Legal Counsel

at  BC College of Nurses and Midwives

Status: Regular, Full-Time
Number of Positions: 1
Work Location: Hybrid, Vancouver B.C. (a combination of in-office in Vancouver and remote work)

WHO WE ARE

The British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (“BCCNM”) is the college empowered under the Health Professions Act to regulate the practice of all licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, registered midwives, registered nurses, and registered psychiatric nurses in British Columbia. Regulation helps to protect the public by ensuring that professional care or service received by the public is competent, ethical, and meets the standards that society views as acceptable.
As western Canada’s largest health profession regulator, we believe a diverse and inclusive team enriches our efforts to protect the public. We welcome applications from all who reflect of the communities we serve, and especially encourage Indigenous Peoples and members of equity-seeking groups to apply. We believe diverse perspectives and experiences bring both innovation and better outcomes to the work we do and the decisions we make.

YOUR EDUCATION & SKILLS

• Bachelor of Law Degree or Juris Doctor required. Must be a practicing member in good standing of the Law Society of B.C.
• Three to ten years’ experience in administrative, criminal, or medical malpractice law, or equivalent. Professional regulation and health law experience preferred. Experience working with Indigenous and equity-deserving groups preferred.
• Demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning related to Indigenous cultural safety and humility to constructively disrupt indigenous-specific racism in BC’s health care system.
• Demonstrated understanding of diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility as they apply to nursing and midwifery practice and health care.
• Superior organizational skills, experience in managing a high volume of work and large caseload, and the ability to handle diverse situations as they arise.
• Ability to prioritize and work effectively under continual deadlines with limited resources.
• Ability to work within a number of statutory frameworks and apply relevant legal principles to diverse issues.
• Ability to exercise good judgment in recognizing scope of authority and protecting confidential information.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with registrants, external partners, and the public.
• Intermediate to advanced skills with MS Office suite is
• Knowledge of the Health Professions Act, FOIPPA legislation, PIPEDA and the Privacy Act is an
• Experience with distinctions-based legal principles an asset. Alternative dispute resolution and facilitation/mediation experience an asset.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills with a plain-language and trauma-informed focus. Experience providing advice to non-legal peers an asset.
• Experience with MS CRM Dynamics and MS SharePoint an
• Experience with volunteer or elected boards an

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Reporting to the Executive Director/Deputy Registrar, Inquiry, Discipline & Monitoring, the Legal Counsel (LC) works to ensure the efficient, fair, risk-based and trauma-informed management of all legal matters within the purview of the Inquiry, Discipline & Monitoring (IDM) department. This includes complaints investigation, consent resolution, and discipline hearings, in accordance with the Health Professions Act (HPA), the upcoming Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA), the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FOIPPA), the Privacy Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), College bylaws, and administrative law. The LC also provides legal and strategic advice to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) Board, Registrar/CEO, committees, and staff, as appropriate, on policies, processes, and discrete files within the mandate of IDM.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• In consultation with the Executive Director/Deputy Registrar, IDM, provides legal analysis and advice to staff, leadership and statutory decision-making bodies regarding inquiry & discipline matters from a risk-based and trauma-informed perspective. This includes providing legal advice on investigative strategy and outcomes, drafting reasons, and negotiating consent resolutions.
• Takes carriage of legal proceedings in a team model, including extraordinary action, records applications, discipline hearings, judicial reviews and reviews by the Health Professions Review Board. In consultation with the Executive Director/Deputy Registrar, IDM provides instruction to external counsel on IDM matters and may support alternative resolution processes.
• Supports continuous review and improvement of complaint intake and assessment processes, including implementation of culturally safe and distinctions-based processes.
• Collaborates on the creation, organization and maintenance of databases; risk matrixes; decision trees; bring forward systems; disposition charts and other resource materials.
• Maintains an understanding of privacy law as it applies to the work of IDM. May manage Privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI) matters related to the IDM department, including breach management, privacy requirements arising out of IDM investigations and/or complaints.
• May conduct investigations.
• Supports IDM team to review bylaws, policies, and procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practice.
• In consultation with the Executive Director/Deputy Registrar, IDM identifies legally complex cases and issues as they arise and provides legal advice to staff, committees, the Registrar/CEO, or the Board, as appropriate, on both a discrete and operational level. Liaises with staff throughout the organization.
• Provides legal training and information to staff, committee members, and as appropriate, registrants and the public.
• Fosters and maintains an organizational culture that promotes mutual respect, teamwork, and service excellence.