SPH2025-16 Director of Nursing and Personal Care

Job Description

SPH2025-16 Director of Nursing and Personal Care

Join to apply for the SPH2025-16 Director of Nursing and Personal Care role at The County of Essex

Department: Sun Parlor Long Term Care Home
Position Type: Permanent
Hours of Work: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Location: Leamington, Ontario
Posting #: SPH2025-16
Salary: $66.68-$81.87 (Band 8)
Opening Date: September 2, 2025
Closing Date: September 14, 2025

About the Role Sun Parlor Home is seeking a compassionate and strategic Director, Nursing & Personal Care (DOC) to lead resident-centered care programs in a long-term care setting. As a senior leader, the DOC will oversee nursing operations, ensure legislative compliance, and cultivate a culture of clinical excellence and empathy. This role is ideal for a visionary healthcare professional who thrives in collaborative environments and is committed to delivering safe, dignified care.

Who We Are: For over 100 years, the Sun Parlor Home has been offering long-term care to the community of Essex County. Our Mission is “to be an inspirational home for all people within our changing community that is compassionate, innovative and fosters purpose and dignity.” As a not-for-profit, municipally owned, and subsidized long-term care home with 206 beds, all of our resources are dedicated to our residents. Leamington, Ontario, located on the north shore of Lake Erie, provides a thriving diversity of urban and rural experiences.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute long-term strategies for nursing and personal care services that align with Sun Parlor Home’s mission, values, and regulatory requirements.
• Staff Oversight: Supervise and mentor nursing staff, including RNs, RPNs, PSWs, and ADONs, fostering a high-performance culture rooted in compassion and accountability.
• Recruitment & Retention: Lead talent acquisition, conduct interviews, oversee onboarding, and evaluate probationary performance to build a resilient and skilled care team.
• Professional Development: Assess staff training needs and implement targeted education programs, including clinical workshops, compliance training, and leadership development.
• Performance Management: Monitor staff performance through audits, feedback, and direct observation; initiate coaching plans, corrective actions, and disciplinary procedures when necessary.
• Team Culture: Promote interdisciplinary collaboration and psychological safety, encouraging open communication, peer support, and shared decision-making.

Operational Oversight & Legislative Compliance

• Policy Development: Create, review, and update clinical policies and procedures to reflect current best practices and legislative mandates (RHPA, PHIPA, OHSA, CNO, Fixing Long-Term Care Home Act).
• Infection Prevention & Control: Collaborate with ADON/IPAC to implement robust infection control protocols, monitor outbreaks, and lead containment strategies.
• Medication Management: Oversee safe medication administration practices, ensure compliance with the Narcotic Control Act, and investigate medication errors with corrective follow-up.
• Scheduling & Staffing: Approve nursing schedules, manage vacation and leave requests, and ensure adequate staffing levels to maintain continuity and quality of care.
• Health & Safety: Partner with the Health & Safety Manager to support modified work programs, investigate workplace incidents, and implement preventive measures.
• Quality Improvement: Utilize LEAN, PDSA, RCA, and RAI/MDS to identify inefficiencies, reduce risk, and enhance resident outcomes.
• Budget Management: Prepare and manage departmental budgets, approve expenditures, and conduct cost-benefit analyses of programs and initiatives.
• Regulatory Compliance: Identify and resolve areas of non-compliance, submit Critical Incident reports, and liaise with inspectors and auditors during reviews.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Committee Leadership: Chair and participate in internal committees such as the Professional Advisory Committee, Infection Control, and Quality Improvement.
• Union Relations: Lead Labour Management Meetings, support grievance resolution, and attend arbitrations in collaboration with union representatives.
• Resident & Family Relations: Respond to care-related complaints within 24 hours, escalate unresolved issues, and maintain open, empathetic communication with families.
• External Liaison: Serve as the primary contact for regulatory bodies, professional associations, and external partners; prepare and submit mandatory reports to the College of Nurses.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Coordinate with dietary, recreation, housekeeping, and medical teams to ensure holistic care planning and accurate documentation.

Decision-Making & Escalation

• Daily Judgment Calls: Make informed decisions on staffing, care delivery, incident response, and performance management using clinical expertise and organizational policy.
• Escalation Protocols: Refer serious concerns to the Administrator for further action.
• Crisis Management: Lead response efforts during emergencies, outbreaks, or critical incidents, ensuring timely communication and resolution.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Analyze resident care trends, audit results, and performance metrics to guide strategic improvements and resource allocation.

What You Bring

Education & Credentials

• Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO)
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) required; Master’s in Nursing or related healthcare leadership field is a strong asset
• Completion of the Long-Term Care Home Administrator’s Course preferred
• Ongoing commitment to professional development and regulatory compliance

Experience & Expertise

• Minimum 1 year of RN experience in long-term care; strong geriatric health understanding
• At least 5 years in geriatric care with ability to manage complex clinical scenarios
• 3–5 years in a managerial or supervisory healthcare role with team leadership
• Experience navigating unionized environments and labour relations
• Proven track record in budget management, policy development, and quality improvement

Knowledge & Technical Skills

• Understanding of: Fixing Long-Term Care Home Act (2022), RHPA, PHIPA, OHSA, CNO standards
• Nursing informatics, EHRs, scheduling systems, data reporting
• Infection control, medication safety, emergency preparedness
• Quality improvement frameworks: LEAN, PDSA, RCA, RAI/MDS
• Occupational Health and Safety Act and modified work programs

Leadership & Interpersonal Strengths

• Strategic thinker balancing clinical priorities with operations
• Compassionate leader, trusted by residents, families, staff, unions, and regulators
• Excellent communication, diplomacy, conflict resolution, and coaching
• Collaborative mindset and shared decision-making
• High emotional intelligence and empathetic leadership with professional boundaries

What We Offer

A salary range of $66.68 to $81.87 is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package. OMERS is a defined benefit pension plan.

Application Journey

Submit your application online at the Career Opportunities section of our website at www.countyofessex.ca. If selected, you will be contacted by our HR team to participate in the hiring process. Our process includes:

• Application Submission: tailored resume and cover letter highlighting administrative expertise, event coordination, and inclusivity
• Initial Screening
• Phone Interview
• Comprehensive Interview Panel
• Offer and Onboarding

The County of Essex embraces diversity and inclusion. We are committed to an equitable environment and will accommodate needs under human rights legislation. Please contact hr@countyofessex.ca for accommodations. Information related to accommodation is confidential and can be provided in alternate formats upon request.

Personal information is collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for employment opportunities only.

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