Public Health Nurse (Child, Family & Dental Health)

The Role

Provides public health nursing services with a focus on health promotion, health protection, and disease and injury prevention specific to an assigned program area, per Ontario Public Health Standards and the College of Nurses of Ontario standards and practices as defined by the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Nursing Act, and other professional nursing organizations, and consistent with the mission, vision, values, and strategic direction of the Department, including nursing competencies.

Program areas: Providing integrated programming related to Healthy Babies, Healthy Children; clinical services, screening and assessment related to prenatal and postnatal health including infant feeding support; and community program delivery related to prenatal health and early child development and youth health.  

Duties/Responsibilities

• Applies nursing science and the nursing care process to client groups. Provides case management, health counselling, consultation, clinical services, education, and resources to targeted individuals, groups, and stakeholders. Completes screening and intake assessments.
• Maintains client and committee records (electronic and manual). Completes documentation, reports, and statistics.
• Develops and implements communication strategies to educate and encourage behaviour change at the individual, community, and policy levels as it relates to improving the health status of assigned priority and universal populations.
• Implements community engagement strategies to build the capacity of community groups and networks; provides support, guidance, and knowledge to help groups identify and influence determinants of health.
• Coordinates consultation and planning teams within the Department and in the community, involving various agencies and staff.
• Advocates for policy changes related to improved access and health status specific to assigned priority and universal populations. 
• Engages in collaborative, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral approaches to address health risks of priority and universal populations. Collaborates and develops effective relationships with colleagues and other community professionals and stakeholders in developing and delivering health promotion and protection activities for assigned priority and universal populations, facilitate continuity of care and to deliver comprehensive client care with optimal outcomes.
• Uses harm reduction principles grounded in the concepts of health equity and social justice to identify and reduce or remove risk factors/barriers in a variety of environments and settings (e.g., homes, neighbourhoods, community sites, workplaces, schools).
• Participates in surveillance activities, analysis, and uses data to identify and address health issues within a population or community. Monitors, analyzes, and interprets information (e.g., health status data, community needs assessment, current research data, and patterns/trends in epidemiological data and service delivery) as it relates to strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and services for priority and universal populations. 
• Engages in research and monitors health-related publications, trends, and frameworks to guide program development, inform practice, and improve the health of priority and universal populations. Evaluates and modifies health promotion programs as needed. 
• Develops and actively participates in an individual continuous professional development plan to support ongoing quality improvement and maintain professional nursing and public health standards. Furthers professional competence by participating in programs, seminars, and workshops. 
• Provides nursing expertise and support in departmental initiatives such as immunization campaigns, infectious disease case and contact management and outbreaks and other emergency responses. 
• Acts as a preceptor to nursing students and volunteers.
• Represents the Department, Division, and/or program on community initiatives, committees, and coalitions.
• Keeps manager informed of pertinent day-to-day issues related to work assignments.
• Maintains and safely handles a computer/tablet, cell phone, audiovisual equipment, program and educational materials. Informs manager regarding equipment and repair needs. 

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Consults extensively with all levels of staff to carry out Ontario Public Health Standards, through implementation of program operational plans and delivery of multi-disciplinary health services. Consults with and provides in-service training to other program, divisional, and regional staff. 
• Regularly consults with colleagues in other health units, and provincial and federal ministries to discuss programs and services. Works with external research consultants, as required. 
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Providing clinical services, screening, and assessment related to prenatal health, postnatal health including infant feeding and maternal health.
• Informing, developing and/or implementing community and/or school-based programs and/or strategies related to healthy children, youth, and families to improve downstream health outcomes. 
• Working with and providing case management for vulnerable families and children, often over a period of time related to prenatal, post-natal, early child development and youth topics such as developmental growth and milestones, healthy eating, infant feeding including breastfeeding, positive parenting, and issues facing families requiring support with system navigation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess a current Certificate of Competence as a Registered Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario and a Baccalaureate degree that includes preparation in Public Health.
• Maintains professional competence as a Registered Nurse by the College of Nurses of Ontario as defined by the Regulated Health Professions Act. 
• Current CPR certification, immunization status, and proof of immunity for Hepatitis B are required.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, Ministry of Health Standards, Ontario Public Health Standards, Health Protection and Promotion Act, Health Care Consent Act, Personal Health Information Protection of Privacy Act, Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Nursing Act, Child and Family Services Act, and other related legislation and professional guidelines and standards. 
• Knowledge, skill, and judgment in the application of nursing science and nursing process; assessment and history taking; child, adolescent, and adult learning principles; life cycle/maturational stress factors; and the etiology of health factors specific to priority and universal populations. 
• Skill in project management, strategy development, and report writing. Critical thinking and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge and application of health surveillance data as it applies to assigned areas of work.
• Understanding of and ability to apply health promotion and communication strategies in collaboration with others to raise awareness of health issues and place social justice and health equity on the public agenda.
• Knowledge of how social, economic, and environmental factors affect health, health promotion strategies, and current community health developments; use of social justice concepts to improve the health and wellbeing of the public; and capacity building, advocacy, and policy development for priority and universal populations.
• Leadership, facilitation and team-building skills. Ability to model, support, and serve as a preceptor for professional and skills development. 
• Skill in priority setting, organization, and self-directed learning, with minimal supervision.
• Skill in community organization and conducting informal and formal assessments of health needs for priority and universal populations. Creative ability and experience in providing innovative health promotion activities; engaging others and motivating productive participation of community groups, schools, individuals, and staff to meet program objectives; and building effective partnerships with community members.
• Skill in health counselling, consultation, group process and facilitation, with public speaking and interpersonal skills to counsel, advise, and facilitate learning by individuals and groups of children, adults, school staff and other professionals, peer health workers, parents, caregivers, and community members. Ability to provide non-judgmental, inclusive service to all clients. Ability to refer, coordinate, and facilitate access to services in health and other community sectors. 
   

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate complex technical information verbally and in writing, and to educate and express ideas clearly and concisely to clients of all ages, staff, multicultural groups, and other groups to further program objectives. Ability to alter language to suit priority and universal groups and clients’ comprehension levels.
• Public speaking ability tailored to lay and professional audiences.
• Ability to write clearly using appropriate format and language for reports, memos, business letters, pamphlets, meeting minutes, and other documents. Ability to synthesize data and literature from multiple sources to complete reports, documentation, and proposals.
• Computer and technology skills with the ability to use software to create documents, conduct internet-based searches, and network. Ability to use and maintain electronic documentation programs.
• Ability to participate as an effective team member within an interdisciplinary health setting with community members of various backgrounds and cultures. 
• May work altered hours, including occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Ability to travel within and occasionally outside the Waterloo Region.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
• Service delivery experience and knowledge of child, youth, and family health-related issues (e.g., prenatal and postpartum health, growth and development, breastfeeding support, healthy family dynamics, positive parenting, reproductive health, healthy eating, healthy weights, active living, mental health, and substance use).
• Must possess Breastfeeding Certification or ability and willingness to complete.
• For work in Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, must complete annual re-certification for the Parent-Child Interaction Feeding and Teaching Scales program and other mandated training as required. 
• Knowledge of science and theory related to community conditions that support healthy growth and development including infant, child, youth, and mental health and substance use prevention to improve downstream health outcomes.
• Must meet vaccine requirements for Health Care partners connected to the program (e.g. COVID-19).