Care Connector

**Job Description**:
**CARE AND BE CARED FOR - THIS IS YOUR HOME**:
**Take a look at this rewarding career opportunity working alongside a supportive and collaborative team of over 9,000 regulated health care and other professionals.**We are amid a momentous time for health care in Ontario as we move to a more connected health care system through the Ontario Health Teams model of care.

**Ontario Health at Home** is looking for a skilled and motivated RPN for our **Care Connector** role. The Care Connector plays a vital role in supporting patients through the complexities of the healthcare system by facilitating access to primary care providers and community resources. They maintain communication with patients on the Health Care Connect priority list, assess patient needs and vulnerability, and make appropriate referrals. The role involves collaboration with health professionals, maintaining provider inventories, and educating stakeholders about available services. Care Connectors ensure accurate documentation, uphold patient confidentiality, and contribute to quality improvement while promoting long-term primary care attachment and health system navigation

**What will you do?**
- Assisting patients to navigate through a complex health care system by connecting people to a primary health care provider
- Maintaining contact with patients in the Ontario Health atHome WW Health Care Connect priority list to keep them informed about prospects of attachment
- Providing guidance and support to patients to access alternative primary care and other community and health care resources
- Assessment of patients to obtain information in order to determine patients’ vulnerability and complexity according to Health Care Connect classifications, and facilitate appropriate referrals if/as required (i.e. to Ontario Health atHome Information & Referral, Care Coordination, urgent care clinics, alternate primary care models, etc.)
- Support meaningful long-term attachment to primary care providers through facilitating transitions to traditional primary care providers throughout the Ontario Health atHome WW
- Establishing relationships with the inter-professional team and provide navigation assistance to physicians with complex and vulnerable patients
- Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with health service providers, primary health care providers and other appropriate agencies
- Accessing, maintaining and amending the inventory of primary care providers who are available and accessing new patients in Ontario Health atHome
- Providing program interpretation/education to hospital and community agency staff, physicians, patients and families about the Care Connector supports, and advocating for increased registration and participation with Health Care Connect service as appropriate
- Reporting and updating statistical information for appropriate stakeholders as needed
- Maintains privacy of patient information and confidentiality of patient and primary care provider registration databases
- Documents according to Ministry of Health and Ontario Health atHome WW policy, procedure and practices for the Health Care Connector role and in alignment with professional college standards of documentation
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team with community partners that promotes positive working relationships
- Takes all reasonable steps to ensure a healthy and safe work environment and participates in continuous quality improvement
- Performing other duties as assigned

**What must you have?**
- Membership in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Practical Nurse with 3-5 years of experience and/or additional relevant training and education.
- Proven skills in the areas of assessment, communication, interviewing, problem solving, interpersonal relations and leadership within a team-based setting are required.
- The ability to work independently in a highly organized manner is required.
- Demonstrated experience in comprehensive assessment, use of different or combined approaches.
- Preference will be given to applicants who have experience and expertise in mental health, and supporting vulnerable complex patients
- Demonstrates professional, appropriate, effective, and tactful communication skills, including written, verbal and nonverbal
- Comfortable with assisting patients in completing the MOH screener to determine priority of clinician attachment and other interactions using cultural and language interpretation services as required
- Proficient in the operation of a personal computer in a networked environment using a variety of computer software and data entry skills, i.e. Excel, Data Base Software, as well as various other programs.
- Knowledgeable in the use of technology in a community setting - e.g., lap top in the home, cell phone, remote networking, etc.
- Fluency in French language preferred.
- Ability to communicate in French or another language an asset.

The ability to travel