Assistant Manager of Care, Dementia Care (Sunnyside Home)

The Role

Supervises the delivery of nursing services/care for the dementia care areas and responsive behaviour program in a long-term care home. Ensures the delivery of person-centred care that maximizes residents’ independence and supports their physical and emotional well-being. Supervises an interdisciplinary team in a 24/7 operation. Leads and coordinates responsive behavioural supports to resident care teams. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Supervises an interdisciplinary team including Team Leaders, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, and Personal Support Workers. 
• Supervises dementia care areas and the responsive behaviour program; ensures the delivery of person-centred care that maximizes residents’ independence and supports their physical and emotional well-being. 
• Implements policies and procedures to ensure staff compliance with legislation, standards, policies, and procedures. Assists in the development of policies and procedures.
• Supervises the development and maintenance of resident care plans; ensures resident needs are captured, and that assessment and medication protocols are followed. 
• Leads the development of behavioural support strategies for residents with responsive behaviours. Coordinates the provision of behavioural supports and consultation services to direct care teams throughout the home. Collaborates with direct care teams, residents, their families, and external consultants.      
• Supervises the resident high intensity needs program; oversees the submission of monthly reports to the Ministry.
• Supervises resident admissions for dementia care and responsive behaviour program supports. Reviews and assesses residents and applications, in collaboration with Social Worker; develops strategies for provision of care; and ensures continuous transition of care. Responds to/defends decisions to residents, applicants, family members, and agencies. 
• Prepares program reports for Manager; compiles information/records for Ministry audits.
• Recommends program changes to management to support continuous quality improvement.
  Identifies staffing needs and schedules staff to support 24-hour coverage.
• As the divisional expert on dementia care and responsive behaviours, provides advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and staff on best practices, methods, and the Division’s approach to dementia care and responsive behaviours. Provides in-house training and demonstrates care methods to divisional staff.
• Works with other divisional supervisors to support collaborative multi-disciplinary teams.
• Provides input into the overall resident care budget. Monitors the use of program resources and equipment. Submits claims to the Province for program reimbursement.
• Mediates disagreements in care involving staff, residents, their families, physicians, community agency, and hospital staff; advocates for the well-being of residents. Exchanges information, resources, and best practices with peers in other long-term care homes. Participates on committees with local and provincial stakeholders in long-term care, to improve services/practices.
• Backs up other members of the resident care management team as required.
• Performs related duties as required.
   

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of dementia care and responsive behaviour methods and approaches (e.g., Gentle Persuasive Approaches, U-First, PIECES); resident care and gerontological nursing; psychogeriatric and palliative care; long-term care; and recreational and physical therapy, normally acquired through a Bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g., nursing, health sciences), plus progressively responsible experience in a unionized long-term health care environment. 
• Knowledge of the principles of adult learning. 
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, collective agreements, and related legislation (e.g., long-term care homes, health and safety, mental health, privacy, personal health information protection). 
• Knowledge of community resources for older adults with mental health and addiction issues. 
• Analytical, organizational, problem solving, and continuous improvement skills to plan and develop objectives including administrative, technical, operational, and financial components; organize and coordinate the work of supervised staff; evaluate methods, activities, and procedures; and make recommendations regarding same to support quality improvement.
• Leadership, negotiation, mediation, communication, presentation, and human relations skills to supervise, train, develop, motivate, and support staff; communicate effectively with staff, the public, the Ministry, the Local Health Integration Network, agencies, and committees; advocate for residents; respond to complaints and inquiries from residents, families, and designated decision-makers, of a sensitive nature; conduct training and presentations to divisional staff; and participate as an effective team member. 
• Ability to read and interpret legislation, journals, communications, books, newsletters, correspondence, charts, reports, resident files, policy and procedure manuals, and collective agreements. Ability to write reports, policies and procedures, and training resources.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, electronic health records, and MDS/RAI.
• A tuberculosis (TB) test and annual influenza immunization are required.
• Must provide an acceptable Police Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3).
• Ability to participate in an official standby/on-call rotation to respond to legislated or time sensitive demands beyond regularly scheduled work hours.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to implement and monitor compliance with the Departmental vision and philosophy for integrated customer service within the division, across divisions, across departments, and within the broader community.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.