Professional Practice Associate Lead

Support senior leaders and Professional Practice Leaders in leading and developing best practices, learning material and developmental opportunities for Service Delivery to support return to work, recovery, and quality of life.

Assist with project and initiatives to support learning, process improvement to build staff expertise and capability that align with health care strategy.

Assess, clarify, and provide guidance/recommendations regarding a diagnosis and health care treatment options based on claim file details, presenting clinical picture in consultation with internal/external stakeholders regarding clinical findings for complex claims.

Work collaboratively with Operations Cluster to facilitate the identification of knowledge transfer needs, by developing and supporting Managers and staff through critical analysis of evidence-based research to develop, plan, deliver and evaluate internal training to operating areas (Case Managers, Nurse Consultants, Occupational Therapists, Specialized Claims and Recovery Services personnel, Appeals staff and external Health Care Providers).

Provision of clinical subject matter expertise to support health care interventions arising from the Health Care Strategy, WSIB programs and initiatives.

Participate and lead in the identification of need, plan, creation, delivery, and evaluation of educational intervention for orientation of Nurse Consultants, Clinical Managers, Occupational Therapists, Health Care Professionals and other Operation Cluster personnel as required.

Major Responsibilities:

1. Provides advice, leadership, and guidance to staff through education and clinical advice to operating areas at the WSIB in relation to the needs of injured/ill people and/or managing projects/initiatives. Supports professional practice and service delivery through education, projects, initiatives etc. to assist in injured/ill person’s recovery, RTW and quality of life outcomes.
• Monitor and evaluate outputs for adherence to quality and processes. Incorporates the principles of self-governance, professional accountability, codes of ethics, best practices, and continuous quality improvement processes. This includes:
• Development and lead education, initiatives or projects to support the health care strategy.
• Ensures compliance with organizational policies and relevant legislation
• Identification of areas for improvement and recommendation of strategies to ensure quality service.
• This includes provision of advice in the utilization of research findings and best practice, as well as requirements regarding competent and ethical practice
• Provide guidance in the utilization of research findings and evidence informed practice to ensure that injured/ill persons and internal stakeholders receive appropriate, effective and efficient service to facilitate timely consultations.
• Intervenes in situations of non-compliance and/or where professional standards are not being met to ensure appropriate measures are put in place, and/or assist with performance improvement plans in partnership with management.
2. With oversight from the Professional Practice Leader, provides evidence-based solutions and clinical expertise by means of facilitating knowledge integration, research, consultation, collaboration, leadership and guidance including
• Clinical Expertise – by assessing the clinical presentation, problem solve to achieve appropriate evidence-based solutions during conversations and case conferences with Nurse Consultants, Occupational Therapists, Case Managers, Directors and Managers from service delivery and Specialized Claims & Recovery Services to progress and sustain RTW and recovery. Operationalize the principles of occupational health in interactions including rehabilitation, industry-setting factors, human response to injury and illness within interactions.
• Knowledge integration and research – integrate best practice and current evidence-based research from a critical review and analysis of literature to support best practices.
• Consultation – support and guidance to Nurse Consultants, Occupational Therapists, Managers, Service Delivery staff to support the integration of RTW and recovery by means of evaluating the clinical presentation of the worker and subsequently making recommendations that facilitate recovery of function and quality of life. Consultations can be through frontline staff reaching out and/or at the request from management.
• Collaboration – Work together with other Service Delivery staff and relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose of RTW and recovery.
• Leadership – Develop, employ, and lead creative strategies to educate and influence behavior in support of health care interventions arising from the Health Care Strategy. Partner with management to address knowledge or performance gaps among individual employees and/or teams and assist with performance improvement plans.
• Supporting Service Delivery – Demonstrate the ability to contextualize knowledge and information to operationalize efficient and effective health care decisions.
3. In consultation with the Professional Practice Leader provides clinical subject matter expertise for Specialized Claims & Recovery Services and Service Delivery for initiatives and programs regarding a breadth of health care interventions, medical equipment/devices and supplies by:
• Providing subject matter expertise regarding evidence based and best practice decision tools, protocols, process and procedures, for effective health care interventions medical equipment/devices and supplies.
• Develop decision tools, protocols, processes, procedures, training and orientation materials.
• Participating in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and services.
• Identifying and addressing knowledge gaps within Service Delivery and other areas as required. The identification of knowledge gaps can be during consults, quality reviews and/or through engagement with management.
4. Participate and lead in ongoing training and orientation of Nurse Consultants, Eligibility, Case Managers, Appeals, RTW and others within Service Delivery as required by:
• Supporting training, orientation, implementation, and evaluation of projects/initiatives for nurses, other health care professionals and other service delivery staff as required.
• Education needs/gaps can be identified by means of participating in case file reviews, providing subject matter expertise and guidance through consultation and engagement. These may also be identified through collaboration with management.
• Utilizing in-depth knowledge of adult education principles and theories in the training and orientation of nurses and other Operational Cluster staff.
5. Knowledge of factors impacting WSIB health care programs and services as they relate to health care and case management activities including:
• Knowledge of the WSI Act and other related and relevant acts (RHPA, FIPPA, MFIPPA, PHIPPA, PIPEDA, Nursing Act, Occupational Therapy Act, Physiotherapy Act, Narcotic Awareness Act, Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effect Use of Opioids in Chronic Non-Cancer Pain, etc.)
• Knowledge of policies and procedures relating to treatment and health care entitlement, RTW and work transition sufficient to analyze, interpret and provide advice and/or guidance to Service Delivery and respond to escalated enquiries.
• Support self-reflection, professional competency development and evaluation for Nurse Consultants, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and other Health Professionals.

Job Requirements:

1. Education requirements:
• Registered in good standing with the regulatory College of Nurses of Ontario, College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, College of Physiotherapists of Ontario or other regulatory Colleges in Ontario.
2. Experience:
• Four to six years minimum experience as a Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Regulated Health Professional.
• Knowledge acquired through Bachelor’s degree in relevant health care field.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development, inclusive of education and research, acquired through clinical practice in the community, industry, acute care, and rehabilitation in multi-professional practice settings.
• Previous clinical experience in the assessment, coordination, and treatment of individuals with work related injuries.
• Required to be able to incorporate practical and relevant judgement with respect to planning related to specific initiatives/projects and/or when providing consultation related to a specific case.
• Ability to use office suite of applications
• Demonstratable experience in a project environment or business transformation initiatives.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We respect and value the diversity of our people. We strive to create an environment where employees can be themselves and where our differences are celebrated.

We value and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating inclusive experiences for both our employees and prospective employees. We invite all interested individuals to apply. If you require accommodations in order to apply to this position please contact [email protected]. If you are invited to participate in the interview or assessment process, you can advise our Recruiter of your accommodation needs at that time.

Please visit our EDI Vision to learn more about what actions WSIB are taking to advance our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to support all employees participating and contributing to their full potential

Disclosing conflicts of interest

As public servants, employees at the WSIB have a responsibility to act in an ethical way at all times to create a respectful workplace and maintain public trust. Job applicants are required to disclose any circumstance that could result in a real, potential or perceived conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is any situation where your private interests may impair or be perceived to impair the decisions you make in your official capacity.

Privacy information
We collect personal information from your resume, application, cover letter and references under the authority of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The Talent Acquisition Centre and WSIB hiring parties will use this information to assess/validate your qualifications, determine if you meet the requirements of vacant positions and/or gather information relevant for recruitment purposes.

As a precondition of employment, the WSIB requires that prospective candidates undergo a criminal records name check any time before or after they are hired.

To apply for this position, please submit your application by the closing date.