Behavioral Support Specialist- Senior Friendly- Regular Full-time- 2025-13490 (2025-13490)

Summary Of Duties

The Sunnybrook Senior Friendly Team is seeking a dynamic health professional who possesses strong clinical skills as well as quality improvement experience and a passion for senior care. The successful candidate will work with teams across the hospital to optimize care for senior patients. Specifically, the successful candidate will be responsible for responding to referrals for high-risk patients with responsive behaviours and working with interprofessional staff in understanding and adopting Senior Friendly Best Practices, including mobility, delirium prevention and management of high-risk behaviours. They will then work with interprofessional staff to implement a care plan within a person-centered language framework to address the root causes of behaviours, enhance safety and mitigate complications. This role will report to the Manager of Senior Friendly & Best Practices and in addition to working as a member of interprofessional team to provide direct patient care, the successful candidate will develop and lead Sunnybrook’s Senior Friendly strategic initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Works collaboratively with the interprofessional team to understand responsive behaviours in patients with a variety of conditions that can produce neurological vulnerability (e.g. dementia, delirium, ABI, stroke, substance related intoxication/withdrawal)
• Completes clinical assessments to develop and document person-centered language behavioural care plans in patients with high-risk responsive behaviours in partnership with the interprofessional team
• Reviews care plans with the interprofessional team to develop comfort and competence with best practices for prevention and management of high-risk behaviours
• Coordinates patient discharge in collaboration with the care team utilizing person-centered language behavioural care plans
• Leads Sunnybrook’s Senior Friendly strategic initiatives
• Examines processes and recommends and implements solutions to improve practices that contribute to improved patient care
• Engages front-line staff in practice changes that support senior friendly goals
• Provides point-of-care coaching for staff in relation to Senior Friendly Best Practices
• Supports patient and family education related to Senior Friendly Care
• Participates in unit rounds to role model appropriate language in face-to-face discussions
• Leads in the evaluation of care in collaboration with patient/ family and interprofessional team
  
  

Qualifications And Skills

• Health Care and/or Health Sciences related undergraduate degree required, Master’s degree considered an asset
• Clinical background with minimum of 5 years of experience preferred
• Current registration with a recognized health professional college or regulatory body if applicable
• Minimum 5 years experience in an acute care hospital (Geriatrics / Senior Care preferred)
• Strong knowledge of Senior Friendly Care Best Practices
• Experience with assessment and management of high-risk responsive behaviours utilizing a behavioral framework (e.g. GPA, PIECES)
• Experience with the use of assessment tools for delirium and a framework for care planning (i.e. CHASM care plan for the prevention and management of delirium)
• Previous patient safety/quality improvement experience in a hospital setting
• Quality improvement training /certification as asset
• Demonstrated success in establishing, leading, and maintaining positive change through quality improvement initiatives
• Demonstrates sound clinical reasoning and current evidence in decision-making, planning and implementing care
• Demonstrated team leadership & conflict resolution skills
• Strong teaching and/or presentation skills
• Self-directed and strong collaborative skills
• Superior communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience preparing manuscripts for peer-review an asset
• Technically proficient in Microsoft Office
• The location and/or details in the job posting may change depending on operational needs.
• Qualified Applicants must submit both an Internal Application/Transfer Form and current Résumé to the Human Resources Department at their campus. Qualifications, skills and demonstrated satisfactory attendance and performance are considered as part of the selection process.
• Sunnybrook is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (‘AODA’). If you require accommodation for disability during any stage of the recruitment process, please indicate this on your Internal Application/Transfer Form.