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 Clinical Security Liaison Nurse (CSLN) works collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary team and within a trauma informed practice and Indigenous cultural safety lens to provide and support nursing care delivery and planning for incarcerated clients who require treatment under the BC Mental Health Act. Functions as a mentor and an experienced clinical resource and provides guidance on clinical, procedural, and physical, therapeutic, and relational security issues. Assists clinical teams with the development of behavioral care plans and risk management plans for patients. Leads clinical and security interventions to improve quality of care and patient health outcomes. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on the development, implementation, and monitoring of safe working practices, procedures, policies, and information that ensures security and safety to both patients, staff, and visitors.
Promotes and provides education, evidence-based practice, and research. Advances nursing and interdisciplinary practice in therapeutic and relational security. Leads the violence prevention strategy for the Correctional Health Services Designated Mental Health Unit (CHS MHU). Facilitates Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) and Advance Team Response (ATR) as a classroom instructor. Responds to code white and/or emergency situations, providing demonstrations, clinical support, and guidance regarding ATR coordination, incident management, de-escalation, and other site management issues. Supports staff and patient debrief post incident and provides Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) support. Consults and collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, the leadership team and other health care professionals/providers to achieve excellence in patient/client and family centered care and enhancement in the quality of life consistent with established policies, standards of practice and philosophy of BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience

• Current practicing registration as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse or as a Registered Nurse with the British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM).
• Three (3) years’ recent, related nursing experience in a designated clinical area, including working with individuals with mental health and substance use disorders, and including one (1) year’s related administrative/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 (DRIPA, 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.
• Knowledge of complex mental illness, substance use and concurrent disorders and treatment, and of the principles of recovery.
• Knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation methodology, substance dependency and substance use treatment, psychopharmacology (indications and side-effects) and psychotherapeutic and counseling skills.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice and its application to the defined population of clients.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective leadership, supervision, work direction and consultation.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive mental health and substance use clinical and risk assessments, utilizing relevant tools and rating scales, and formulate a treatment plan, participate in transition planning, and provide crisis intervention.
• Ability to apply knowledge of theory and practice to a case management process.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate (orally and in writing) and collaborate effectively with patients/clients and their families, coworkers, physicians, other health care staff, and staff of external agencies.
• Knowledge of primary, secondary, and tertiary care programs and relevant, community resources.
• Knowledge of health care disciplines and their role in client/family care and service provision.
• Knowledge of evidence informed nursing practice related to designated clinical area.
• Knowledge of legislation and government policies and procedures that relate to patients/clients, including the BC Mental Health Act, Forensic Psychiatry Act, and the Criminal Code of Canada as it relates to the Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission.
• Demonstrated clinical experience, knowledge and understanding of patient clinical issues, promotion of choice, respect, and dignity.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver educational materials for staff/patients/clients and families based on education theories, principles, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to promote a supportive, creative learning environment and lead continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan, organize and prioritize work.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, adjust to unexpected events, mediate, and deal with conflict.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead change and support staff through transitions.
• Knowledge of basic research, e.g. research ethics, research question, hypothesis, and qualitative and quantitative data analyses methods.
• Demonstrated ability to perform CPR.
• Demonstrated computer literacy to operate a computerized client care information system as well as applicable word processing, spreadsheet, and database software applications.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

Duties
1. Facilitates staff learning by acting as a clinical resource and demonstrates expertise and leadership in nursing and clinical practice by methods such as developing and delivering education initiatives, demonstrating patient de-escalation, PVPC, ATR (Code White) and seclusion entry procedures, answering questions related to clinical practice issues, problem solving, troubleshooting concerns, and leading clinical and security interventions.
2. Works as an integral member of the interdisciplinary clinical team and provides patient clinical security and risk information and management advice as it relates to the development of risk assessments and treatment plans. Collaborates and assists clinical staff in the development of health outcomes that support patient recovery and therapeutic care. Provides information in the development of behavioural/treatment patient care plans and risk management plans for patients. Promotes the growth and development of an innovative and progressive attitude with a focus on the recovery of the patient while recognizing the need for therapeutic caution.
3. Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to assist, recommend, and guide safe seclusion care of patients and staff on CHS MHU, which includes following policy and procedure. Collaborates with teams on, and supports colleagues with, patient transition out of seclusion. When requested plans and authorizes patient entry/exit of seclusion.
4. Supports members of the interdisciplinary team with clinical decision-making regarding patient de-escalation, PVPC, ATR (Code White) and seclusion entry decisions and procedures. Evaluates performance of ATR team post incident by assisting with post incident debriefing with patient and clinical team and providing feedback to ensure care is provided according to program standards and clinical practice guidelines. Leads and coordinates mock PVPC, ATR, and code white drills by guiding staff through refresher scenarios, observing staff performing activities and providing feedback to ensure scenario is completed according to established standards and clinical practice guidelines.
5. Provides critical feedback to leadership team about staff PVPC and ATR competencies, including skill development improvements post incident and post incident investigations. Provide direct follow up with staff to improve patient outcomes.
6. Attends aggressive or violent incidents within the designated MHU that may have an unpredictable outcome, supports clinical staff colleagues by demonstrating, providing guidance, and information on clinical safety and security tasks to deescalate and manage the patient and the incident.
7. Carries out Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefing to staff and physicians. Participates in incident investigations, reviews CHS MHU policy, procedures and provides feedback to CHS leadership team from a clinical safety and security perspective.
8. Performs regular audits to ensure compliance with policy, procedures, and best practice.
9. Completes daily incident reports as required.
10. Attends interdisciplinary admission, patient care meetings and transition meetings as required and requested.
11. Consults and assesses with the admission team and clinical unit of potential high-risk admissions and discharges. Provides clinical knowledge and patient management recommendations on high-risk admissions, leaves, and discharges, and makes recommendations based on assessment to management and the clinical team.
12. Participates in the development, maintenance, and delivery of high-quality care, through the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of safe patient care processes within the CHS MHU. Sets, monitors, maintains, and promotes clinical security standards within all areas, particularly relating to the areas of the BC Mental Health Act and BCMHSUS policies and procedures.
13. Collaborates with Relational Security Officers and/or local police as required for major incidents. Liaises with Police, BC Corrections and Sheriffs as required to ensure appropriate communication and notification of risk issues as required to ensure safe delivery of patient care.
14. Participates and/or leads investigations that can lead to quality Improvement and safety for patients and staff. Implements and reviews practice ensuring organizational and BCMHSUS objectives are achieved. Supports the CHS MHU through their involvement in groups or working committees charged with development of policy and procedure or service changes.
15. Assists in the recruitment and interviews of clinical staff. Carries out specific orientation training for staff from all disciplines to ensure a safe and secure environment.
16. Delivers formal classroom Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum and Advance Team Response training relating to clinical security at the BCMHSUS centres, which includes assessment of training uptake to ensure the competence of those nurses and other staff in the unit. Delivers formal therapeutic and relational security training to all clinical staff at the CHS MHU role modeling to staff in a classroom or at designated workstations. Supports the clinical work of other disciplines within the units and off-unit areas to support staff and teaches other clinical and non-clinical staff. Liaises with interprofessional practice and management to coordinate the introduction of new skills/procedures and arrangement of training sessions as required. Provides mechanical restraints (Pinel restraints) classroom training as well as just-in-time training to clinical staff at the point of care.
17. Participates in the evaluation of the effectiveness of educational programs, activities, and resources by analysing learning outcomes using program/resource evaluation, learner behaviours, utilization statistics, and reviewing feedback to identify opportunities and formulate recommendations for quality improvement.
18. Keeps up to date of evidence-based research, trends and developments in clinical and relational security and participates in the planning, development and evaluation of new ideas and methods for the constant improvement of BCMHSUS.
19. Deals with all safety and security relevant complaints, including significant complaint investigations and critical incident reviews, quality improvement across the CHS MHU. This involves the development of recommendations on patient care, policy review and security practice.
20. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Promotes awareness of Work Safe BC and Occupational Health and Safety standards by reviewing standards with staff to determine adherence.
21. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel and using online patient safety learning system (PSLS). Assists the Manager in leading reviews of safety events as a handler such as, interviewing patients/clients/families to investigate clinical components of incident reports and refers performance related issues to the Manager. Shares learning from safety events with team members and incorporates recommendations within clinical practice to enhance client safety.
22. Performs other related duties as assigned.