Position Details

Posting #: 33096

Department: Concurrent Disorders - Capacity Building Team

Employee Type: Temporary, Part Time

If Temporary, Number of Weeks: 26

Union: ONA

Openings Remaining: 1

Schedule

Work Days: Monday to Sunday, Holidays

Time of Day: Days, Afternoons, Evenings

Shift: Rotating, 7.5 hour

Shift Start: Hours are subject to change based on operational requirements.

This position may be scheduled at any of the following sites: Charlton Campus (Hamilton Downtown)

Application Dates

Opening Date: 16/12/2025

Closing Date: 23/12/2025 Applications must be received online by 12:00 midnight on the Closing Date

Position Description

Temporary assignment for approximately 6 months

UNIT PROFILE The Substance Use Service (SUS) is a multidisciplinary team made up of physicians, nurses, a mental health worker, and peer support providers (individuals with lived/living experience). The Substance Use Service works primarily within Medicine and in strong partnership with the RAAM Clinic and the Concurrent Disorders Capacity Team.

The team supports individuals who use substances and who present to the Emergency Department and/or are admitted to hospital. The team also provides follow-up care for individuals post-discharge and works alongside them to connect to outpatient care, as well as hospital- and community-based health care services.

The team operates from a harm reduction lens that supports patients’ autonomy and creates space for them to make their own choices regarding both their substance use and their health. Services include assessment, consultation, shared care, and capacity building across St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and community partners.

Position Summary The Registered Nurse (RN) provides care for patients in accordance with the mission, vision, and values of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) and the standards of practice of the College of Nurses of Ontario. Nurses within this team are committed to the alleviation of stigma and discrimination related to substance use, and to improving support for patients who face barriers to care due to socioeconomic factors, systemic harms, and substance use.

The principles of person-centred nursing, recovery-oriented practice, and trauma-informed care are foundational to this specialized nursing role. As a member of the interprofessional team, the RN is responsible for providing quality, holistic, specialized nursing care for patients who use substances. The RN provides safe, evidence-based therapeutic interventions across the care continuum, including transition to the community.

Responsibilities Key responsibilities include completing assessments, planning and organizing follow-up medical care, and documenting interactions. The community outreach component of the role includes:

• Follow-up post-discharge
• Wound care
• Lab work
• Harm reduction supply distribution
• Supporting patients who need to re-access emergency and medical care

Outreach takes place in community settings, including homeless encampments, shelters, and personal homes.

The RN models professional leadership and provides decision-making support by collaborating and delegating within the interprofessional team. This position also requires active involvement in program evaluation and research through partnership with the Peter Boris Centre.

Qualifications

• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario required
• Current BCLS/HCP certification required
• CPI – Crisis Prevention Training (or successful completion as part of clinical orientation) required
• Minimum five (5) years of recent direct harm reduction nursing experience working within an evidence-informed framework required
• Demonstrated knowledge of addiction medicine required
• Knowledge of harm reduction equipment and distribution in the community
• Community-based experience in overdose response
• One (1) year of experience in health teaching, group facilitation, and program development preferred
• Knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations, professional standards and guidelines, and SJHH corporate and departmental policies and procedures, including successful completion of WHMIS training
• Knowledge of documentation standards, privacy legislation, and health record management processes
• Demonstrated knowledge of the assessment and management of co-morbid medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, metabolic monitoring, etc.)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Mental Status Examinations (MSE)
• Knowledge and practice of creating a safe and secure environment for clients/families/teams by listening, discussing, exploring, clarifying, and acting on their concerns, needs, and priorities
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill related to crisis intervention and conflict resolution
• Demonstrated leadership, superior problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, and strong team-building skills
• Demonstrated interpersonal and de-escalation skills
• Good work performance and attendance record is essential
• Demonstrated knowledge of psychopharmacology, including current psychotropic medications and side effects

Harm Reduction–specific Qualifications

• Two (2) years’ experience in a community-based environment supporting people who use substances and those experiencing homelessness and/or poverty
• Demonstrated experience in the identification, management, and treatment of withdrawal symptoms through pharmacological and clinical interventions
• Proven track record of providing clinical support to patients with complex addiction/medical issues transitioning from hospital to community
• Provides clinical leadership by acting as a resource, change agent, facilitator, coordinator, role model, and advocate
• Demonstrated track record of providing leadership to the interdisciplinary team in utilizing evidence-based treatment for addictions and demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning skills

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is an equal opportunity employer and strives for equity, inclusiveness, and diversity in all our programs, practices, facilities, and people. We foster a culture of patient and staff safety where all positions comply and work in conjunction with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of SJHH . We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. SJHH is committed to a barrier-free recruitment and selection process - please inform us should accommodation be required at any point in the recruitment process.