Title:  Health and Wellbeing Practitioner-HS125

Summary of Duties:

Reporting to the Manager, Dearness Community and Programs Services, the Health and Well-Being Practitioner enhances the Dearness Home’s commitment to the resident-centred, holistic care by supporting residents, families, staff and volunteers through integrated psychosocial and spiritual care, with particular focus on end-of-life, grief, and complex mental health needs. As a key member of the Palliative Care Team, the Health and Well-Being Practitioner provides various therapeutic approaches, grief support, and coordination of spiritual care resources in alignment with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021. The role also plays an active part in the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team, supporting residents living with dementia, mental health concerns, and responsive behaviours.

Work Performed:

Palliative & End-of-Life Care

• Actively participate in the multi-disciplinary palliative care team.
• Provide therapeutic counselling interventions to assist residents and families experiencing the process of pre-anticipatory grief and the decline of loved ones.
• Assist with advance care planning conversations and support family meetings, educating on expectations at the end of life.
• At end of life, coordinate external clergy and spiritual leaders for rituals, sacraments, Indigenous ceremonies, or other resident-identified requirements.
  Collaborate with team members to integrate spiritual, psychosocial, and emotional needs into care plans.
  Provide grief and bereavement support (individual and group) for residents, families, staff and volunteers.
• Refer family/residents to community supports as needed.

Behavioural Supports

• Actively participate in the BSO team, applying various therapeutic approaches to support residents with dementia, mental health concerns, or responsive behaviours.
• Conduct assessments of underlying psychological and existential factors contributing to behaviours.
  Deliver therapeutic interventions to reduce distress and improve resident quality of life.
• Collaborate with nursing, PSWs, recreation, and allied health in developing personalized behaviour support plans.

Spiritual Care Coordination

• Complete spiritual assessments as part of resident admission, care planning and palliative case reviews.
  Serve as the liaison with external clergy/faith communities: arrange spiritual supports for residents and families to facilitate participation in the ceremonies, rituals and religious observances of their faith tradition, and organize visits to the home by various external supports and service providers.
• Organize and lead large memorial and annual events with various internal and external service providers.
• Work with the Community Life team to develop inclusive and culturally sensitive programs and approaches that meet the diverse spiritual, religious and cultural needs of the residents and families.
• Co-Chair various committee meetings with the Volunteer Coordinator and attend meetings and groups as assigned.

Leadership, Education & Staff Support

• Provide support and education around mental health, dementia, grief, and coping strategies to families and staff. Refer family/residents to community supports as needed.

General

• Contribute to the identification and recommendation of policies, procedures and practices that support programs and services provided by Dearness Home; may include the collection of information, improvements to procedures and customer service.
• Demonstrate commitment and promotion of anti-racism, anti-oppression, and human rights in all operations, policies and programs.
• Demonstrate commitment and adherence to Health and Safety legislation and programs; actively promote a culture of safety.

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in trauma informed care, narrative therapy or mindfulness-based interventions.
• Demonstrated experience using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) principles with older adults or individuals in residential care.
• Demonstrated knowledge of The Fixing Long-Term Care Act and Regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to effectively communicate with diverse populations within the community.
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills that strongly contribute to the Home’s interdisciplinary resident-focused care model, including conflict resolution and problem solving.
• Ability to understand the importance of service delivery with the ability to work as part of a team and to deal with individuals in crises.
• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Qualifications:

• Completion of a University Degree in Nursing, Psychology, Social Work or related degree.
• Three to five years of related experience working in a long-term care environment or with seniors or adults with disabilities or mental health challenges. 
• Member in good standing with a relevant regulatory college or association (e.g., College of Nurses of Ontario, Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers, College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario) 
• Training and/or certification in grief and bereavement counselling (e.g., through Hospice Palliative Care Ontario or Canadian Virtual Hospice program).
• Specialized training in elder care, dementia support, or end-of-life care.

Compensation & Other Information:

$80,770 - $105,948 (annually).

This posting is for (1) permanent full-time position being filled on a permanent full-time basis. 

Current hours of Work: Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekend and evening work may be required. 

Work Arrangement: This position is arranged to be in-person. Subject to change in accordance with business requirements.

These hours of work and work arrangements are subject to change in accordance with business requirements.

Police Record Check

The successful applicant will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) dated within the last 6 months.