Patient Care Assistant, Reactivation Care Centre

Do you possess a unique blend of compassion, observation skills, and a desire to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable patients? Mount Sinai Hospital is seeking a dedicated and empathetic individual to join our team as a Patient Care Assistant (PCA). In this rewarding role, you'll provide essential support to patients requiring continuous monitoring, especially long-stay patients, ensuring their safety and well-being while contributing to a positive hospital experience.

**Is this you?**

You are a naturally caring and attentive individual, drawn to roles where you can make a tangible impact on the lives of others. You are a keen observer, picking up on subtle cues and changes in behavior. Patience and understanding are your strengths, allowing you to remain calm and provide reassurance to patients who may be feeling anxious, confused, or disoriented.

As a Patient Care Assistant you will be a reassuring presence, engaging with patients, providing support, and acting as an essential link between them and the health care team. Your dedication and commitment to patient-centered care will directly contribute to a safer and more supportive environment for those entrusted to our care.

**About our PCA team**:
Our PCA’s play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and healing environment for patients identified as requiring continuous monitoring. You'll be an integral part of the nursing team, working collaboratively to provide an extra layer of safety and support to those who need it most. You understand the importance of maintaining a safe environment and are proactive in taking necessary precautions, such as wearing personal protective equipment.

We are an agile team, committed to providing our PCAs with the training and support needed to excel in this vital role. You'll receive specialized training in de-escalation techniques through our GPA (Gentle Persuasive Approaches) class, which will also provide you a foundational knowledge of conditions such as delirium and dementia.

**About the Reactivation Care Centre (RCC)**:
Our specialized 16 bed inpatient reactivation program is located on the beautiful and quaint UHN-RCC campus. The Sinai Health RCC program is designed for individuals who present with decreased mobility, independence and/or function as a result of an acute illness or surgery. We focus on patients with potential for functional improvement, providing tailored care plans and utilizing state-of-the-art tools to support their recovery journey. Depending on the reactivation goals patients typically experience an average length of stay of 30 to 60 days. You will collaborate with a high performing multi-disciplinary team including Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, Nurse Practitioner, OT, PT, SW, and SLP to provide high quality and safe patient care.

**In this role you will**:

- Maintain continuous visual observation to specifically assigned patient(s) under the supervision of a regulated health professional
- Engage the patient in conversation or activities that are meaningful to the patient
- Maintain a safe patient care environment
- Recognize and report early warning signs of escalating high-risk behaviours
- Initiate de-escalation techniques as required
- Use verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to redirect the patient from at risk behaviours and foster patient safety
- Notify and escalate concerns to the most responsible regulated health professional as per established protocols if patient(s) require assistance, are engaged in potentially unsafe behaviours, or appear to pose a risk to themselves or others
- Support patient’s nutrition and hydration; maintain awareness of patient nutritional status and dietary restrictions
- Assist with other activities of daily living under the direction and supervision of the regulated health professional. This will include, but is not limited to: bathing, mobility, continence care
- Maintain a record of patient care activities and behaviours as per unit protocol
- Provide relevant and timely updates on patient activities/status to the most responsible regulated health professional
- Other duties as directed
- Job Requirements

**Job Requirements**:
Mandatory
- Successful completion of a high school diploma or equivalent from a recognized educational institution.
- Successful completion of a Health Care Aide or Personal Support Worker certificate required from a recognized educational institution (applicants actively enrolled in a relevant health care program may be considered) OR completion of a minimum of one year of an accredited Nursing (RN or RPN) program.
- Applicants with proven equivalent recent and related training and experience may also be considered
- Previous customer service experience

Preferred
- Previous hospital/health care experience

Skills and Knowledge
- Demonstrated initiative and good judgment with the ability to work collaboratively as part of the interdisciplinary care team, being flexible in the deli