Summary

JOB SUMMARY:

Within the context of a patient, client and family centred model of care and, in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the Patient Care Manager, the Clinical Specialist, with overall direction from the Professional Practice Leader, supports the interdisciplinary program/team in achieving program, patient and resident goals.

The Clinical

Specialist functions as an expert practitioner, resource and consultant by applying a conceptual model and relevant theory at an advanced level to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the delivery of care within a specific area of clinical expertise. Inherent in these functions is the administrative responsibility and authority to participate in decision making, policy development and program planning for practice in the specialized area. This includes development, implementation and evaluation of a “suite of services” to reduce risk, cultivate resilience, and address the unique needs of dementia caregivers throughout the illness, integrating care alongside the care for the person with dementia within the Elder Care Clinic.

Develops and implements effective caregiver training programs and facilitates the delivery of appropriate, effective and timely services to dementia caregivers.

The Clinical

Specialist supports the Dementia Caregiver Resilience Clinic (DCRC) and Early Intervention Memory Clinic (EIMC) by providing evidence-based clinical assessment, treatment and education grounded in geriatrics, resilience, and group psycho-educational theory in a group setting and/or on an individual basis to out-patient caregivers of people with dementia. Monitors patient outcomes and adjusts care plans as required by working collaboratively with caregivers, and patients and their families.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training, and Experience

Master’s Degree in a relevant, regulated Health Sciences discipline and three (3) years’ recent related experience working in a chronic disease management, cognitive impairment and dementia care setting, including one (1) year working with the specialized needs of patients with dementia and their caregivers and one (1) year of program coordination and development experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Additional training in the CARERS psychotherapeutic group process, Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care, or equivalent dementia caregiver group facilitation techniques also required. Current full registration with the applicable regulatory body.

Skills and Abilities

•Advanced knowledge of clinical practice related to the treatment and care of patients with dementia, their caregivers, resilience strategies and psychotherapeutic group facilitation.

•Comprehensive knowledge of the pathophysiology of dementia, associated neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the cognitive, psychological, behavioural, social, and functional impacts of dementia.

•Advanced knowledge of the cognitive, emotional, relational, somatic, behavioural, social, and functional impacts of subjective cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia for the person experiencing cognitive change and their care partners.

•Demonstrated knowledge and ability to use relevant frames of reference in practice such as:



Mindfulness Based Dementia Care, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), cognitive rehabilitation, MI (motivational interviewing), and ACT (acceptance commitment therapy).

•Demonstrated knowledge of outcome measures related to caregiver burden and resilience.

•Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to develop assessment, treatment and discharge plans within a biopsychosocial clinical reasoning framework and integrated care model with the patient-caregiver dyad.

•Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and to develop strong working relationships with patients, families, other health care providers.

•Demonstrated ability to develop, review, evaluate and write clinical protocols and guidelines and patient education materials.

•Demonstrated project management skills.

•Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships and drive collaboration.

•Demonstrated ability to work independently and prioritize issues and workload.

•Demonstrated commitment to both learning and to mentoring others.

•Demonstrated ability to teach, conduct and facilitate formal and informal presentations, demonstrations and lectures related to dementia and the disease-related, caregiver specific, relational and practical challenges of the dementia caregiver role.

•Demonstrated ability to be facilitate psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational groups.

•Demonstrated ability to deal with and/or guide others in conflict resolution issues.

•Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

- Acts as the specialized clinical resource in this clinical area including facilitation of dementia caregiver groups such as CARERS and Mindfulness-Based Dementia Care and provides related mentorship to staff physicians and other health care Professionals throughout PHC.
- Collaborates with members of the inter-professional Dementia Caregiver Resilience and EIMC team to plan, develop and implement evidence-based programs/projects, services and resources required by high-risk and other dementia caregivers. Tracks and evaluates clinical activities and services, selecting and utilizing outcome measures to identify and address issues and concerns and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for vulnerable family carers. Monitors applicable resources as required.
- Develops additional ‘suite of services”, scaling of care models and associated content and materials to reduce risk and cultivate resilience of dementia caregivers including providing expertise, input and recommendations to the Dementia Caregiver Resilience team with the goal of enhancing client care, expanding service delivery (including virtual options), and improving clinical outcomes in dementia caregiver resilience. Identifies implications of research findings and imbeds current developments into planning, procedures and processes used for the dementia caregiver population.
- Provides expert and evidence based clinical advice,



assessment and treatment for high-risk caregivers of people with dementia with complex psychosocial situations. Collaborates with other members of the Dementia Caregiver Resilience Team, the client and their family, and external partners in the creation of an appropriate ongoing care plan.
- Manages waitlist as per program guidelines, and schedules, organizes and facilitates psychotherapeutic groups that use simulation (e.g. CARERS) and psychoeducational groups (e.g. MBDC). Maintains client records and administrative reporting such as completion of workload measurement information, records and statistics as required.
- Maintains a communication link with facilitator training providers and organizes training in specialized group facilitation techniques and ongoing skill updates for other team members as required including the CARERS Advanced Train the Trainer program plus participating in observation of group intervention and in an apprenticeship model of co-leadership and supervision.
- Develops services, training programs and learning resources for the Dementia Caregiver Resilience Team and for clients and their families based on best practices regarding reducing caregiver risks and building resilience by methods such as researching and reviewing professional literature, consulting with other professionals, and reviewing and modifying education programs. Collaborates in the development and maintenance of an online resource hub for current caregiver participants and alumni.
- Collaborates on steering committees and working groups to align objectives and ensure timely progress.
- Supports education activities in the specialized area using a variety of teaching/learning strategies such as coordinating formal and informal presentations, demonstrations and lectures, and coaching, mentoring, role modeling, and facilitating the desired outcomes. Communicates most current information relating to dementia caregiving, trends and evidence-based practices, and updates educational materials and/or policies to reflect changes.
- Establishes and builds positive and effective working relationships with a variety of partners such as members of the Dementia Caregiver Resilience Team, Elder Care Clinic Team, other health care professionals, the patient, family members, dementia caregiver community of practice, Alzheimer Society, vendors and other community partners. Acts as the primary liaison with internal and external partners including the Centre of Healthy Aging, St. Paul’s Hospital and Value team.
- Participates in related research by methods such as collaborating with members of the inter- qualified team, conducting literature searches, supporting grant applications, planning for knowledge translation, and implementing appropriate evidence-based research outcomes into planning and professional practice.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of patient and caregiver experiences through ongoing clinical practice and analysis of clinical outcomes.
- Integrate innovative digital solutions to enhance care delivery and accessibility.
- Performs other related duties as required.

Job Accuracy Posting Flag

The hours of work, including start and stop times, days off, work area and work site may be subject to change consistent with operations requirements and applicable provisions of the Collective Agreement and statutes. Testing may be required. *A criminal record check may be required

📌 Clinical Specialist Coordinator Dementia Resilience and Early Intervention (Vancouver)
🏢 Providence Health Care
📍 Vancouver