Location: Kamloops
Program: TiOAT Program
Reports To: Lead Nurse Practitioner
Contract Term/Hours: Ongoing Contract Position Minimum 15 hours per week commitment with flexible hours (telehealth or in person)
Start Date: April 1, 2023
Hourly Wage Range*: $75.00-$100.00
*Commensurate with experience
Who is the ASK Wellness Society? The ASK Wellness Society is a not-for-profit organization that supports individuals within the BC Region with opportunities and the resources to change their current situation. It is about reaching out to those people who are homeless and battling addictions, helping them find housing and medical care, addressing their addictions, stabilizing mental health and, ultimately, providing them with the skills to re-enter the work force. The ASK Wellness Society administers an unconditional sense of hope to those who are convinced they are incapable of ever achieving a stable and meaningful life.
Position Summary: As the Nurse Practitioner (NP) within our Prescribed Safer Supply Program (PSS), you will work in collaboration with our Nursing Team, Outreach Team, Interior Health, and Interior Community Services. The focus of the role will be to provide Prescribed Safer Supply and Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) to Program Participants who have complex substance use disorders and concurrent complex mental health. The NP will also provide expedient episodic primary care along with addiction therapies. Please also note this position will expect the Nurse Practitioner to be ready and willing to begin prescribing controlled substances for the purposes of both traditional OAT and as a safer supply option. Service delivery is based on a client centered, trauma informed and non-judgmental perspective.
Typical Duties Include:
Nurse Practitioner Responsibilities
- Work within a harm reduction framework to provide assessment and treatment for PSS Program Participants.
- Prescribe Safer Supply medications as per appropriate protocol.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of Prescribe Safer Supply clinical protocols.
- Assist with Program Participants addiction treatment who have been otherwise unable to access treatment.
- Encourage and support Program Participants to live as fully and independently as possible.
- Participate in the assessment, goal setting and program planning for Program Participants when requested.
- Provide supervision and support to mitigate individual and program risk to ensure safety, comfort, and wellness.
- Work closely with identified community resources for each Program Participant.
- Actively seek the views of Program Participants and involve them in decision making to improve their own identity, purpose, and self-esteem.
- Provide crisis intervention as required including overdose responses by ensuring immediate access to medical services and completing necessary incident reports when required.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Complete accurate and up to date communication/case notes, EMR and maintain files and statistics as per accreditation standards.
- Ensure medication adherence and documentation.
- When requested, be a member of the Society’s Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) team.
- Ensure compliance with all Society policies and procedures.
- Other duties which may or may not be outlined within this job description.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Current registration and exam qualified as a Nurse Practitioner with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
- Successful completion of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
- Recent, relevant clinical nursing experience.
- Knowledge of current safer supply and/ or OAT programs and prescribing with preference being given to those with experience with safer supply and/or OAT prescribing.
- Strong clinical skills and diagnostic abilities for people who use drugs and the ability to adapt clinical approaches and interventions to meet the needs of Program Participants.
- Experience and comfort working with people who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol as well as those who are in withdrawal from substances.
- Understanding of the Community Health Centre model of care and the principles of quality improvement
- Good communication, documentation, interpersonal and conflict management skills.
- Ability to work within a team-based environment involving multi-agency supports.
- Strong working knowledge of community resources.
- Understands and maintains professional boundaries.
- Must pass an acceptable criminal record check for the vulnerable sector.
- Occupational First Aid Level 1 required.
- Readiness to complete in-house online training as required.
- Mental Health First Aid, ASIST, and Trauma Informed Practice an asset.
- As Program Participants are allowed to have pets, it is noted that this is a pet friendly environment.
How to apply: Please submit your application with a detailed cover letter and resume with the reference “NP TiOAT” to careers@askwellness.ca no later than March 14, 2023, at 4:30pm. You may also apply directly online at https://askwellness.ca/careers/
The ASK Wellness Society offers assistance from an Employment Advisor. If you self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) and/or would like assistance with the application process, job readiness, interview readiness or tips for resume and cover letter writing, we encourage you to contact us, and you will be redirected to our Employment Advisor.
The ASK Wellness Society is dedicated to promoting diversity/multiculturalism with inclusion as one of our Core Values. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or age.
