Palliative Care Clinical Coach

Position Summary:

The Clinical Coach is responsible for working with participating community organizations in alignment with provincial direction established by Ontario Health and guidance developed by the Ontario Palliative Care Network. The Clinical Coach will drive practice change, with a focus on improving access to and quality of clinical care, aligned to the Palliative Care Health Services Delivery Framework in the Community ("The Delivery Framework") and the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework. This role will formally report to the Director for the Western York Region Ontario Health Team (WYR OHT) and will work closely with the Executive Director of Vaughan Hospice.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide palliative care coaching and mentoring to staff and clinicians in participating community organizations, to build primary-level palliative care competencies.
• Collaborate with leaders of community organizations on local service integration, and change management initiatives, using quality improvement methodologies to achieve results.
• Consult on clinical care when the complexity of the patients’ needs is beyond the existing competencies of providers (in the community organizations).
• Provide support to Indigenous communities and Indigenous organizations for their implementation efforts, where Indigenous communities wish to be involved, in collaboration with regional partners.
• Provide input on the WYR OHT implementation plan with Palliative Care Steering Committee and additional stakeholders as appropriate, including required measurement and reporting.
• Attend all planning meetings and contribute to the regional palliative care implementation plan, especially plans for education and practice change.
• Keep comprehensive records and support data collection for measurement and reporting.
• Provide feedback on key learnings related to coach role, along with providing input and reviewing regional progress reports as required.
• Foster regional collaboration and contribute to broader system integration.
• Develop relationships with key partners to establish trust, credibility, and respect.
• Clearly articulate key messages that resonate across different partner groups and audiences.
• Update the WYR OHT on challenges and opportunities in the community.
• Support WYR OHT planning and/or implementation of palliative models of care (where there is readiness).
• Ensure alignment of community implementation with the guidance of the Ontario Palliative Care Network
• Participate in relevant regional level committees, working groups and task forces.
• Support the regional advisory groups and subject matter experts who provide clinical leadership.
• As appropriate, participate in engagement and community-building activities with participating organizations.
• Develop and present materials that express palliative care concepts and implementation plans effectively.
• Provide support to Indigenous communities and organizations for their implementation efforts, as requested by those organizations and, where appropriate, in collaboration with regional partners
• Contribute to requested assessments regarding the quality of palliative care in participating community organizations.
• Collaborate with leadership teams from participating community organizations to identify strengths and gaps in the palliative care they currently provide and in the relevant provider policies and practice documents.
• Provide input on the creation of a quality improvement plan to address gaps.
• Build competency amongst front-line community providers in the delivery of primary-level palliative care.
• Promote/provide palliative care education in participating community organizations, aligned to the Ontario Palliative Care Competency Framework.
• Provide informal, case-based educational opportunities (coaching) for health service providers in community organizations, incorporating principles of adult learning.
• Provide palliative care mentoring for health service providers in the community.
• Complement the work of educational organizations, such as Ontario CLRI and Pallium Canada.
• Guide palliative care quality improvement (QI) and practice change initiatives in participating community organizations.
• Assist with quality improvement initiatives to implement the Delivery Framework (with an initial emphasis on the prioritized recommendations) by:
• Providing education on QI methodologies and tools
• Encouraging the application of QI to improve patient care.
• Building internal and external relationships, to enhance communication among all staff.
• Sustaining best practice by updating policies and procedures.
• Works closely with regional partners, including equity deserving populations, to ensure implementation of the model addresses barriers to access to care for priority populations
• Offer consultation as a palliative care expert to service providers in person, onsite, by telephone, by videoconference or through email.

Education/Certifications/Licenses:

• A degree in a registered health care discipline with substantive experience and training in palliative care (e.g., CAPCE). A graduate degree is an asset (e.g., MScN, MSW).
• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in practice in palliative care is required.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and reporting requirements, including the Fixing Long-Term Care Homes Act, the Excellent Care for All Act and the Compassionate Care Act and other pertinent legislation and regulations related to professional practice is required.
• Additional training in gerontology and project management experience are assets.

Experience/Skills/Abilities:

• A commitment to developing equity-based, evidence-informed approaches for delivering palliative care services for all people in Ontario, regardless of their age or illness.
• A good understanding of regional priorities and local health care needs, within Ontario’s health care landscape.
• Ability to work well under pressure and use good judgment in assessing difficult situations.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Aptitude for proactive problem solving, using strong critical thinking, and negotiating skills.
• A demonstrated ability to develop, deliver and evaluate training and coaching efforts.
• An ability to develop relationships based on trust, compassion, and empathy.
• Strong active listening and interpersonal communication skills for one-on-one coaching.
• Experience designing education to effectively address palliative care training needs of interprofessional learners.
• Excellent communication skills and experience with culturally responsive teaching
• A demonstrated focus on person-centered care.
• Supports the advancement of equity, inclusion, and diversity across Ontario's health care system.
• Commitment to engage with First Nations, Indigenous, Métis and urban Indigenous people as they self-determine their own approach to palliative care.
• Proficiency in educational technologies (e.g., webinars, apps) as well as knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Access to reliable and efficient mode(s) of transportation to enable travel between community organizations.
• Work involves minimal to moderate physical effort normally associated with both office and client-facing environments. There is flexibility to change work activities, take a break or alter work position.
• Normal office environment as well as work in client-facing environments with no unusual or unpleasant conditions. Travel within the Ontario Health Region or the assigned geographic catchment area is required.
• Experience working with a range of roles, disciplines, and levels of staff in different health care settings.
• Strong clinical coaching and debriefing skills, with both individuals and teams.
• Strong consultation skills, with expert knowledge of models of consultation and their application with individual, team and community service providers.
• Research and/or program evaluation experience with knowledge of evidence-based processes, including appraisal of research, application of findings and collaboration on research.
• Experience working across health care settings.
• Fluency in French and/or another language is an asset.
• Experience supervising clinical staff is preferred.
• Experience working with large-scale quality improvement initiatives.
• Proven attendance record.
• Demonstrates understanding and complies with patient and staff safety policies and procedures that foster a safe and inclusive environment for all.
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the job.
• Effectively uses empathy in interactions with others.
• Demonstrates behaviours consistent with Mackenzie Health’s Commitment to Caring.
• Models behaviour that is aligned with the values of Mackenzie Health - Excellence, Leadership and Empathy.
• Commitment to providing an exceptional experience for staff and clients within a challenging and exciting health care environment.

*You may be required to work at any site of Mackenzie Health

*Will be required to travel to the community within the York Region

Mackenzie Health is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer committed to providing accommodations for applicants upon request at any stage of the recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those under consideration for an interview will be contacted.