to support the diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia. Where required, the BSO RPN develops and implements interventions and supports to help address behavioural challenges.
The MINT Memory Clinic BSO RPN works collaboratively with the memory clinic clinicians from CHCN, NFHT, and the Alzheimer Society in delivery of memory clinic services, and – when required – provides consultative support to the MINT Memory Clinic at the Northumberland Family Health Team regarding responsive behaviours.
Experience
Qualifications/Education
• Diploma, Registered Practical Nurse with Medication Certificate or with full scope of practice and currently registered as an RPN in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
• Training in cognitive testing and geriatric assessment
• Current CPR/Basic Life Support and First Aid Certificates
• Criminal Record Check including Vulnerable Sector Screening required
• Training in P.I.E.C.E.S.™, U-First!™, or Montessori Methods for Dementia ™
• Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA) ™ training not required, but considered an asset
Experience
• Minimum three (3) years demonstrated clinical experience working with older adult population
• Minimum one (1) year recent experience working as a geriatric assessor and/or in cognitive testing role
• One (1) year recent experience as an RPN in community care or primary care is preferred
• Experience working effectively as part of an interprofessional team
Core Competencies
1.0 Knowledge
- Knowledge of different cognitive testing tools and functional assessment tools, or willingness to learn
- Knowledge of interprofessional geriatric assessment
- Demonstrated knowledge and skill working with individuals with various types of cognitive impairment, dementia, delirium, mental health, and other neurological conditions and those who experience cognitive and/or behavioural change
- Advanced understanding of dementia and the ability to assess the unique impact of the disease (e.g. amnesia, agnosia, aphasia, altered perception, and etc.), and a thorough understanding of the concept of responsive behaviours/behavioural expression as a form of communication
- Enhanced knowledge of family and care partner needs
- Demonstrated knowledge of best practices for dementia, delirium, depression and other mental health issues, and their effect on clients, families and/or care partners
2.0 Clinical Skills
- Works to full RPN scope of practice
- Good physical and behavioural assessment skills for evaluating and differentiating between dementia, cognitive impairment, depression, delirium, and mental health and addictions issues
- Excellent critical thinking skills for the early detection, intervention, and prevention of responsive behaviours
- Good understanding of non-pharmacological and therapeutic behavioural approaches to support people with cognitive impairment and dementias
- Good understanding of pharmacological agents, and their interactions, that are used to manage conditions that have behavioural components along the disease continuum
- Participate in Interprofessional Primary Care Memory Assessment as a Geriatric Assessor, in consultation with the interprofessional team and the primary care provider, including:
o Review of referrals
o Identification of patient/family goals
o Data gathering and recording within all domains of the assessment
o Client and family/care partner interview utilizing strength-based approach - Participate in MINT Clinical Assessment training, and MINT refresher training
3) Quality Improvement and Capacity Building
- Commitment to quality improvement and change initiatives
- Knowledge of and commitment to knowledge exchange as a means of continuous quality improvement, education and capacity building in the individual, team, organization, and system
4) Collaboration and Communication
- Demonstrated effectiveness as a team member through collaboration, respect and effective communication skills in interacting with clients, family members and other members of inter-professional teams, including community and primary care team members
- Ability to use strategies to catalyze, foster and enhance collaboration and communication amongst partners in care
- Ability to work independently and co-operatively in a busy interprofessional situation
- Demonstrated computer skills including the ability to use clinical documentation software, telemedicine, virtual meeting, and other electronic communication tools and software
5) Professional and Work Ethic
- Demonstrated professional work ethic and behaviours with interprofessional team members, and internal and external partners
- Proven good attendance record, organizing and prioritizing work effectively
Other Position Requirements
- Fluency in English is required
- Fluency in French and/or another language considered an asset
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and have regular access to an insured vehicle as the position may require travel throughout Northumberland
Apply
- Please submit your résumé and cover letter, including pay expectations to careers@porthopechc.ca quoting position “MINT BSO” in the subject title no later than Monday July 4th 2022.
- No phone calls please. We thank you for your interest in applying. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
As part of our ongoing commitment to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Community Health Centres of Northumberland will provide assistance to applicants who request accommodation throughout the recruitment process.
At the CHCN, we value diversity — in backgrounds and in experiences. Healthcare is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds and swaths of life to help build the future of healthcare and our communities.
