Clinical Ethicist

**Article Flag: Mandatory Vaccination Please Note**:
As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

**Summary**:
Reporting to the Director, Ethics Services, the Clinical Ethicist is accountable for aiding in developing, planning, and implementing ethics related services for Providence Health Care, which is Canada’s largest Catholic health care provider. The position has four areas of emphasis including: Clinical Ethics; Education; Policy Review, Development and Implementation; and Administration. The Clinical Ethicist builds organizational capacity for sound ethical decision-making by engaging physicians, staff and volunteers in appropriate forums. The position also provides leadership on ethical issues by participating on appropriate internal and external committees and task groups.

**Qualifications / Skills and Education**:
Education
Master’s Degree in ethics, philosophy or moral theology plus three (3) to five (5) years’ recent, related experience including some practical as well as learned experiences in a clinical setting doing health care ethics consultations and education.

Skills and Abilities

**Communication**:
Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing such that messages and consultation notes etc. are understood; that is, understanding the essence and subtleties of the communication and the intended audience.

**Resources Management**:
Manages human, capital, financial and information resources so that organizational objectives are achieved.

**Team Focus**:
Strives to understand perspectives of team members, presents convincing point of view, and resolves conflicts.

**Time Management**:
Manages own work activities and delegates tasks to achieve maximum efficiency.

**Quality Improvement**:
Continuously identifies and implements improvements in work systems to ensure that the highest possible level of quality service is achieved.

**Knowledge and Abilities**:
An appreciation and understanding of Catholic health care and Catholic moral teaching.
Working knowledge of current literature related to health care ethics.
Understanding and sensitivity about ethical issues within a Catholic health care setting.
Ability to plan and organize workload activity.
Ability to develop, prioritize and accomplish objectives.
Demonstrated leadership in management of ethical issues, policy development, review and implementation.
Ability to provide focused leadership to a team.
Ability to develop community resources and maintain relationships.
Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal relationships, written and verbal communication skills, and presentation and group facilitation skills.
Ability to plan and organize workload activity.
Ability to develop, prioritize and accomplish objectives.
Ability to work in collaboration with community organizations.
Demonstrated commitment to the Mission, Vision and Values of Providence Health Care.

Personal Characteristics
Mission/Values Congruence with self and Providence Health Care
Relationship Building
Personal Initiative
Team Focused
Self-Confidence/Assurance
Tolerance for Ambiguity
Service Focused/Patient and Resident Focused
Ability to deal constructively with conflict
Patience

**Duties and Responsibilities**:
Clinical Ethics

Acts as a clinical ethical consultant, and a resource for ethical decision making in the clinical setting in collaboration with patients, residents, staff, physicians and volunteers.

At the request of the Director may act as a resource to Boards and the leadership team.

Provides ethical consultations throughout Providence Health Care on Ethics issues by participating on appropriate internal and external task groups, committees and associations.

Participates in, and may chair, PHC Ethics Committees/Forums.

Education

Engages with front line staff as a means of assessing the educational needs of staff, physicians, residents/ fellows and volunteers.

Works with the Director to identify required resources and develops, plans and delivers educational opportunities and/or workshops. These include but are not limited to:
“Ethics for Lunch”” sessions (informal lunch time teaching sessions,
Assisting in planning the Annual Ethics Conference, and biannual Four Day Ethics Seminar,
Assisting in planning Academic Half Day and other formal clinician training sessions,
Delivering presentations at various venues such as Medical Grand Rounds, Canadian Bioethics Society conference, and others as opportunities arise.

Assists the Director in developing and managing a clinical ethics fellowship program, and takes part at times in teaching fellows.

Policy Review, Development and Implementation

Facilitates and assists in the development o