Registered Nurse, HART Hub

REGENT PARK COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE

We are a dynamic community-based health centre promoting social justice and health equity in the Regent Park neighbourhood and Downtown East area of Toronto. We operate out of several locations and provide a wide variety of services including: primary health care, chiropody, physiotherapy, health promotion, social work, community health, immigrant and refugee services, harm reduction and homeless programs, addiction and recovery services, Pathways to Education, infant and child development programs, parenting programs, and youth employment services.

Regent Park CHC is a hub partner for the Downtown East Toronto’s Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub. The HART Hub is intended to address locally identified gaps in mental health, addictions, primary care, supportive housing and social services by leveraging an integrated approach and co-locating services both on-site and proximate to the HART Hub site at Regent Park CHC.

Registered Nurse

Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub

Full-time Permanent, 35 hours per week

Hourly Range: $37.36 to $45.01, plus benefits including HOOPP pension

Position Summary:

As a member of the Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub Team, the Registered Nurse contributes to the integration of clinical, social, and supportive housing services, ensuring a cohesive and client-centered approach to addressing complex service needs such as homelessness, substance use, and mental health challenges, in a high density, low income, multicultural, inner city community.

The Nurse assists in the provision of direct client care with a focus on addictions and mental health treatment and recovery through primary health care, health promotion, education, coordination of community services, and individualized treatment plans.

Responsibilities Include:

Program Support:

• Provide low-threshold primary care to clients who use substances, including existing primary care clients or clients identified through the HART Hub outreach and intake processes
• Provide education and counselling within a treatment and recovery framework to clients regarding their substance use
• Support clinical expansion of substance use treatment initiatives.
• Provide supportive counselling and crisis intervention on an individual basis
• Assist with developing care plans, care coordination and referrals for clients
• Perform basic nursing care including assessing patient conditions, administering medications, assisting with treatments, and monitoring patients
• Apply nursing skills (dressings injections, suture/clip removal and assisting with procedures) and as required (venipuncture, pulmonary function testing, ECGs)

Advocacy and Support:

• Advocate for individual client needs for access to effective care, follow-up and resources from both an individual and systemic level
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to assist with quality improvement and development of creative strategies to meet client needs
• Participate in relevant meetings and actions as per internal policies and protocols
• Engage with HART Hub advisory groups representing the needs and experiences of program clients in order to adapt and improve program delivery and outcomes
• Participate in the development and/or support of policies and strategies which are in the interest of public health, recognizing the social determinants of health
• Advocate on an individual basis for and with clients to other agencies and institutions.

Outreach and Engagement:

• Provide health promotion and education both to individuals and to groups
• Provide health information in accessible, appropriate ways to community and clients through pamphlets, posters etc.
• Share of teaching and supervision of medical learners
• Participate in outreach and community development as appropriate within HART Hub
• Participate in other RPCHC programs and activities as appropriate
• Represent RPCHC (as delegated) in external projects or initiatives related to developing and implementing healthy public policy and/or addressing the social determinants of health
• Work with the community to enhance its ability to function independently
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with service providers, community groups and other agency representatives and individuals working in overdose prevention.
• Assist in the creation and distribution of communication materials to promote the program and increase awareness.

Qualifications and Skills required:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a post-secondary certification as a Registered Nurse in the Province of Ontario.
• A minimum of 2 years of frontline nursing harm reduction experience in a community based marginalized population who use illegal drugs.
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the health issues of a diverse community and experience working with disenfranchised populations.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to support the homeless population and apply trauma informed principles in work with clients and community.
• Knowledge of overdose prevention and response strategies
• Excellent understanding of impacts of systemic oppression on marginalized individuals and communities
• Demonstrated understanding of principles of community development and experience applying these principles in work settings.
• Extensive experience in conflict resolution and crisis intervention
• Extensive knowledge of mental health, addictions and crisis services and systems

• Experience in program development, implementation and evaluation an asset.

• Demonstrated understanding of pharmacology clinical theories and practices.
• Ability to function as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience and comfort working with an electronic medical record (EMR)
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Excellent leadership and planning skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal, decision making, critical thinking and organizational skills
• Commitment to valuing diversity, equity, partnerships and advocacy in keeping with Regent Park Community Health Centre’s Strategic Direction.
• Commitment to Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppressive strategies

• Knowledge of the Regent Park area and issues affecting families living within the Regent and Moss Park communities
• Must have full COVID 19 vaccine for the protection of clients and staff

Regent Park CHC is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. Applications are encouraged from qualified individuals who are Indigenous people, members of racialized communities, individuals of diverse sexual orientation and gender identification, persons with disabilities and others protected under the Human Rights Code as well as individuals with lived experience in the Regent Park community. This is a bargaining unit position within OPSEU Local 5115.

Please submit your resume and cover letter noting the job title in the subject line to: jobs@regentparkchc.org