“How do you live in the moment?”
We are passionate about āMaking Every Moment Matterāā¢. We are seeking a candidate that shares our values - a person who has a passion to make a difference, who has a strong moral compass, and who has a commitment to teamwork. The ideal candidate is a warm and loving person who makes meaningful connections with those they are caring for.
The Behaviour Support- RPN reports to the Director of Care and is a role responsible for leading the Homeās Responsive Behaviours Program and practice support to promote resident safety, dignity, and quality of life. The Behaviour Support- RPN provides specialized clinical leadership for older adults who present with, or are at risk for, responsive behaviours/personal expressions related to dementia, complex mental health,substance use, and/or other neurological conditions, ensuring approaches are person-centered, least restrictive, and aligned with Ontario long-term care legislative and regulatory requirements. Working collaboratively with residents and families/SDMs, the interdisciplinary team, and external partners, the Behaviour Support- RPN coordinates comprehensive assessment and individualized behaviour support planning, coaching staff in prevention, de-escalation, and safe care strategies. The role builds strong partnerships with Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) resources and other regional/community supports (e.g., psychogeriatric and geriatric mental health outreach, hospitals, Ontario Health at Home, primary care providers) to strengthen transitions, consultation, and continuity of care.
Wage Rate:
The starting wage rate is $32.09 /hour.
Vacancy:
This is an existing vacancy.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the Homeās Expression of Needs Program as a required, ensuring written approaches to care are in place (screening protocols, assessment/reassessment, and identification of behavioural triggers) and embedded into daily practice.
- Establish and maintain program processes for monitoring, internal reporting, documentation, referrals to specialized resources, and ongoing evaluation.
- Provide leadership to related required programs and high-risk clinical processes (e.g., restraint minimization/least-restrictive approaches, falls prevention supports).
- Provide comprehensive assessments and consultation for residents with, or at risk for, expression of needs related to dementia, delirium, mental health, substance use, and neurological conditions.
- Coach teams to use structured frameworks (e.g., P.I.E.C.E.S., U-First, ABC approaches) to identify triggers, unmet needs, and prevention strategies, and to develop individualized behaviour support plans and care plan interventions.
- Participate in, and support, interdisciplinary care conferences with residents/families/SDMs to align expression of needs approaches with resident goals, preferences, rights, and dignity.
- Assist in initiatives that promote safe, appropriate medication use for expression of needs (including antipsychotic stewardship), partnering with physicians/NP and pharmacy to identify residents for review and implement non-pharmacological strategies with monitoring and follow-up.
- Provide day-to-day coaching, mentoring, and just-in-time support to build staff confidence in prevention, de-escalation, and safe care approaches - reinforcing consistent practice across shifts.
- Participate in the hiring process of registered staff and PSWs and monitor performance and follow through with the progressive disciplinary process.
- Identify training needs and coordinate ongoing capacity building with Behavioural Supports Ontario resources and other outreach partners.
- Contribute to onboarding/orientation for new staff, caregivers, agency staff, students, and volunteers regarding the Homeās Expression of Needs Program and safe response expectations.
- Collaborate with external partners (e.g., BSO resources, psychogeriatric/geriatric mental health outreach, hospitals, Ontario Health at Home) to coordinate consultation, referrals, and continuity of behaviour supports across care settings.
- Support safe transitions (admission, return from hospital, unit changes) for residents with Expression of Needs by ensuring plan of plans and risk supports are current and communicated to the care team.
- Support the Homeās workplace violence prevention efforts by helping identify and mitigate risks related to expression of needs, reinforcing reporting processes, and participating in debriefs/action planning following incidents aligned with OHSA workplace violence requirements.
- Integrate IPAC expectations into needs support planning and care (e.g., hand hygiene/PPE/PCRA considerations during close-contact interventions) and coordinate with IPAC leadership to adapt approaches during outbreaks or additional precautions.
- Apply culturally safe and appropriate approaches in assessment, communication, and care planning, consistent with professional practice expectations.
- Monitor trends (e.g., triggers, escalation patterns, incident themes, medication-related outcomes, use of safety measures) and translate findings into targeted improvement actions, education, and practice supports.
- Prepare clear summaries and reports for leadership/committees (as assigned) to support compliance readiness and quality decision-making.
- Support accreditation readiness (CARF, where applicable) by maintaining evidence of program processes, outcomes monitoring, and continuous improvement actions.
- Participate in interdisciplinary care conferences with residents and families/SDMs and the care team to identify, plan for, and evaluate supports for the residentās expression of needs, ensuring approaches are resident-centred and clearly documented.
- Support safe and coordinated transitions for residents with expression of needs (new or existing) between the community, hospital, and neighbouring long-term care homes by ensuring needs support plans, risks, and successful strategies are communicated and followed.
- Convene and chair regular Behaviour Rounds that enable front-line staff to discuss care plans with internal and external resources.
- Advocate for and protect resident rights, dignity, and choice, promoting least-restrictive, culturally safe approaches to care.
- Escalate resident-specific barriers and recurring challenges to the Director of Care/leadership to identify systemic issues and support broader consultation, resource allocation, and improvement planning.
- Proactively identify education and training needs related to expression of needs and coordinate with Psychogeriatric Resource Consultants (PRCs) and other partners to deliver capacity-building supports.
- Contribute to orientation and onboarding for new staff, volunteers, students, and agency staff related to the Homeās Expression of Needs programās expectations and safe response practices.
- Use digital tools (including AI-enabled features where available) to support documentation, trend monitoring, and education planning related to responsive behaviours, while ensuring clinical judgment and person-centered decision-making remain primary.
- Other duties as assigned and or indicated in Job Task Inventory
Qualifications:
The qualifications needed to join our family are as follows:
- RPN/RN with advanced dementia/mental health/behavioural practice experience and strong coaching/leadership skills.
- Current registration with the appropriate College registered with a regulatory authority ina Canadian jurisdiction, other than Ontario, and holds in that jurisdiction the equivalent of a certificate of registration authorizing independent practice in Ontario as of right exemption Bill 60,
- Strong knowledge and experience supporting residents with responsive behaviours/personal expressions related to dementia, delirium, complex mental health, substance use, and/or neurological conditions, including assessment, trigger identification, and individualized approaches to care.
- Working knowledge of regulatory requirements and the ability to operationalize the Homeās Responsive Behaviours Program. Current training or competence in recognized responsive behaviour frameworks and approaches such as Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) and P.I.E.C.E.S. and/or U-First! (or commitment to obtain within a defined timeframe); Montessori/DementiAbility methods are strong assets.
- Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach teams, support practice change, and contribute to performance improvement processes. (Supervisory/managerial experience is a strong asset.)
- Proficiency with electronic documentation and care planning; experience with interRAI, CAPs, and behaviour/care plan documentation is an asset.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and external partners (BSO resources, psychogeriatric/geriatric mental health outreach, hospitals, Ontario Health at Home).
- Demonstrated commitment to person- and family-centered, culturally safe and appropriate approaches that preserve dignity, autonomy, and least-restrictive care.
- Knowledge of privacy/confidentiality requirements (PHIPA concepts) and the ability to manage sensitive information appropriately.
- Experience leading quality improvement initiatives and using indicators/audits to reduce responsive behaviour risk and improve resident outcomes.
- Experience supporting staff education and capacity building (train-the-trainer, coaching model, bedside mentoring).
- Current CPR/First Aid certification
- Minimum one (1) year experience with clients in long-term care or residents in a long term care home setting
- Strong computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word and Excel, online learning platforms, and electronic communication tools (email, mobile devices), with the ability to document, track, and report information electronically as required.
- Demonstrate flexibility in schedule to ensure all shifts (Days, Evenings, and Nights) get support if needed
- To show evidence of being focused on peopleās feelings when interacting and knowing how to turn a task into positive social interaction.
- To undertake and meet all legal requirements within a context of promoting individualsā rights and measuring/reducing elements of risk.
- Must provide a complete and current (within six months) Vulnerable Sector Check (including a Criminal Background Check) or be willing to obtain one
- As a condition of employment, candidates are required to submit documented results of TB testing (within the last six months or within 14 days upon hire) or a chest X-ray (within the last year), as per Public Health requirements
- Two supervisory references required
- Provide proof of all required vaccines. The Employer strongly recommends to āstay up to dateā with the recommended vaccines. Vaccination requirements are subject to changes as determined by the Employer
What do we offer you?
- Competitive wages
- Employee benefits
- Employee perks
- Employee and Family Assistance Program
- Support for personal and professional growth
We look forward to speaking with you and Making Every Moment Matterā¢. Although we appreciate all applicants' interest, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. As part of our recruitment process, we may use secure, limited AI tools to assist with administrative tasks such as organizing applications or analyzing role alignment. These tools are used solely to support our recruitment team. All hiring decisions are made by people. We are committed to ensuring our hiring practices are equitable, inclusive, and privacy conscious. Any personal information collected or processed is handled in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Act (PIPEDA) and our internal privacy policies.
We strive to be diverse, inclusive, fair, equitable and accessible by addressing barriers and promoting dignity and respect for all. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please contact the hiring manager.