What You Will Do

Summary

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

Reporting to the Executive Director, Risk Management and Infection Prevention and Control, the Director, Risk Management is responsible for providing leadership in the management of clinical and operational risk. Promotes and leads in the use of evidence-based risk management strategies and tools to promote and improve patient safety. Collaborates with others to improve quality and safety for PHC by effectively and proactively coordinating strategies, systems and processes to reduce risk, minimize critical incidents, complaints and claims.

Represents PHC when liaising with external legal counsel assigned by the Health Care Protection Program (HCPP) and other external agencies in investigating and managing claims involving patients/residents/clients or the organization. Works with staff and physicians and supports operational leaders in identifying, assessing, analyzing and implementing strategies to mitigate the identified risk to PHC, staff, physicians and the patients/clients and families served. Provides leadership to the Senior Director Leadership Team and is responsible and accountable for the development of the organization's integrated clinical risk management program and initiatives in a manner that fulfills the mission and strategic goals of PHC, while complying with provincial and federal laws and accreditation standards related to patient safety and risk management across the organization.

The Director works in collaboration with the Director of Patient Care Quality Office as requested in reviewing responses to patients/clients or other complainants from a risk management perspective.

What You Bring

Education, Training and Experience
Master's Degree in a health-related discipline. Seven to ten (7 to 10) years' recent, related experience in progressively senior leadership roles with responsibility for leading risk management and client relations issues management activities, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities
• Advanced knowledge of healthcare issues as well as specialized knowledge in risk management, privacy, change management, information management, patient safety, quality complaints management and policy development.

• Demonstrated ability to apply technical and analytical expertise to the assessment and support of risk and situation management activities and to establish and support the implementation of risk management and quality improvement strategies to support the organization.

• Demonstrated ability to oversee, assist with, and/or conduct timely risk assessments in response to requests and ability to identify and consult with the appropriate operational leaders concerning issues with clinical or operational risk requiring immediate attention.

• Demonstrated ability to apply superior judgment and political expertise to communicate sensitive information and effectively persuade and negotiate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement legal and other regulatory obligations and responsibilities of PHC in the context of relevant legislation, regulations, common law and other changing standards with support of in-house legal counsel.

• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills encompassing an organization-wide perspective.

• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, innovative leadership and systems improvement skills.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate complicated or highly technical matters in a clear, concise and understandable manner.

• Demonstrated awareness of Indigenous cultural safety, cultural humility, Indigenous-specific racism, anti-racism, critical race theory, and colonialism past and present.

• Demonstrated awareness of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), In Plain Sight, and other related policies and reports.

• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with people across all disciplines and settings, in addition to the integrity, trust and professionalism that the role requires.

• Proven ability to develop, implement and train on policies, procedures and corporate practices.

• Demonstrated ability in project management in a leadership position.

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative in understanding the needs of others and to take action to achieve helpful results in addressing these needs.

• Demonstrated computer proficiency with a variety of relevant software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

What We Offer

1. Leads, develops, manages, implements and evaluates corporate and clinical risk management systems, including building a risk-smart workforce and environment that allows for innovation and responsible risk-taking while ensuring legitimate precautions are taken to protect public interest, maintain public trust and ensure due diligence.

2. Promotes and supports the development of a culture of safety and measurement of quality of care. Identifies opportunities and implements strategies for improvement and provides oversight of proactive and reactive patient safety activities and education including risk assessments, root cause analysis, and critical incident review processes.

3. Provides expert senior level risk management advice and guidance to senior medical and operational leaders, and medical and clinical staff to protect the assets and reputation of the organization. Advice is on a wide variety of risk management and legal issues, including those with a high-risk profile within business requirements. Reviews, researches, interprets and prepares advice.

4. Promotes policy, contractual and regulatory/legislative compliance. Manages/mitigates risks regarding critical incidents including documentation, disclosure, communication, media exposure, notification and retention of evidence.

5. Consistent with best practices and trends, mitigates professional practice/conduct and liability issues by directing the development of required risk management education and policies.

6. Submits regular reports, including a bi-monthly summary of critical incidents and ongoing litigation, Coroner's cases and any risk focused requests, to the Quality, Safety and Risk Committee.

7. Consults, coaches and/or participates in activities that require legal involvement including police activity, coroner, hearings, etc. Manages and ensures effective processes are in place for legal claims. Liaises with legal counsel, adjusters and HCPP and represents the organization in litigation/discovery process. Provides leadership guidance and advice in complex consent and capacity issues.

8. Develops networks and alliances, engages in cross-functional activities, collaborates across boundaries and finds common ground with a wide range of stakeholders, including vendors, Vancouver Police Department, provincial and federal government agencies and executive leaders from all BC Health Authorities and others.

9. Works with Program and Service leaders to assess and identify risks/hazards and implement an effective risk management program. Conducts an annual review to measure the effectiveness and performance of the program. Participates in internal and external initiatives and committees to ensure the risk management and patient safety perspective are highlighted.

10. Provides overall leadership and direction to team members using effective management techniques, e.g., coaching, mentoring, skill and leadership development, performance management.

11. Develops the overall department budget to complement strategic directions within existing fiscal constraints and uses best utilization methods to thoroughly monitor and adhere to allocated budget.

12. Promotes and supports the development of a culture of safety and measurement of quality of care. Identifies opportunities and implements strategies for performance improvement. Provides oversight of proactive and reactive patient safety activities and education including risk assessments, root cause analysis, failure mode effects analysis, adverse event alerts and related policy and procedure development for facilitating effective process changes.

13. Carries out responsibilities in accordance with health and safety requirements. Immediately reports unsafe situations by notifying supervisor or other appropriate personnel.

14. Perform other related duties as assigned.