Director of Clinical Operations and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)

internal/external posting

job title: Director of Clinical Operations and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) 

job ID #: IHS DCOIPC 22-0112

department: Integrated Health Services

reports to: Chief Medical Officer

salary range: 79,900 to 118,000 per annum

status: Full Time, Contract (18 months)

hours:  37.5 hours per week

Who we are:

Sherbourne is a leading provider of quality health care and transformative support to people who face social, economic and other systemic barriers.   Our mission is to advance the equity and quality of care and services and to improve health for underserved communities.  This is done through primary health and chronic disease services; health promotion and education; outreach and social supports; and mental health services.

Sherbourne provides innovative health care and social services to the diverse urban population of southeast Toronto.  While our doors are open to everyone, we focus on people who are homeless or under-housed; LGBTQ, and newcomers to Canada.  We are funded by the Ministry of Health, Toronto Central LHIN, Ministry of Child and Youth Services, City of Toronto and many generous companies, groups and individuals.

Working at Sherbourne

At Sherbourne Health, we care about our staff and recognize that our biggest strength is our people. We have a solid commitment to life-long learning which is demonstrated through our professional development program. We invest in collective work and staff training to improve client care. We supplement this by creating a low-barrier work environment built on equity and respect, while working together in caring, cohesive teams and providing opportunities for advancement.

we believe in work-life balance and offer:

• A competitive salary.
• Membership in Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).

about the role:

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the Director of Clinical Operations (DCO) oversees clinical operations for programs and services within the Integrated Health Services portfolio at Sherbourne Health, which includes the Acute Respite Care (ARC) Program, Harm Reduction Programming (including The Rotary Club of Toronto Health Bus and Hepatitis C Treatment programs), Mental Health Counselling, and the Sherbourne Health Family Health Team (FHT). The DCO directly supervises the Manager of Primary Care, Manager of Harm Reduction and Mental Health, and the Senior Manager of the Acute Respite Care (ARC) Program.

day to day responsibilities:

The DCO will lead transformational change to ensure the implementation of high-quality client services that is evidence-informed and meets legal, regulatory, and professional standards and regulations. They also oversee program planning, implementation, and evaluation. This includes setting program objectives and determining benchmarks/evaluation measures that align with Sherbourne Health’s strategic and operational plans. A priority for the DCO is to support smooth operations and client flow internally within Sherbourne Health clinical/harm reduction programs and services. In addition, in collaboration with the leadership team, the DCO will collaborate with community partners to help ensure that clients have safe, equitable, and positive experiences as they navigate key care transitions directly before and after accessing Sherbourne Health clinical/harm reduction programs and services.

The DCO creates an environment that promotes collaborative teamwork and client satisfaction. The position ensures client care is safe, evidence-based, competent, caring, and comprehensive in complying with professional and regulatory standards of practice. In addition, the DCO upholds accreditation standards and ensures that program and practice standards are consistent with professional guidelines (e.g., PHIPA, Regulated Health Professionals Act).

The DCO supports clinical operations through the development and implementation of consistent clinical practices which includes: the standardization of clinical policies/procedures; demonstrated safety awareness; compliance with professional practice standards, and overseeing a scheduled audit process (e.g., IPAC, EMR documentation/chart integrity, privacy). The DCO will assess and make recommendations to the CMO on ineffective client flow processes, facilitate knowledge transfer and exchange, and lead/participate in team and cross-functional meetings/committees where appropriate. With the evolution of Ontario Health Teams (OHTs), the DCO will lead/participate in initiatives that will help improve outcomes for current and emerging priority populations (including people experiencing homelessness and mental health concerns), adopt innovating digital health technologies, and reduce health inequities in Downtown East Toronto.

The DCO embodies Sherbourne’s vision, mission, and values and supports achieving the organization’s strategic direction.

specific accountabilities:

Clinical Leadership

• Oversee implementation of high-quality health care services; ensuring clinical programs are evidence-based and meet the standards and requirements of related Ministries and accreditation bodies.
• Support direct reports by ensuring they have annual work plans and/or logic models and manage the implementation ensuring all resources are executed efficiently.
• Promote a positive work culture through fostering teamwork and supporting staff and management in all aspects of their work.
• Support or initiate the development of funding proposals, manage the program funding on a day-to-day basis by overseeing financial transactions, budget reports, and preparing ad hoc reports requested by funders and the agency. Maintain a good relationship with funders.
• Improve work processes by working with other leadership team members to remove duplication, streamline processes and improve integrated services to the clients.
• Represent Sherbourne to the community, external partners, and stakeholders. Develop networks within the community health sector to help advance Sherbourne’s objectives.
• Conduct regular performance reviews of all direct reports.

 Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Occupational Health and Safety

• Provide leadership in IPAC with respect to the knowledge and competencies required for clinical staff to practice safely and to help prevent potential healthcare-associated infections.
• Chair the IPAC committee at Sherbourne.
• Assist with the implementation and roll-out of the organization’s Pandemic Plan.
• Assure compliance with IPAC regulatory requirements related to clinical operations.
• Collaborate with the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Human Resources, and the broader Management Team as appropriate by providing content expertise on IPAC issues related to ensuring a safe working environment.

Quality Improvement

• In collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer, develop the quality improvement strategy for Integrated Health and Services programs and services. Support managers with developing quality improvement initiatives to improve client health outcomes, population health outcomes, client experience, and per capita costs within their program/services areas.
• Establish organizational key performance indicators (KPIs) and support KPI monitoring for Integrated Health Services programs and services (in collaboration with managers and the broader leadership team) to ensure programs are on track to achieve the organization’s strategic goals
• Participate in the review of client/staff incidents and collaborate with the Leadership Team to make recommendations for system improvements to mitigate future risk.
• Collaborate with the Management Team to summarize key findings from internal data and research and recommend organizational changes.
• Help develop an organizational dashboard, which will be shared both internally and with Sherbourne Health’s Board of Directors.
• Develop and monitor the Sherbourne Health and/or Downtown East Toronto Ontario Health Team (DET OHT) Quality Improvement Plans (and Safety Plans) as required.
• Work with the management team to support and implement initiatives that focus on population health and address health inequities.

Accreditation

• Lead the accreditation process by collaborating with the Management Team to ensure compliance with pertinent regulatory and accreditation standards and reporting requirements and coordinating the collection of evidence prior to the Accreditation Canada site survey.

leadership competencies:

People Leadership and Relationship Building

• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, integrate, motivate, and coach people to achieve successful performance results.
• Work with management to set clear and achievable goals with stated expectations.
• Build successful relationships by treating all staff fairly and providing them with meaningful and challenging experiences; build teams and team spirit.
• Collaborate and create opportunities for shared success with partners, funders, other management, and Sherbourne employees.
• Recognize and reward successes and contributions.

Program Management

• Ability to create, plan, organize, coordinate, and integrate programs and initiatives that meet program targets and enhance Sherbourne’s client services.
• Ability to assess risk areas and recommend mitigation solutions.
• Ability to initiate and oversee program evaluations and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ability to manage and plan annual budget expenditures.
• Ability to identify and surface potential problems and take proactive action to address issues before they become bigger.
• Champion new initiatives, lead the change process and create an environment to achieve the desired change.

Organizational Planning

• Ability to think strategically and envision the future of program areas.
• Understand the interconnectedness, complexity, and wholeness of operational procedures – how together they comprise the system and how changes made to one part impact other parts of the system.
• Ability to lead streamlined processes to make them more efficient, and work with others to develop and adopt new procedures and processes.

Community Engagement

• Ability to foster and build strong relationships with community and funding partners, as required.
• Explore integrated and strategic partnerships that enhance services to Sherbourne’s clients.
• Initiate evaluations, needs assessments, town halls, and surveys that assess emerging client needs.
• Act with a sense of urgency to seize new challenges and opportunities and achieve enhanced deliverables.

Commitment to cross-agency integrated program planning

• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively within the management team, program teams, or in cross-agency workgroups and internal committees. This includes contributing fully and actively to team activities, projects, and program initiatives to achieve group and organizational goals.
• Resolve conflicts by facilitating the expression of diverse points of view to enhance teamwork and attain a beneficial resolution. Take steps to help others resolve the conflict and maintain trusting relationships. Promote co-operation between program teams.
• Commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression: Actively champion and participate in cross-agency initiatives that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and embed anti-discrimination principles in programming and service delivery approaches to improve client care and staff development.

To thrive in this role, you’ll need

education and experience:

Education

• Undergraduate degree in nursing/social work (or other health profession), public health/health care administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree in health administration, systems leadership, nursing/social work (or other health profession), business administration, or related field, or equivalent education and experience as an asset.
• Regulated health care professional and registration with a professional college such as the College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, etc
• Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC), Quality Improvement, Project Management, and/or Change Management coursework/certification an asset.

Experience

• Five plus years of experience supervising staff in a client-oriented organization.
• Two plus years of experience working with clients at various levels in the health and/or community social environment.
• Understanding of Sherbourne’s clients
• Experience working in a fast-paced, client support environment
• Proficient at developing and presenting quality reports and deliverables using PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.
• Excellent English communications skills.
• Ability to speak and write other languages would be an asset

knowledge and skills:

• In-depth knowledge of Sherbourne’s program areas and population priorities.
• Experience with financial and administrative processes.
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff in a client-focused environment within a community health organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to build and maintain positive relationships with staff, peers, and with diverse community stakeholders.
• Solid understanding of the Ontario health care sector, its stakeholders, community programs, and funding proposal procedures.
• Proficient English language skills – both oral and in writing.
• Demonstrated understanding of local community issues, priorities, and needs including challenges facing urban health populations (e.g., people experiencing homelessness).
• Experience working with and enforcing anti-racism and anti-oppression principles.
• Knowledge of care coordination and integrated service delivery models.
• Ability to speak and write other languages would be an asset

conditions of employment:

• Offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory outcome of background checks i.e., professional references, education verification, criminal background check, and vulnerable sector check.
• Understands and works within the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the Ontario Human Rights Code and other relevant legislation.

working conditions:

• Monday – Friday; some weekends and evenings
• Admin On-Call
• Management Evening Rotation

Note: Statements included in this job description are intended to reflect in general the duties and responsibilities of this classification and are not to be interpreted as being all-inclusive. Other duties may be assigned from time to time.

to apply:  Please forward a cover letter and resume quoting Job ID #IHS DCOIPC 22-0112 to myjob@sherbourne.on.ca by January 28, 2022.

Sherbourne is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. This includes diversity in languages spoken, culture, race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

BOLD.                  KIND.                   REAL.                   OPEN.                   WE CARE.