Registered Practical Nurse – Full Time

Embassy Commons - London, ON- 730 Dundas Street

Salary: $56,100-$65,500   

Position Description:  Reporting to the Program Manager, as the RPN, you will work to your full scope of practice in collaboration with Registered Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses across the organization and with Indwell’s Clinical Lead. As an integral part of an interdisciplinary care team, you will assist in the coordination and delivery of holistic health care to residents within a supportive housing model. This is an approach to wellness that simultaneously addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual components of health. Modelling the principles of person-centered and evidence-based care while collaborating within an interdisciplinary team. You will require a high level of resilience and willingness to work in close proximity to challenging situations. Also, you will have the ability to have a highly positive impact on people who have experienced marginalization and is highly rewarding for the right individual. 

What matters to you?  Being in a work culture that operates out of their core values of DIGNITY, LOVE and HOPE- embracing diversity, promoting equality and inclusion. A place that sees you as a LEADER contributing your individuality to champion the vision of creating communities that TRANSFORM lives.

About Indwell:  Founded in 1974, our Christian charity continues to thrive and grow exponentially as we serve people impacted by poverty and homelessness through our vision of HOPE and HOMES for All.   We are the fastest growing developer in Ontario creating affordable high quality efficient housing communities coupled with supportive programs to over 1200 tenants to meet their needs of health, wellness, and belonging.   To learn more, go to: indwell.ca/our-model 

What our Nurses say:    

"I have never been prouder to tell people about my workplace. The values that Indwell represents can be felt on every level of the organization. I have been humbled by the resilience of the population we serve. The emphasis on relationships first and the use of a truly holistic approach have made this the most rewarding work I have ever been a part of."   

"Where else could I practice the skills and employ the knowledge I have, in a way that is so meaningful and relational?  Somewhere that an intramuscular injection demonstrates trust and relationship.  Where else can I be a nurse while simultaneously being so 'human'?  Somewhere my 'clients' see and respect my humanity first, and my title and credentials second.  The 8hr shifts, street clothes, lack of night shifts, benefits, caring management, interdisciplinary team, autonomy, and common goal for hope and homes are just icing on this cake." "It is a unique environment to work with teammates who are so like-minded, while also bringing a diverse complement of experience and backgrounds."     

Hours of Work: Full time- 40 hours per week, 8 hours a day with flexibility to meet program needs between the hours of 8am-11pm, including public holidays. As the program operates 7 days a week, being on-call for 1 week every 4-6 weeks is required to support the tenants and each other on the team. The on-call rotation consists of carrying a work cell phone 24/7 for that one week, responding to urgent matters. Nursing on-call includes phone support to other London programs.

WHAT YOU WILL DOING: 

Participation and Commitment to the Interdisciplinary Team   

• Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication
• Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in community nursing
• Provide health teaching and educational resources regarding nursing practices to the interdisciplinary team
• Maintain oversight of the medication support program, inclusive of addiction medicine.
• Assist in the orientation and support of staff, students and volunteers
• Be interested and able to act as a preceptor to nursing students  
• Promote and demonstrate the vision, mission and values of Indwell within the workplace and the community   
• Attend and actively participate in team meetings and other agency meetings as required. Engage in community tables as appropriate 
• Knowledge and understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery models, including harm reduction strategies around substance use
• Demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice)

Directly Supporting Individuals to maintain and improve their health and housing   

• Build therapeutic relationships with residents with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed approach, promoting trust, in alignment with Indwell’s values of dignity, love, and hope.
• Knowledge and understanding of psychosocial rehabilitation, recovery models, including harm reduction strategies around substance use
• Ensure and maintain good functioning and oversight of the medication support program.  
• Liaise with pharmacy to ensure a good working relationship is maintained    
• Provide direct nursing care to residents as required within scope of practice
• Collaborate with and organize appropriate community nursing and medical supports in addition to informal supports for residents
• As part of an interdisciplinary team, coordinate, lead and/or facilitate the development and monitoring of supportive plans of care in collaboration with an internal and external team of community professionals and agencies
• Provide health, mental health, and addictions assessments in collaboration with program staff and supports. Ensuring consistent follow up with treatment and recovery plans    
• Regular monitoring of residents within full scope of practice and evaluating the effectiveness of residents’ support plans through regular follow up visits   
• Participate in the intake process and onboarding new residents to the program
• Demonstrate confidence and skill with de-escalation strategies as well as crisis prevention and intervention
• Health teaching on topics including but not limited to medications, immunization, chronic disease management, etc.   
• Ensure continuity of care by maintaining up to date health records and communication with primary care providers and other service providers as required. Provide suggestions with regards to any required changes in residents’ treatment profile  
• Complete required reports in a timely manner in accordance with policy and procedures
• Assist volunteers to deliver relevant supports within the program
• Comfort with landlord responsibilities such as pest management and rent collection
• Plan and facilitate programs relevant to health, wellness, and belonging in collaboration with members of the interdisciplinary team
• Employ strategies to foster a sense of community within the program.  
• Support residents’ engagement in cultural, spiritual, recreational, leisure, educational, and social activities.    
• Take responsibility for a primary case load (either within a team-model or individual case-manager model).

Leadership   

• Consistently show initiative and engage in creative problem solving
• Demonstrate ongoing commitment to learning and supporting diverse individuals and communities (i.e. cultural safety, anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice)
• Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with our pharmacy partners, while providing leadership and oversight of the medication program.
• Experience leading and/or guiding internal teams to accomplish shared goals
• Reinforce a positive workplace culture and tone through your skilled verbal and written communication
• Keep interdisciplinary team informed of community opportunities and emerging trends related to best practices in community nursing
• Engaging and establishing external community partnerships to meet and improve the health and wellness needs of residents

 Health, Welfare and Safety Practices   

• Adhere to health and safety standards to maintain a healthy work environment 
• Complete required safety checks and inspections as assigned 
• Manage infectious control duties including any (potential) outbreaks   
• Review isolation procedures and donning and doffing PPE with unregulated staff   
• Provide updated information to residents and staff to remain safe during any (potential) outbreak
• Attend and participate in all required training     

WHAT YOU WILL BRING:  

• Completion of an approved Registered Practical Nursing program and experience in community nursing or mental health services
• Current registration as a Registered Practical Nurse with the College of Nurses of Ontario  
• Evidence of appropriate insurance as stipulated by the College of Nurses of Ontario  
• Familiarity with the Ontario Common Assessment of Need is an asset
• Having experience and knowledge of the array of services offered in addiction medication is a benefit
• Comfort, familiarity, and certification in wound and/or foot care is an asset
• Committed to upholding and modeling the standards set out in the organization’s Mission Statement, Statement of Faith, Code of Conduct and other operating standards and policies  
• Experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, addictions or other special needs  
• A warm, sensitive and caring attitude
• Ability to work independently, be flexible, organized, responsible, and take initiative
• Preparation to problem solve and handle crises with clear rational thinking
• Proficiency to maintain excellent interpersonal relationships

We want you to thrive: 

• Vacation: 3 weeks paid with 8 HEAL days (sick and personal appointments) per year

• Benefits ($6,000/year) paid: Extended health (100% medication coverage- some exceptions may apply), dental and vision care.  Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program- primary care and professional consulting services 
• Group RRSP: Indwells gives 5% of salary, you can opt in for further contributions
• New Staff Orientation Days
• Professional and Personal Development- annual Leadership Conference (themed with guest speaker) + Spiritual Ranch Retreat (reflection and recharge with various outdoor activities).  Cliffs Strengths Finder Assessment facilitated by People Developer for mentoring opportunities, Lunch and Learn Webinars, Indigenous Cultural Competency and 2SLGBTQ Awareness + more 
• Social Events:  Indwell’s Hope and Homes Banquet yearly to celebrate the important work we do + team gatherings

As Indwell works to support diverse tenant populations, we are seeking to create a diverse work culture that closely matches the diversity of our communities with qualified individuals who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives.  Our supports, services and employment are open to people from every creed, race, ethnicity, sex, ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.  And we especially invite applications from Black, Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities and intersectionalities.  Indwell’s leadership are motivated by the example of Jesus Christ as reflected in Indwell’s statement of faith.  

Inspired to JOIN OUR TEAM, we invite you… 

To APPLY:  Please forward your cover letter and resume to our website: www.indwell.ca/careers. We thank all for your interest; however, only those applicants that are being considered will be notified.  

Personal information submitted will be used only for employment opportunities within Indwell in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.   

Accommodation will be provided to applicants who make their needs known in advance for the duration of the hiring process as required under Indwell’s Employme