Formula and Milk Handling Technician, Milk Handling Room - BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

Formula and Milk Handling Technician, Milk Handling Room

BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

Vancouver, BC

What you’ll do

• Maintain strict adherence to aseptic procedures, Food Safe guidelines, and safety practices and procedures related to the handling of human milk, and the handling and preparation of infant, enteral and metabolic formula, including following the Guidelines for the Preparation of Human Milk and Formula in Health Care Facilities.  
• Prepare all infant and enteral formula and human milk feeds, with or without added nutrition products by preparing and portioning into aliquots for feeding by nurses at the patient bedside as per the Nutrition Order and in accordance with established guidelines, policies, procedures and standards.
• Collect human milk from NICU for labelling, storage and preparation with added nutrition products. Deliver human milk and formula to clinical areas as appropriate according to established safety standards; rotate and/or remove expired products.
• Receive and review new and existing Nutrition Orders. Use the appropriate software technology to calculate or manually calculates amount of nutrition products to be added to human milk, or amount of product to prepare infant, enteral or metabolic formula required to achieve Nutrition Order. Verify accuracy utilizing mathematical calculations as required.
• Clean and sanitize work area daily according to established procedures to ensure that aseptic conditions are maintained, including the preparation space and equipment required for the labelling, handling, preparation and storage of human milk. Perform additional cleaning tasks as per schedule and following standardized procedures and protocols to maintain an aseptic environment.
• Operate equipment including hot water dispenser, blender, dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer required for storage and preparation of human milk, infant, enteral or metabolic formula according to established procedures and protocols to maintain an aseptic environment.
• Monitor equipment function and maintain data for audits, including but not limited to temperature logs of area dishwasher, refrigerator and freezers according to established standards. Escalate to supervisor for direction when values are out of acceptable range and takes corrective action as directed. Report equipment malfunctions to maintenance and the supervisor immediately.
• Communicate with clinical staff regarding formula and human milk inventory management, such as alerting nursing staff of EBM shortages and requesting alternative Nutrition Orders if human milk is not available.
• Prepare human milk in inventory for patient discharge or transfer.
• Clarify Nutrition Orders as required, e.g., when orders are outside of expected parameters according to nutrition standards and protocols. Communicate with prescriber regarding the order and request adjustment of the prescriber’s order as required.

What you bring

Qualifications

• Grade 12, completion of a recognized two (2) year Food Service Supervisor Program plus one year’s recent related experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to deal with others effectively
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to organize work
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
• 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 of settler colonialism on Indigenous Peoples and familiarity with addressing Indigenous-specific anti-racism, anti-racism and Indigenous Cultural Safety and foundational documents and legislative commitments (The Declaration Act, the Declaration Action Plan, TRC, IPS, Remembering Keegan, etc.).

What we bring

Every PHSA employee enables the best possible patient care for our patients and their families. Whether you are providing direct care, conducting research, or making it possible for others to do their work, you impact the lives of British Columbians today and in the future. That’s why we’re focused on your care too – offering health, wellness, development programs to support you – at work and at home.

• Join one of BC’s largest employers with province-wide programs, services and operations – offering vast opportunities for growth, development, and recognition programs that honour the commitment and contribution of all employees.
• Access to professional development opportunities through our in-house training programs, including +2,000 courses, such as our San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training course, or Core Linx for Leadership roles.
• PHSA is a remote work friendly employer, welcoming flexible work options to support our people (eligibility may vary, depending on position).
• Access to WorkPerks, a premium discount program offering a wide range of local and national discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining, travel, wellness, apparel, and more.

Job Type: Casual
Wage: $32.81/hour
Location: 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver BC, V6H 2N9
Hours of Work: As per MHR/FR rotations, 0830 - 1630
Requisition # 174072E

What we do

BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH) provides care for the most seriously ill or injured children and youth from across British Columbia.

BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre (BCW) is dedicated to improving the health of women, newborns and families through a comprehensive range of services, research and education.

BCCH and BCW is part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) plans, manages and evaluates specialized health services with the BC health authorities to provide equitable and cost-effective health care for people throughout the province. Our values reflect our commitment to excellence and include: Respect people – Be compassionate – Dare to innovate – Cultivate partnerships – Serve with purpose.

Learn more about PHSA and our programs: jobs.phsa.ca/programs-and-services

PHSA, BCCH and BCW is committed to equity in our hiring and employment practices. With learning and compassion, we are addressing existing inequities and barriers throughout our systems. PHSA is seeking to create a diverse workforce and to establish an inclusive and culturally safe environment. We invite applications and enquiries from all people, particularly those belonging to the historically, systemically, and/or persistently marginalized groups identified under the B.C. Human Rights Code.

One of PHSA’s North Star priorities is to eradicate Indigenous-specific racism, which includes dismantling barriers to health care employment at every level. We welcome Indigenous individuals to apply and/or contact the Sanya'kula Team (Indigenous Recruitment & Employee Experience) for support at indigenous.employment@phsa.ca.

Indigenous-specific anti-racism initiatives are rooted in addressing the unique forms of discrimination, historical and ongoing injustices, and marginalization faced by Indigenous peoples. These initiatives align with an Indigenous rights-based approach, recognizing the inherent rights and self-determination of Indigenous communities. PHSA must uphold legislative obligations and provincial commitments found in the foundational documents such as including Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015), In Plain Sight (2020), BC's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (2019), United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Reclaiming Power and Place Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Calls for Justice (2019), the Declaration Act Action Plan and Remembering Keegan: A First Nations Case Study.