Nurse Practitioner, West Ottawa HART Hub - Casual

Position Title: Nurse Practitioner, West Ottawa HART Hub
Department: West Ottawa HART Hub
Reports to: Director, West Ottawa HART Hub
Type: Regular (considering flexible FTEs)
Pay Scale: $63.395/hr to $74.593/hr

This position is an existing vacancy.

Benefits include:
• 4% in lieu of vacation
• HOOPP

WEEKEND PREMIUM:
Eligible weekend shifts include a premium above the regular hourly rate, recognizing the importance of supporting access to care during weekend service hours.

Who We Are

Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre is an innovative, community-based, multi-service centre. We strive to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve. We work in partnership with individuals, families, and communities to achieve their full potential, paying particular attention to those who face barriers to care due to race, gender, income and/or ability. PQCHC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity in its workforce. If at any stage in the selection process, you require accommodation due to a disability, please let us know the nature of the required accommodation.

The West Ottawa Homeless and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub (WOHH) is a new collaborative initiative being driven by seven core partners and led by PQCHC, with support from more than 20 organizations across the region. The HART Hub will provide safe, low-barrier and judgement-free access to a full continuum of services for people in need of support with their substance use health. This continuum will include primary care, addiction medicine, withdrawal and treatment services as well as housing support, peer connection, and access to social services. The West Ottawa HART Hub will operate out of two locations- a main location housing a walk-in clinic and withdrawal management and a secondary location housing the bed-based stabilization and treatment services.

Position Summary

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) is an integral member of the West Ottawa HART Hub (WOHH) interdisciplinary team, providing integrated withdrawal management, addiction medicine support, episodic primary health care, and mental health assessment and treatment to individuals aged 16 and older. Working within a trauma-informed, culturally safe, client-centred, and harm reduction framework, the NP assesses, diagnoses, treats, prescribes, monitors, and provides short-term follow-up for substance use, physical health and mental health concerns within scope of practice. WOHH operates within an episodic model of care. The NP responds to identified health needs through assessment, treatment, consultation, referral, care coordination, and short-term follow-up, while facilitating transition to appropriate community or specialty services when ongoing care is required.

Model of NP Practice

The NP role is organized around four interconnected clinical functions:

1. Withdrawal Management and Addiction Care: Assessment and treatment of substance use, intoxication, withdrawal, associated risks and addiction-related health needs.
2. Episodic Primary Health Care: Timely assessment and management of acute, chronic, preventive and other primary care needs that arise during a client's involvement with WOHH.
3. Mental Health and Concurrent Disorders: Identification, assessment and treatment of mental health concerns within NP scope, including consideration of the relationship between mental health, substance use, withdrawal, medications, physical health and psychosocial circumstances.
4. Navigation, Consultation and Continuity of Care: Determining what can be managed within WOHH, what requires short-term follow-up, and what requires consultation, referral, transition to longitudinal care or escalation to another level of service.

Job Specific Responsibilities

Direct Client Care

• Provide client-centred, trauma-informed, culturally safe and harm reduction-oriented care to individuals accessing WOHH services.
• Assess, diagnose, treat, prescribe and monitor care for substance use, physical health and mental health concerns within NP scope of practice.
• Deliver withdrawal management, addiction medicine, episodic primary health care and mental health services.
• Identify health risks, develop care plans, provide health education, and support clients in achieving their health and recovery goals.
  

Clinical Prioritization, Coordination and Continuity of Care

• Prioritize care based on client safety, clinical risk, withdrawal management needs, acute health concerns and continuity of care requirements.
• Exercise clinical judgment to balance immediate treatment needs with ongoing care planning, referrals and transitions to appropriate services.
• Assess and prioritize referrals and determine appropriate assessment, treatment, consultation, referral and follow-up requirements.
• Facilitate referrals, consultations and transitions to primary care, specialist services, psychiatry, addiction medicine and community supports.
• Collaborate with clients, caregivers, interdisciplinary team members and external partners to ensure coordinated and continuous care.
• Ensure investigations, treatment plans and clinical interventions have appropriate follow-up and documented care plans.
• Support discharge planning and safe transitions between services.
  

Health Promotion and Outreach

• Promote health, wellness, harm reduction and recovery through client education, outreach activities and evidence-informed interventions.
• Identify and address barriers to care and support equitable access to health services for priority populations.

Documentation and Administration

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical documentation in accordance with professional, legal and organizational standards.
• Complete required administrative, reporting and data management activities that support program accountability and quality assurance.
• Participate in chart audits, program evaluation, quality improvement initiatives and the development of clinical, educational and program resources.

Teamwork, Collaboration and Quality Improvement

• Practice autonomously within NP scope while working collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Participate in team meetings, case reviews, care planning and consultation activities.
• Maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and contribute to ongoing professional learning, knowledge sharing and program development.

Qualifications

• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing.
• Current registration in the Extended Class as a Nurse Practitioner with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
• Experience in or willingness to learn addiction medicine, withdrawal management, primary care, mental health and/or care of individuals with complex health and social needs.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn evidence-informed substance use treatment, harm reduction and withdrawal management.
• Demonstrated ability to assess and manage acute and chronic primary care and mental health concerns within NP scope.
• Understanding of health inequities, social determinants of health and barriers experienced by high-priority communities.
• Strong interdisciplinary communication, consultation, referral and care-coordination skills.
• Proficiency with electronic health records, computers and relevant software applications.
• Bilingualism preferred; additional languages are an asset.