Patient Care Coordinator

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, as well as safety, including both patient and employee safety, which are a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
PHSA has a responsibility to deliver care to individuals in the provincial correctional system, and a responsibility to ensure that programs and services are free of Indigenous-specific racism. BCMHSUS is committed to the eradication of Indigenous-specific racism, embedding Indigenous cultural safety and humility, and improving Indigenous health and wellness for those we serve.
The Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) provides leadership by supervising staff and coordinating the delivery of care activities for a designated assigned inpatient area of the correctional center which provides services to clients who are currently incarcerated and require treatment under the BC Mental Health Act. Assists the Manager with the implementation and evaluation of the nursing services and management of the area; monitors adherence to established quality assurance and safety policies, procedures, and protocols; and ensures a high standard of patient care by acting as a clinical resource for staff, supporting staff training and development, and providing support to the interdisciplinary team. The PCC assists the Manager with performing administrative activities and ensuring optimal use of patient care resources. Consults, confers, and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, educational resources, and other health care professionals/providers to achieve excellence in patient centered care. Performs job duties through a trauma informed care framework and Indigenous cultural safety lens

Duties/Accountabilities:

1. Supervises and coordinates the daily activities of the assigned area to ensure the provision of psychiatric and general nursing patient care by performing duties such as coordinating and adjusting work assignments, establishing priorities and facilitating workplace solutions, monitoring patient care and follow-up, and evaluating quality of patient care and outcomes for the long term resolution of care needs; performs regular audits ensuring adherence to established policies, procedures, and protocols including those for quality assurance and the safety of staff, patients, visitors, and the community; schedules staff, making sure that an adequate number of appropriate qualified staff are available; coordinates equipment and other resources; and collaborates with other areas/external resources to solve operational problems, facilitating continuity of nursing care, and keeping the Manager apprised of any issues or concerns.
2. Acts as a clinical resource for members of the multidisciplinary team and students and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration for treatment concerns, continuity of care, and community resource coordination by methods such as assisting with nursing interventions and problem solving, providing clinical guidance and information on complex cases, discussing patient care issues, facilitating the implementation of individualized treatment plans, making decisions on nursing strategies determined to be most effective in managing behaviour on the assigned area, and developing linkages/partnerships with other facilities, agencies, and community resources to best meet patient needs and expected outcomes.
3. Receives and reviews referrals for access to the designated MHU and discharge or transfer referrals to the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, Correctional Health Services sites or suitable community partners. Works in close collaboration with all referring partners considering referral eligibility and to ensure that clients with the highest clinical or legal requirements are prioritized for placement.
4. Facilitates timely admissions and discharges to appropriate bed resources by ensuring comprehensive information is included in referrals by communicating with referral services on prioritized placements of clients using established guidelines and policy.
5. Collects, analyzes, and reports data for resource utilization, compliance to clinical pathways, quality improvement. Works with interdisciplinary team members in utilizing patient data to facilitate successful, expedient, efficient, and effective discharge planning.
6. Ensures the dissemination of information concerning patient rights under the BC Mental Health Act to both staff and patients in a timely manner, checks to make sure patient documentation is appropriate and complete, ensures security of other conditions/changes are implemented and that patients are aware of legal/administrative procedures and rights.
7. Coaches team members and coordinates/implements orientation and ongoing training within the area through methods such as clarifying requirements, determining training/orientation sequence of job functions, participating in preceptorships, collaborating with nursing leadership, discussing progress, and facilitating establishment of individual and area goals, assessing progress, and providing feedback and/or written documentation for authorization by Manager. Identifies and recommends staff training/skill enhancement to Manager.
8. Communicates scheduling changes to appropriate personnel in a timely manner. Ensures sick/last minute vacancies are filled and liaises with other areas such as the Short Call / Scheduling regarding status of ill/injured team members and return to work programs/approval. Refers staff to the appropriate resources to request work schedule changes.
9. Coordinates and participates in quality improvement and risk management activities for assigned area through implementing and monitoring new/updated patient care practices and procedures, evaluating effect of changes in care practice, generating recommendations for alternate approaches, following up on incident reports, conducting safety audits and taking corrective action and recommending changes to selected policies, procedures or protocols to Manager or nursing leadership.
10. Provides critical input in the performance evaluation of area staff by methods such as assessing clinical skills and patient care given, providing written input into employee performance evaluations to promote quality work performance, discussing, and clarifying performance expectations with staff, determining orientation and training requirements, documenting performance problems, and providing input to Manager.
11. Participates in the selection of new area staff by methods such as attending interviews for position vacancies, assessing clinical skills, and providing recommendations regarding the evaluation of candidates to facilitate optimal hiring decisions.
12. Assists Manager with administrative activities and optimal use of patient care resources through methods such as identifying systems for improving utilization of resources, providing input into budget/staff allocation, evaluating patient care products/equipment, identifying new equipment purchases required, and recommending changes to existing administrative processes.
13. Assists Manager with planning, developing and evaluating the patient care through coordinating and participating on-going team planning, development, evaluation and quality improvement activities that facilitate area goal setting, problem solving, conflict resolution and collaboration by arranging and attending meetings and in-services, reviewing area policies and procedures, selecting and utilizing outcome measure, and providing input/recommendations to Manager and nursing leadership regarding efficiency of processes/procedures relating to work duties with a view to ensuring streamlined, effective and patient/family-centered practices.
14. Sets measurable goals and objectives within a team or individual environment, incorporating the organization’s purpose, vision, and values through methods such as maintaining and updating own knowledge of clinical and professional development within area of practice and developing in collaboration with the professional practice lead and or manager. Reviews progress to ensure that goals are achieved within the established time frames.
15. Maintains statistical records and reports on various activities by methods such as collecting data, recording, tabulating, and summarizing information, utilizing basic spreadsheet software.
16. Participates in committees, task groups, and/or community initiatives by methods such as providing area representation and input form a clinical perspective, presenting relevant material, acting as advocate for the goals and objectives of the facility, and promoting optimal support for patients and their families to improve patient outcomes, integration, and coordination of CHS clients.
17. Facilitates evidence-based nursing practice and nursing and interdisciplinary research through methods such as reviewing relevant literature/resources, promoting staff awareness and involvement in research activities by identifying issues/practices which require research, and promoting use of research findings in clinical practice; evaluates results in collaboration with professional practice and or manager.
18. Carries out direct patient care activities as required in accordance with the care plan by methods such as performing protocols and interventions, implementing behaviour management strategies and meeting care recipient needs; applying approved techniques, procedures and treatments; and administering prescribed medication; recognizing and identifying signs and symptoms of changes in patients’ conditions; maintaining complete and accurate records; and planning direct care, contributing to the physical and psychological well-being of the patients, and supporting patients with psychosocial, life, and personal care skills. Maintains a safe environment for patients, families, and staff.
19. Maintains and updates relevant knowledge and understanding of Nursing practice, community mental health, nursing standards of professional practice and Code of Ethics, and the applicable sections of the Freedom of Information and Protection and Privacy Act, health information records as per policy. Maintains a comprehensive knowledge of mental health, social, financial, rehabilitation, emergency, and other resources in the service.
20. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience
• Current practicing registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM).
• Three (3) years of recent, related experience working with individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric illness, substance use disorders, acute and or chronic medical conditions, including one (1) year supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Skills and Abilities
• Commitment to developing knowledge and understanding of legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents – including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study – and how they intersect across the health care system.
• Broad knowledge of nursing theory and practice within a client/family centered model of care.
• Broad knowledge of British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM) standards for nursing/psychiatric nursing practice.
• Broad knowledge of other facilities and community resources.
• Broad knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care.
• Broad knowledge of psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects).
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership, supervision, work direction and consultation.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and its application to the defined population of clients.
• Demonstrated ability to teach, demonstrate, facilitate, and coach.
• Demonstrated ability in nursing practice related to assessment of behaviour, risk and to assisting clients to regain/improve their coping abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct biopsychosocial psychiatric assessments, provide treatment planning, and to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
• Demonstrated ability to assess clients’ responses to care and to respond appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to adjust to new or unexpected events and to problem solve including medical, psychological, and situational emergency response.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with clients and their families, colleagues, physicians, and other health care staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict situations, manage aggressive behaviour and use non-violent crisis intervention and behavioural management techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to establish work assignments, load priorities in collaboration with others in a complex health care environment.
• Demonstrated skill in CPR techniques.
• Basic computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system and word processing, Internet, and e-mail software.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.