Summary
Reporting to the Corporate 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 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.
Skills
The Clinical Ethicist possesses the following competencies that drive organizational success:
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
- A deep appreciation and understanding of Catholic health care and Catholic moral teaching.
- Working knowledge of current literature related to health care ethics.
- High degree of 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
Education
Masters 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.
Duties
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.
- Assists the Director with planning, developing and implementing Ethics Services for the organization.
- At the request of the Director may act as a resource to Boards and the leadership team.
- Engages with front line staff as a means to 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” and “Ethics Brown Bag” 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, Assisting with presentations at Medical Grand Rounds.
- 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 Assists the Director in planning, facilitating, implementing, and monitoring and evaluating the ethical services necessary to meet the needs of patients and residents, staff, physicians and volunteers, including connecting community resources wherever appropriate and collaborating with program leaders, health care providers and Research Services.
- Facilitates and assists the Director in the development of Providence Health Care’s policies, procedures and guidelines pertaining to ethics which reflect sound ethical practices, and in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values and Ethical Framework.