Population Health Program Specialist

Position Summary
Kelowna Community Health and Services Centre is hiring a casual Population Health Program Specialist! This position is with the Regional Immunization program. As a clinical expert in immunizations, this position provides clinical consultations related to immunization practice to immunizers, both internal to Internal Health as well as community vaccine providers. A very strong back ground in immunizations and public health nursing is required.

Shift Type - Days, Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 16:30.

Days off: Sun, Sat, STAT

This is a Casual opportunity. Casual means there are no guaranteed hours and work requirements can vary from 0 - 37.5 hours per week. Many careers with us begin with casual employment and lead to permanent or temporary career opportunities.

About the role:
The Program Specialist will practice in accordance with British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) professional practice and scope of practice standards as well as within a client and family centered care model.

The Program Specialist uses advanced and comprehensive knowledge and skills, critical thinking and judgment in the program area to provide leadership through collaboration in the development, implementation and delivery of Population Health Services programs across Interior Health (IH).

The Program Specialist applies nursing theory, knowledge transfer through evidence informed best practice and leadership concepts in providing clinical guidance, education and resource support to front line health care providers, Medical Health Officers, and a range of health, social services, education personnel and organizations.
The Program Specialist engages and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement programs, guidelines and protocols, monitors for best practice, participates in quality assurance and improvement initiatives such as those promoting maternal, child and youth health (e.g. Healthy Start and Healthy Schools), and ensures timely response to emerging situations (e.g. immunization response to communicable disease outbreaks).

What you will be doing?
• Promotes the attainment of the Population Health Strategic Plan goals including but not limited to:
• Leads and/or participates in creation and ongoing review and revision of consistent practice guidelines, including consultation with appropriate stakeholders;
• Works collaboratively with epidemiologists/surveillance staff to use surveillance data for action;
• Participates in cross-program initiatives within the Population Health portfolio;
• Identifies, develops and disseminates resource materials to support program delivery.
• Supports the delivery of Population Health programs for clients and populations according to established standards and competencies including but not limited to:
• Providing expertise and leadership in program projects, clinical situation reviews, responses and initiatives (e.g. providing health promotion resources for use by school staff and Public Health Nurses);
• Uses specialized population and program knowledge to provide clinical guidance and support to front line healthcare providers, including developing and ensuring the application of practice standards;
• Collaborates with front line managers, other leaders and members of organizational and provincial networks to ensure that systems of continuous learning are in place so that staff have the opportunity to remain current in best practices in accordance with applicable standards;
• Coaches to assist front-line staff in resolving challenging clinical situations;
• Supports front-line staff by developing and maintaining program specific orientation pathways.
• Acts as a change agent for evidence-informed practice by advising stakeholders on emerging nursing and health care issues related to the program to support informed decision-making and enhance health outcomes.
• Develops and delivers education and training related to program area for front line staff, physicians, other health professionals, social services, teachers and other school staff, organizations and the public as required.
• Prepares and/or provides information, evidence, data and statistics related to program activity, quality assurance and workload management on a scheduled, or as requested, basis.
• Assists in the development of public communications and responds to media inquiries in conjunction with IH Communications and Public Engagement portfolio.
• Initiates and sustains collaborative working relationships with internal departments and programs (e.g. Prevention and Promotion staff, Infection Control, Environmental Public Health) and external partners (e.g. BC Centre for Disease Control, physicians).
• Forms, leads and/or participates in related working groups, committees and quality improvement processes at the health authority, provincial and national level in order to meet organizational goals and strategic directives, as required by the Program Manager.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualfications
Education, Training and Experience
Graduate of an approved School of Nursing and holds current registration to practice with the BCCNM.

Three years recent experience in public health nursing including experience in area of specialty for specific job role such as communicable disease investigations (e.g. sexually transmitted infections, TB case and contact management, HIV pre- and post-test counselling); and/or immunization of child and adults; and/or Healthy Start/Healthy Schools programs; and recent experience in adult teaching/learning, providing in service or staff development; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.