The Department of Health and Social Services works under the direction of the Minister and Deputy Minister, in partnership with the Health and Social Services Authorities, to support the health and wellbeing of people across the NWT through planning, development, evaluation and reporting on program and service delivery.
HSS is committed to the development and provision of quality services in such a way as to make the best use of public resources, ensure the sustainability of the system, focus on client safety and best practices and promote positive health and social outcomes. HSS strives to continually improve the health and social service system to ensure best health, best care, and a better future for the people of the NWT.
Located in Yellowknife, the Senior Communicable Disease Specialist (Specialist) reports to the Manager, Communicable Disease Control Unit, and is appointed as a Public Health Officer under the Northwest Territories (NWT) Public Health Act. By virtue of this appointment and delegation of responsibilities received from the Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO), the incumbent has a statutory duty to enforce the NWT Public Health Act and accompanying regulations as appropriate. The incumbent provides leadership for the strategic planning, implementing, maintaining, monitoring and evaluating of immunization and communicable disease control standards. The Specialist role-models Registered Nurse practice and vigilance in ensuring the highest quality of care. The incumbent collaborates closely with other specialists in the Division including epidemiologists, environmental health officers, and the public health registry team to monitor disease cases, mitigate outbreaks and evaluate immunization and communicable disease prevention and control programs. The Specialist is responsible to research and recommend patient care quality standards for public health services provided to all age groups as they relate to communicable disease prevention and control and immunization.
Key Responsibilities
The Specialist provides timely direction and advice concerning the case and contact management and control of communicable diseases to the Director and CPHO as well as other Department and HSSA staff, governmental agencies and stakeholders (including private industry). The Specialist has the expertise to assist with responding to known or suspect communicable diseases, outbreak scenarios and technical immunization questions and has significant latitude in providing guidance and direction to frontline and management¿level HSSA staff. The Specialist will also be required to share after hours coverage for the 24 hour CPHO Reporting Line as identified through advanced scheduling.
Develops and evaluates standards, guidelines, protocols, policies and procedures, and strategies for the prevention and control of communicable diseases in the NWT, thereby ensuring that HSSA and health care professionals exercise current evidenced-based best practices when providing care.
Develops, presents, and participates in education sessions as an expert on communicable disease prevention and control and immunizations to ensure that NWT health care professionals and the general public are informed of the current best practice in these areas.
The Specialist represents the NWT on federal, provincial and territorial committees, forums and adhoc working groups on national matters relating to communicable disease prevention and control, immunization policy, vaccine requirements, national strategies or action plans, and other related public health topics.
Key Qualifications
An undergraduate degree in nursing and three (3) years of nursing experience including one (1) year experience in a specifically relevant area such as communicable disease control, public health, epidemiology, immunization programs, outbreak management, or health protection.
Inquiries Only:
Department of Finance
Government of the Northwest Territories
YELLOWKNIFE CENTRE 5TH FLOOR
BOX 1320 YELLOWKNIFE NT X1A 2L9
Tel (867) 767-9154 Extension 14106
Fax (867) 873-0445
[email protected]
Note: If you do not receive electronic notification confirming receipt of your application, please follow up via telephone.
