Patient Safety Consultant, Patient Safety & Risk

Click here to apply as an internal applicant.

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 163510

Department/Program: Quality, Patient Safety & Pt. Experience , Quality, Patient Safety and Patient Experience

Location: Halifax

Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly PT long-assignment ( 50% FTE) for one year x 1 position(s)

Start Date: ASAP

Union Status: NSNU Nursing , Nursing Bargaining Unit

Compensation: $ 41.399 - $ 48.801 /hour

Closing Date: September 2, 2023 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values , and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

The Patient Safety Consultant (PSC) has leadership accountability for the development, implementation and evaluation of patient safety and clinical risk mitigation initiatives that have an impact on care and service provision across the Health Centre. The PSC models, fosters and assumes a leadership role in best practice for patient safety, management of disclosure and adverse events and building capacity in staff and management regarding the same. This position reports directly to the Manager, Patient Safety & Risk.

• Reviews and investigates patient/parent concerns/issues regarding care and/or staff interactions.
• Leads local, provincial and national patient safety initiatives, i.e., surgical safety checklists, medication reconciliation, etc.
• Contributes to patient safety knowledge at a local, provincial and national level through presentations, i.e., National Patient Safety Week, CAPHC National Patient Safety Collaborative, SHN!, etc.
• Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning through self-evaluation, identification of learning needs and participation in professional development.
• Leads, investigates and develops evidence based action plans to address identified risk or patient safety issues.
• Demonstrates accountability and assumes responsibility for leadership in setting standards for clinical competence in designated area of practice.
• Builds capacity in all levels of the organization for patient safety and risk initiatives, including facilitating formal education sessions (e.g., Quality Review process, , FMEA, ethical decision making, etc.)
• Role models and advocates to ensure safe care is provided in a patient/family centered manner. Collaboratively leads teams to ensure compliance with legislative, professional and/or voluntary requirements such as Accreditation including all ROPs, etc.
• Has a leadership role for the implementation and evaluation of the national Safer Healthcare Now patient safety initiatives at the IWK
• Provides leadership, guidance and mentoring to staff and management for the quality review process, including disclosure and ongoing liaising with the patient/family regarding peer review recommendations.
• Provides leadership and support for maintaining service or care when a patient safety incident occurs.
• Contributes to the development of professional practice through participation in team, program, organizational and professional activities/committees.
• Provides leadership in actively seeking out and maintaining an awareness of best practices and changing trends which impact patient safety within the health care system.
• Assists in the development/review of patient/family information brochures, pamphlet and learning materials as they relate to patient safety.
• Leads and/or participates in research projects, including development of research protocols and REB submissions; disseminates research findings, provides educational assistance relevant to the project and incorporates into practice to improve the outcomes of patient care and service delivery.
• Takes a leadership role in identifying issues, including changes in practices, policies and research, which have potential or actual impact on patient safety and quality care or service provision.
• Leads and/or collaboratively engages in peer consultation to assist with the resolution of clinical or organizational issues related to patient safety.

Hours of Work

Monday-Friday, as per operational requirements.

Your Qualifications

• Ability to develop and lead collaborative, interprofessional teams, as well as the ability to work independently
• Knowledge and experience with Prospective Analysis (e.g., FMEA), RCA, Patient Safety Incident Analysis, Disclosure, Rapid Cycle and Process Improvements, LEAN in Healthcare environments and/or risk management preferred
• Excellent time management, organization and prioritization skills
• Demonstrates critical thinking in problem-solving
• Program development experience
• Computer proficiency in data management
• Demonstrates strong leadership and relationship building skills
• Minimum five (5) years relevant and recent clinical experience in a healthcare environment required
• Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to patient and family centred care
• Master’s Degree in a health discipline required. Present enrollment in a Master’s Degree program will be considered
• Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality
• Advanced preparation and/or knowledge in quality improvement/patient safety/LEAN initiative, healthcare legislation and risk management concepts and strategies
• Research experience preferred
• Graduate of an Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (or equivalent, i.e. nursing diploma) required
• Experience managing processes and projects
• Completion of Patient Safety Officers Course considered an asset
• Demonstrates ability to develop and maintain internal/external partnerships
• Licensed or eligible to be licensed with the NS College of Nursing (NSCN)
• Competencies in other languages considered an asset
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication (verbal & written) skills

T hank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Nursing bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials. Additionally, as per Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Vaccine mandate, any offer of employment will be conditional upon submitting proof of full vaccination status. Medical exceptions or any other kind of requested exception based upon the Health Centre’s obligations pursuant to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis

I f you are an employee of IWK Health , please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.