Vacancy Status: Please note that this posting is for an existing position

Job type: Temporary 12-month contract, Full-Time

Location: 1767 Dundas St E, Mississauga, ON, L4X 1L5

HOMELESS HEALTH PROGRAM

The Homeless Health Program is a Nurse Practitioner-led initiative that provides essential healthcare services to individuals who are homeless, precariously housed, or transitioning out of homelessness in the Peel Region. We understand the unique challenges faced by those without stable housing, and our goal is to make healthcare accessible, integrated, and responsive.

Our dedicated team includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, and Personal Support Workers, all working together to ensure our patients receive the care they need, where and when they need it. We remove barriers to care for those facing housing instability and poor health.

The program manages 45 medical beds at the Dundas Street Shelter, providing 24/7 care, as well as daytime mobile primary care services at other shelters and drop-ins across the region.

By providing these services, we help hospitals make the best use of their emergency and acute care resources. Patients who no longer need to stay in the hospital but still require medical support can continue their recovery in a shelter bed with healthcare services. We also offer additional support for people in shelters who may need extra medical attention, helping to prevent unnecessary hospital visits.

Our medical services include:

• Care for chronic conditions like diabetes
• Medication management
• Support for substance withdrawal and pain management
• Wound care
• Mental health services and stabilization
• Chiropody (foot care)
• Monitoring and support after hospital stays

This program ensures that structurally vulnerable populations in our community have access to the care they deserve, improving overall health and wellbeing.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Care

The RN/RPN assists in the delivery of primary care services and promotes healthy lifestyle choices for the residents of the community. The RN/RPN provides holistic care and acts as an entry point into the broader health or social service system including:

• Assist the health care team to plan and evaluate programs and develop or initiate health teaching, screening programs or workshops by identifying health needs of individual clients, families and community groups.
• Perform clinical tasks by conducting nursing assessments, health education/ counselling, history taking, performing specific procedures according to the College of Nurses of Ontario standards of nursing practice and providing follow-up care.
• Participate in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of treatment, education, counselling, and health promotion services for individuals, families, and the community.

Health Promotion and Education

• Identifies trends or issues related to the health status of priority groups and uses the information in planning and advocacy work.
• Actively participates in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion and education and support programs that are relevant and meaningful to the community served by WellFort, at off-site locations, and in collaboration with community partners.
• Provides health information and counselling to individuals and groups through discussion, workshops/presentations, health fair displays, videos and the provision of written materials.
• Acts as a resource to WellFort staff and in partner/community organizations on specific and general issues in primacy health care within registered nursing scope of practice and according to College of Nursing standards.
• Promotes and increase awareness of health promotion activities with clients including immunizations, flu shots, smoking cessation, risk assessment, lifestyle modifications, and assesses readiness for change.

Advocacy and Community Development

• Advocates for and with clients to reduce barriers to accessing health care and other services in the health centre and the broader community.
• Works with clients, especially those who traditionally experience barriers to access to ensure that they are treated with fairness and dignity.
• Participates in the development and support of public policies and strategies that have a positive influence on the determinants of health.
• Engages with the community to enhance its ability to function independently, to improve or protect the environment, and to support the development of healthy public policy and practice.
• Participates in community projects or WellFort activities to provide education, information or to develop collaborative strategies.

Administration & Others

• Maintain clear, accurate, and timely written electronic documentation including EMR, requisitions, reports, encounters, and other information as required by the health centre, MOH, CNO and other regulatory bodies
• Contribute to policy/protocol development, in relation to health care service delivery and/or professional practice
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of government guidelines, acts and legislation affecting client care
• Stays current on evidence-based strategies that improve health.
• Supervise, support, or provide education for students from various disciplines with a particular focus on the determinants of health, primary health care and the role of nursing within WellFort
• Share responsibility for the ordering, maintenance, and proper handling of medications, vaccines, supplies, and equipment
• Makes purchases within allocated budget lines and follows protocol for ordering, tracking, and paying for supplies.
• Participates in research when opportunities arise.
• Other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Diploma or degree in nursing from a recognized community college or university. Baccalaureate degree an asset.
• Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario and in good standing.
• Registered Nursing experience in a variety of primary care settings one of which must be community health.
• Experience working with communities and individuals who face barriers accessing tradition health care institutions such as poverty, discrimination, mental health, and substance use issues.
• An understanding of and critical analysis of the determinants of health and social factors, such as power dynamics that affect individual, organizational and community health.
• Excellent written communication and oral skills that meet the needs of the individual and/or community at the appropriate literacy level.
• Experience working with confidential and time sensitive documents and information.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience working in a value based non-profit or social services organization.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and interdependently in an interdisciplinary team environment in which the skills and responsibilities of each team member are recognized and respected.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of computers and various computer software applications, such as Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
• Ability to speak languages relevant to the residents of the organization’s community is an asset.

APPLY

Requests for accommodation due to disability can be made at any stage in the recruitment process.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a willingness to participate in WellFort’s commitment to becoming an inclusive, barrier-free health centre and an ability to work in an interdisciplinary team. We encourage applications from individuals who can identify with the diverse communities we serve and invite these candidates to voluntarily share their relevant identities as part of their application.

We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. No agencies.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, new WellFort staff must be fully compliant with our Vaccination Policy unless they have received an exemption from vaccination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Proof of vaccination status will be required before the first day of work or, proof of religious or medical exemption, if or where applicable.

As part of WellFort’s hiring process, we use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and evaluating applications. All final hiring decisions are made by our human recruitment team.