Health & Wellness Specialist

**Work Type**:Full Time
- For more than 90 years St. Mary’s General Hospital has fostered a culture of innovation, compassion and respect. With this vision, St. Mary’s has developed an environment that inspires people to perform to the best of their ability. Passion, excellence and innovation are deeply embedded in all we do. St. Mary’s uses these principles to foster a healthy, supportive work environment that cares for the well-being of our community - mind, body and spirit. When you join St. Mary’s, your contribution will make a positive impact to the quality of life for patients and families. In addition, you will join a team dedicated to making St. Mary’s the safest and most effective hospital in Canada. _

New employees must provide documentation of a 2-step TB screening, as well as proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) prior to their start date at St. Mary’s General Hospital. **Staff will require clearance from Employee Health and Wellness before they are able to begin any position within SMGH.
**Position Summary**:
The Health and Wellness Specialist is an integral and dynamic member of the Employee Health, Safety and Wellness team that will actively lead, design, implement and evaluate a comprehensive and robust employee health and wellness program. Proactive and dedicated support of employee wellbeing will include direct staff support and the development of wellness programs to promote a safe, healthy, and supportive workplace focused on a holistic approach to wellness.

**Position Responsibilities**:_Health and Wellness _**
- Develop, implement, and monitor a comprehensive, proactive workplace health and wellness program that supports a holistic approach to mental health and healthy lifestyle that is creative, engaging and meets the needs of the organization.
- Implement programs/events and provide tools to employees that help them adapt and maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve the health and wellness of employees, identify risks, increase morale and retention, and decrease absenteeism.
- Work collaboratively across the organization to promote a safe, healthy and supportive workplace.
- Identify trends and opportunities to strive towards recognized standards of excellence in employee health and wellness.
- Utilizes leadership skills in creating and implementing health and wellness programs with the ability to positively influence individuals at all levels of the organization.
- Aligns health and wellness activities with strategic directions and priorities, including but not limited to ensuring a safe, healthy (mentally and physically) and supportive workplace.
- Provide exceptional customer service within a challenging work environment
- Performs cross-functional and/or other duties, as assigned or requested.

**_Staff Support _**
- Implement and monitor a robust and comprehensive mental and emotional support program for employees.
- Recognize signs of agitation and effectively redirect/deescalate behaviours in a supportive and respectful manner and provide the necessary supports.
- Present a welcoming, non-judgmental approach to supporting the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing of staff within a “just culture” environment.
- Coordinate Crisis Management Services and Professional Development Opportunities through EFAP resource.
- Provide and or coordinate support for staff during facilitated debriefs, leave of absences, and return to work plans as required.
- Provide recommendations, resources and support to staff and provide tools to drive staff psychological safety and wellness.
- Facilitate Training and Education Sessions on Psychological Health and Safety.
- Provide thorough and sensitive explanation of the options for care provided through the EFAP.
- Develop an internal peer support plan, including process and procedure, that supports teams in response to escalated issues. Lead the Mental Health Action Team to ensure they have the required knowledge and tools to support psychological health and safety in the workplace.

**Program Enhancement
- Provide a strategic focus that will enhance programs that will achieve organizational
- health and wellness goals.
- Utilize complex problems solving, excellent decision making skills, creativity &
- innovation in program development.
- Works in compliance of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and its regulations,
- reporting hazards, deficiencies, and contraventions of the Act in a timely manner.
- Execute duties in a manner that demonstrates the employee’s commitment to
- developing a culture of employee psychological safety and wellness through
- accountability, reliability, trust, and teamwork as per the St. Mary's General Hospital
- Code of Conduct.

**Position Requirements**:

- A post-secondary degree in Health and Wellness studies (Psychology, Social Work, Health Promotion).
- BSW and current registration with Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers