Who We Are:
Canadian Mental Health Association Durham is an integrated community mental health and primary care hub that has been providing mental health services to Durham Region for over 60 years.
During that time, it has evolved to provide a broad range of services to individuals and their families experiencing mental health challenges, from information and education to case management, psychosocial rehabilitation, housing and primary healthcare. These services are provided through inter-professional teams focused on providing clinically based services that, in addition to dealing with client mental health issues, address social determinants of health using the recovery model.
Overview of the Role:
Reporting to the HART Hub Lead, The Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) provides nursing care and clinical support to individuals residing in Treatment and Transitional Beds and may be required to assist with Withdrawal Management Beds under the clinical oversight and direction of a Registered Nurse (RN). The RPN works within an interdisciplinary team to support stabilization, recovery, medication management, withdrawal support, and safe transitions to community-based services. Care is delivered using trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and harm-reduction approaches.
Location: HART Hub employees may begin work at 60 Bond St. West, and will move to the designated HART Hub location in Oshawa at a later date.
Hiring for Multiple Positions. This position will have varying shifts.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Direct Client Care
- Participates to full scope of a Registered Practical Nurse, as a member of a multidisciplinary clinical team providing nursing services for all clients.
- Provides nursing care to individuals with mental health and/or substance use challenges in treatment, transitional, and withdrawal management settings.
- Completes nursing assessments, health screenings, and ongoing monitoring of physical and mental health status within RPN scope of practice
- Administers medications (oral, injectable, PRN) in accordance with prescribe orders, organizational policies
Supports a team-based response to medical and psychiatric emergencies, including crisis intervention and de-escalation
- Supports clients through stabilization, withdrawal management, recovery planning, and transitions to ongoing treatment or community support
- Promotes comfort, safety, hydration, nutrition, and rest during withdrawal in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team
- Performs comprehensive assessments and comprehensive mental health and addictions assessments
- Assessments are holistic and include relevant medical, psychiatric and social domains
- Contributes to an integrated, comprehensive care plan that reflect the client’s goals and aligns with program aims
- Provides care, information and resources regarding prevention, healthier behaviours, chronic disease management and end of life planning to reduce harm whenever possible
- Performs venipuncture and wound care
- Manages multiple nursing interventions simultaneously in rapidly changing situations
- Implements plans of care for highly complex clients in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team at HART Hub
Recovery Planning and Advocacy:
- Facilitates access to mental health and addictions services including diagnosis, treatment, counselling (individual, group), and ongoing evaluation.
- Educates clients on their medication, including side effects, drug/alcohol interactions to foster adherence
- Advocates for program and system processes that reflect the needs and desired outcomes for clients
Documentation and Communication:
- Documents client contact using clinical methods and within predetermined time frames in accordance with CMHA Durham policies and procedures, and the College of Nurses
- Participates in effective client transitions and rounds to ensure client care is seamless
Team Collaboration and Crisis Support:
- Exchanges and/or transfers new knowledge about evidenced-based practices within the team
- Assists in the development and revision of policies and guidelines related to health care
- Provides linkages to other health care professionals and community services as needed
- Assesses the significance of changes in the clients’ clinical status and intervenes, when necessary, to minimize risk to client and employees
Client Safety:
- Adheres to CMHA Durham client safety programs including program policies as well as infection prevention and control (IPAC) procedures
- In partnership with clients, family members, and fellow employees, maintains open lines of communication to assist the organization in identifying and achieving quality outcomes for client safety
- Reports on client safety incidents and suggested improvements to manager or delegate.
Other Duties as Assigned:
- Attends, participates in team meetings and all employee meetings
- Participate in organizational quality improvement activities, e.g. accreditation projects, committee work, special events
- Participates in quality improvement activities at the team/program level
- Participation in external committees as required
- Participates in assisting with higher acuity clients with oversight of the RN
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position.
Effort:
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Sits stands and walks daily to perform the duties of the job
- Concentration, attentiveness, and critical thinking is required daily to assess clients, administer medications/injections, attend meetings, develop care plans, prepare documents, listen to clients, use nursing equipment, as well as may lift walkers or push wheelchairs as needed
- Committed to self-care to maintain therapeutic competencies
- Resolves conflicts, problem solves, facilitates meetings, attend meetings, manages caseloads, prepares documents, etc.
Risk Management:
Minimizes risks adhering to CMHA Durham Policies and Procedures identifying, assessing, evaluating and controlling risks ensuring well-being of employees and clients
Qualifications:
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Registered Practical Nursing Diploma or Degree and a minimum of two years related mental health experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
- License in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
- Membership with Registered Practical Nurses Association
- Valid First Aid/CPR and/or Basic Life Support required
- Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Health Care Consent Act, Internal agency and other related legislation in Ontario
- Sound knowledge of psychotropic medications including usage and potential side effects
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships clients, community, partners, employees and always represent the agency in a professional manner
- Ability to acquire and utilize community resources effectively to meet client’s needs
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills and ability to formally present information to individuals or groups to develop, implement and monitor nursing care plans and attend meetings
- Ability to resolve complex client problems to ensure a high standard of nursing service
- Excellent assessment and organizational skills
- Flexibility to adapt to change
- Ability to work independently when necessary
- Ability to think critically and creatively
- Ability to make accurate nursing assessments and implement best practices
- Valid Ontario Driver’s license, access to a dependable vehicle in safe working order and appropriate insurance coverage considered an asset
- Knowledge of MS Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), internet and electronic medical records system
- Ability to work a variable schedule which may include evenings and weekends as required
- Able to integrate CMHA Durham’s philosophy of being a “welcoming organization” into everyday practice
- Ability to adapt to change and navigate through ambiguous situations
- Project management skills
- Knowledge of Indigenous communities and cultural practices (preferred).
- Intermediate proficiency in French considered an asset.
- Work outside of normal business hours as required
Working Conditions:
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Works on site in within the HART Hub program
- Exposure to hazards such as blood/bodily fluids and cleaning fluids
- Some exposure to hazards such as needles, medications, etc.
- Exposure to psychiatric behaviors that may be considered offensive (abusive/irate clients), deadlines, multiple demands, distractions/Interruptions
- Some exposure to hazards (smoke)
What We Offer:
CMHA Durham is a non-profit community-based organization that believes that mental and physical health care is for everyone regardless of class, race, sexuality, gender, age, faith, or ability. With a flexible working model (within reasonable parameters of the program), memberships to meditation apps, competitive vacation, wellness time and 100% employer paid health benefits, work-life balance is not only encouraged but expected. Our Monday – Friday work week has 35 hours for most positions and everyone gets their birthday off with pay.
Read more about us at CMHADurham.org/getinvolved.
CMHA Durham endorses the principles of workforce diversity and does not use AI algorithms or automated decision-making in the recruitment process. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please advise us if you require any level of accommodation; we are here to help and support you.
