Program Coordinator, Forensic Psychiatric Services

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Reporting to the Manager of Review Board Services, Access, Transitions and Forensic Clinical Risk, the Program Coordinator works in collaboration with the Forensic Care Coordinator team to identify and prioritize all business reflective to case management and Review Board matters. The Program Coordinator serves as a critical linkage between the Forensic Care Coordinators team, the Regional Clinics and The BC Review Board. They are responsible for information dissemination and communication with the Court and Review Board Services. The Program Coordinator is actively involved in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of projects, and maintains primary project coordination responsibility. Supports team efforts with internal and external partners on ongoing programs and initiatives to improve the Forensic Care Coordinator/RBL department objectives and deliverables. The work environment is strictly confidential, fast, challenging, and high profile. Requires excellent relationships with leadership, department, hospital, and regional clinic staff to ensure the effective operations of the Director/ Person-in-Charge’s office.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Makes evidence-based recommendations to resolve issues and/or escalates queries to the Program Manager and/or Director as appropriate.
• Provides a central point of contract for Forensic Review Board Matters. Including all communication & correspondence, scheduling, coordinating & liaising with multiple programs and teams.
• Performs specialized administrative tasks, including issues of breach, direct-back of patients on conditional discharge, liaising with the Access & Discharge department coordinating patient return to hospital.
• Maintains current lists for key contacts, program services providers and facilities within the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital and Regional Forensic Clinics. Catalogues electronic records. Coordinates and maintains processes for receiving, reviewing, processing, tracking, and filing BC Review Board related reports including hospital and community submissions, dispositions and reasons to database and CST FLASH. investigation, research, review, reconciliation, control and co-ordination of various documentation and processes.
• Participates in a variety of meetings, including strictly confidential, often sensitive critical incident review proceedings, through methods such as drafting agendas, gathering background materials including reports and handouts, attending, and recording proceedings, preparing, and distributing minutes and reports, and taking follow-up action such as drafting correspondence for signature, ascertaining status of items/issues and investigating designated items.
• Responds directly to sensitive, confidential and often urgent inquiries in person, via phone or email from senior management, clinical personnel and the public, referring inquiries as appropriate.
• Conducts and/or coordinates multiple projects with in the Review Board & Access and Discharge departments including court appearances,
• Assists with, recruitment, hiring and onboarding processes and procedures.

Qualifications:

A level of education, training and experience equivalent to a Bachelor degree in a field such as Legal Studies, Criminology, Health Sciences, Business/health administration or related field, plus three (3) years recent, related experience working in complex health care environment or a legal and/or forensic mental health setting or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Knowledge of the FOIPP Act, Psychiatric and Psychological terminology preferred. Excellent organizational, time management, communication and a high degree of accuracy is important to the position. Must be able to deal with highly sensitive issues and complex medical/legal matters in confidence.
• Knowledge of the BC Criminal Code, the BC Review Board and Provincial court system Broad knowledge of the relevant sections of the Criminal Code, BC Mental Health Act, FOIPPA, and applicable case law.
• Commitment to upholding the shared responsibility of creating lasting and meaningful reconciliation in Canada as per TRC (2015) and BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019).
• As a strong asset for consideration, we are looking for our successful candidate to have; knowledge of social, economic, political, and historical realities impacting indigenous communities and familiarity with Indigenous Cultural Safety and anti-racism and accompanying reports (BC DRIPA, TRC, etc.).
• Advanced administrative skills, communication, organization, problem solving and attention to detail required to be successful in this role.
• The ability to effectively plan 1 – 3 months in advance to ensure that obstacles, challenges and opportunities are being addressed in a proactive manner.