LEAP - Professional Advocacy Officer USW-020-26

BC Nurses' Union•Burnaby, BC

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) is a strong, dynamic voice for nurses and nursing in British Columbia, representing more than 50,000 members. BCNU provides collective agreement negotiation and support to its members, as well as professional and advocacy services in the field of research, clinical practice, leadership and education. As the voice of the nursing profession in the province, we advocate for nurses and patients to ensure safe, quality, public health care for all. This position is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Licensing, Education, Advocacy, and Practice (LEAP) program. The LEAP Professional Advocacy Officer provides consultative, advisory, advocacy, and case management services to Union members with professional practice issues. They liaise and coordinate activities with bodies such as the BC College of Nursing and Midwives (“BCCNM”) and the Health Professions Review Board (“HPRB”), advocating for fair and due process for members with practice complaints, registration matters, and fitness concerns. The role involves investigating and researching individual members’ cases, including complaints to the college and supporting members with fitness concerns to access medical assessment and intervention programs. The officer researches case histories, legal precedents, and applicable legislation, prepares cases for representation, and makes submissions to regulatory bodies. They establish relationships with regulators and other interested parties, advocate for system improvements, and maintain current knowledge of applicable legislation, standards of practice, bylaws, and regulations. The position requires providing regular verbal and written reports, developing policy submissions, and maintaining and updating case files in accordance with policies. The LEAP Professional Advocacy Officer administers the LEAP program consistent with its principles, providing information, interpretation, support, and instruction to staff, the BCNU Council Board, stewards, and members on LEAP matters. They ensure stewards know how to access LEAP services and are aware of trends in the regulation of healthcare professionals. The role also involves assisting in developing training programs, facilitating workshops, and making presentations. The officer serves as the union’s in-house expert and staff lead on LEAP matters, working collaboratively with other staff and departments, and providing technical expertise on LEAP matters to LROs and other departments. They contribute to the operational plan, collaborate with team members for successful implementation, and oversee the work of and provide direction to assigned support staff. Issues outside the scope of the role are referred or escalated to appropriate BCNU resources. The position includes participation in team meetings and projects, orientating new staff, and performing other related duties as assigned. The officer also oversees the work of and provides work direction to assigned administrative staff, participates in the efficient and cooperative use of resources and personnel, and delegates work appropriately to administrative staff.

Requirements

College or University education in an approved labour/industrial relations, law and/or nursing program or an equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Exceptional conflict resolution skills, preferably with formal training at institutions such as the Justice Institute of British Columbia.
Demonstrated ability and recent progressive experience in an advocacy position with a thorough understanding of substance abuse, mental health issues, legislative and regulatory requirements.
Demonstrated written and verbal advocacy skills.
Ability to interpret the Health Professions & Occupations Act, Standards of Practice, college bylaws and regulations.
Good knowledge of nurses’ employment issues and the general environmental conditions of nursing practice.
Good verbal, written and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with Lawyers, Physicians, Managers, Government and Regulatory Personnel, Council and Labour Relations personnel.
Demonstrated ability to write submissions, and medical legal requests.
Demonstrated ability to work well with members, elected officers and co-workers.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team.
Excellent time management skills.
Knowledge of privacy legislation.
A valid driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

Provides consultative, advisory, advocacy and case management services to Union members with professional practice issues; liaises and coordinates activities with other bodies such as the BC College of Nursing and Midwives (“BCCNM”) and the Health Professions Review Board (“HPRB”).
Advocates for fair and due process for members with practice complaints; registration matters and fitness concerns.
Investigates and researches individual members’ cases involving professional practice issues including complaints to the college.
Support members with fitness concerns to access medical assessment and intervention programs.
Researches case histories, legal precedents and applicable legislation, prepares cases for representation and makes submissions to regulatory bodies.
Establishes relationship with regulators and other interested parties.
Advocates for system improvements.
Maintains current knowledge of applicable legislation, standards of practice, bylaws and regulations.
Provides regular verbal and written reports, develops policy submissions, etc., as directed by the Director.
Maintains and updates case files in accordance with policies.
Administers LEAP in a manner consistent with program principles.
Provides information, interpretation, support and instruction to staff, the BCNU Council Board, stewards and members on matters related to LEAP.
Ensures that stewards know how to access LEAP services and that they are aware of trends with respect to regulation of healthcare professionals.
Provides assistance in developing training programs, as assigned.
Facilitates workshops and makes presentations to the BCNU Council Board, stewards, members, and staff.
Serves as union’s in-house expert and staff lead on LEAP matters, and works with other staff and departments collaboratively.
Collaborates with LROs and other departments and provides technical expertise on LEAP matters.
Provides input into the operational plan and collaborates with team members to ensure successful implementation of the plan.
Oversees the work of and provides direction to assigned support staff.
Refers and/or escalates out-of-scope issues to appropriate BCNU resource(s).
Participates in team meetings and projects.
Orientates new staff as required.
Oversees the work of and provides work direction to assigned administrative staff.
Participates in the efficient and cooperative use of resources and personnel.
Delegates work appropriately to administrative staff.
Performs other related duties as assigned.