Join us and help make a difference in healthcare! We are proud to be home to 300+ residents across our three long term care communities. Our team members pride themselves in providing exemplary person-centered quality care. Our “Colour It Your Way” philosophy is our framework and foundation that guides us to ensuring our residents and team members have a positive and rewarding experience. We are looking for enthusiastic caring individuals who are dedicated and have the desire to be part of a team that enriches the lives of others. Come join us and be part of our Colour It Care Team.
Applications for this position will be accepted until May 31, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.
Purpose
Reporting to the Clinical Specialist, this role is responsible for providing program management and leadership to the infection prevention and control (IPAC) program (practices and protocols) for the respective County of Grey LTC Home to ensure regulatory compliance and implementation of clinical and non-clinical care standards and best practices in accordance with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and ON Regulation 246/22.
Responsibilities
• Lead and work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary IPAC team to implement the IPAC program, including, but not limited to, the following:
a) Evidence-based policies and procedures
b) IPAC education and training
c) Outbreak preparedness and management (including emergency)
d) Surveillance – resident and staff
e) Routine practices and additional precautions
f) Regular IPAC audits and program evaluation
g) Quality management
• Manage and oversee the IPAC program of the Home including all departments, staff, residents, and visitors within Ministry of Long-Term Care and Ministry of Labour legislation and applicable resources such as Public Health Ontario.
• Evaluates infection control technology, practices, and products to support the selection, stewardship, and purchasing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as required.
• Prepares and administers an infection control budget for the Home with the Clinical Specialist.
• Provision of, oversight and supervision of the delivery of IPAC education and enforcement to all staff, caregivers, volunteers, visitors, and residents, including a variety of educational strategies/approaches to support knowledge transfer and application (team huddles, just in time/on the spot, virtual, online education portal, in-person, new hire, etc.). • Audit IPAC practices in the Homes, including, but not limited to, conducting a minimum of quarterly real-time audits of specific IPAC practices and activities performed by staff in the Homes, (ie. hand hygiene, selection, and donning and doffing of personal protective equipment (PPE)); overseeing audit activities performed by other staff in the home in collaboration with, or under the direction of, the Clinical Specialist. Note: current Ministry IPAC audit requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic is every two (2) weeks; and, weekly when in outbreak.
• Monitor surveillance activities and manage outbreaks in the Home. Conduct regular infectious disease surveillance and review infectious disease surveillance results regularly to ensure that all staff are conducting infectious disease surveillance appropriately and to ensure that appropriate action is being taken to respond to surveillance findings.
• Provide weekly detailed report to Home's Leadership Team, including analysis and interpretation and completed/recommended follow up for each IPAC audit. Urgent/identified concerns are to be brought to the immediate attention of the departmental manager, Executive Director, and the Clinical Specialist.
• Actively participate in and contribute to the continuous quality improvement program reporting on all IPAC key quality indicators/program requirements and collaborate to develop and implement IPAC related measures across all departments.
• In collaboration with the IPAC team, lead the evaluation and update the IPAC program annually (complete annual program evaluation), and more frequently in accordance with emerging evidence and best practices.
• Review, revise, implement and evaluate the outbreak management system ensuring inclusion of risk assessments; policies and procedures; roles and responsibilities; engagement of staff, residents, caregivers, local board of health (public health); reporting protocols based on Critical Incident System; outbreak management plan specific to unique features of the Home; education; resource management and procurement; surveillance; quality improvement; etc.
• Convene the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) at the outset of an outbreak and regularly throughout an outbreak.
• Convene the interdisciplinary IPAC team at least quarterly, and at a more frequent interval during an infectious disease outbreak in the Home, and include an ethical framework to inform decision making.
• Utilize an ethical framework for the IPAC program that includes the following key principles:
a) Fairness
b) Equity
c) Transparency
d) Consideration of available evidence
e) Consideration of impacts of decisions on residents and staff
f) Resident quality of life as a primary driver
g) Risk relative to reward of key decisions; and
h) Safety
• Review of symptom screening gathered pursuant to subsection 102 (9) of the Regulation.
• Review daily and monthly screening results collected by the licensee to determine whether any action is required.
• Implement required improvements to the IPAC program as required by audits or by the licensee.
• Ensure that there is a hand hygiene program in place in accordance with legislation/standard which includes, at a minimum, access to hand hygiene agents at point-of-care (s. 102 (7) of the Regulation). Provide training including hand hygiene champions, conduct audits to monitor compliance including feedback and correction of practices when indicated.
• Collaborate and consult with the interdisciplinary IPAC team (Executive Director, Director of Care, Associate Director of Care, Resident & Family Services Manager, Medical Director), local Medical Officer of Health/designate, the relevant IPAC Hub for the Home, resident/family council, Joint Health and Safety Committee/team, as required, regarding IPAC program including, but not limited to, policy and procedures.
• Lead the immunization and screening program for residents, and immunization program for staff as follows:
• Ensure the immunization and screening measures are in place for residents related to tuberculosis, influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcus, tetanus, diphtheria, any other immunization, in accordance with publicly funded immunization schedules and;
• Ensure the screening for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases is in place for staff.
• Ensure any pets living/visiting the Home have up-to-date immunizations.
• Administers the Home's vaccination program, including ordering, storage and reporting of vaccines.
• Coordinates respirator fit testing and maintains related records.
• Ensures the Home's cleaning and disinfection protocols are followed, including those of contracted services, such as hairdressing, dental, and foot care.
• Ensure hours of IPAC related work meet or exceed the minimum number of hours as outlined in Ministry of Long-term care legislation.
• Ability to provide evening and weekend staff and IPAC support as needed.
Where weekly hours exceed the minimum number of IPAC hours requirement, provide additional Homes departmental support as follows:
a. Joint Health and Safety Committee attendance, participation, and reporting.
b. Occupational Health and Safety – immunization tracking, accident/incident reporting and staff follow up for all departments including return to work plan implementation.
c. Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development liaison – MOL visits, reports, plans of correction.
d. Preparation for Resident Quality Inspections through completion of Ministry Inspection Protocols as assigned.
e. Support for; and vacation and on call coverage for Grey County LTC Homes when IPAC and Wellness Manager is on vacation/leave of absence.
f. Support Quality Improvement Plan development and implementation.
g. Other duties as assigned.
Working Conditions
• Combined office environment, classroom and LTCH clinical environment.
• Requirement to work on site in their designated home during outbreaks.
• Requirement to travel within Grey County.
Contacts
Internal Working Relationships
Internal working relations with the Leadership Team, particularly the Clinical Specialist, Executive Director and Director of Care, Team Members, Residents.
External Working Relationships
Families, MLTC Inspectors, Public Health, Physicians, contract service providers, other LTC homes
Knowledge and Skill
As per Ontario Regulation 246/22 and Fixing Long-Term Care Home Act, 2021, the IPAC & Wellness Manager shall have at a minimum, education and experience in IPAC practices including:
• Infectious diseases;
• Cleaning and disinfection;
• Data collection and trend analysis;
• Reporting protocols;
• Outbreak management;
• Asepsis;
• Microbiology;
• Adult education;
• Epidemiology;
• Program management; and
• Within three (3) years of s. 102 (6) of the Regulation coming into force, the Program Manager of IPAC shall have current certification in infection control from the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (ss. 102(5) and 102(6) of the Regulation).
• Must have completed a post-secondary degree in a health-related field, including, but not limited to medicine, nursing, laboratory technology, public health, or biology. Recent experience working in infectious diseases and outbreak management, preferred.
• Three (3) to five (5) years' experience in employee/occupational health, management, and communication and/or education and research
• Must have knowledge of Public Health Regulations, Registered Health Professionals Act, Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC), Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021 and ON Regulation 246/22, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and privacy laws.
• Proficiency with Point Click Care (eHCR) considered an asset.
• Demonstrated clinical knowledge and skills in the care of the geriatric population, as well as training in dementia awareness considered an asset.
Impact of Error
Improper coordination of policies, programs and service delivery may result in significant negative consequences to the well-being and quality of residential life.
The lack of compliance to relevant Acts and Policies may lead to the citing of unmet standards resulting in a loss of public trust.
Grey County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and promotes a culture of respect where all team members are valued for their unique talents, knowledge and lived experiences.
Accommodations are available for all parts of the recruitment process. Applicants are encouraged to outline accommodation needs when submitting their application. If alternate methods of application are required, candidates can email [email protected].
While we thank all candidates for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Any personal information submitted will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and will be used only to determine eligibility for employment.
Based on the nature of the position, pre-employment screening may be required including but not limited to; Criminal Record Searches, Financial Credit Inquiries; Educational and Credential Verification; Driver's Abstracts; Drug/Alcohol Testing; Pre-Medical Testing and Investigative Employment References.