Registered Practical Nurse - Forensic Psychiatry; M3

Unit Profile

The Forensic Psychiatry Program works towards restoring and maintaining the mental health and well-being of mentally disordered adult offenders while managing risk as mandated by the Criminal Code of Canada and ordered by the Ontario Review Board. This multi-disciplinary team includes nursing and allied health professionals working together to provide a wide range of assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services. In this capacity the Forensic Psychiatry Program provides: clinical, risk and medico-legal assessments, inpatient treatments in General and Secure environments, and outpatient treatment and community reintegration services/support for the Central-South region and Halton.

The Registered Practical Nurse, under the Standards of Practice of the College of Nurses of Ontario, functions as a member of the nursing team to provide basic assessment and treatments, preventative, educational and/or supportive care. Under direction from the Registered Nurse, basic knowledge, decision making and communication techniques are employed in providing nursing care to one or more mentally disordered offenders.

The RPN will be committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating the use of restraint and seclusion.

• Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario required.
• Successful completion of a provincially recognized educational program for Registered Practical Nurses required.
• Certificate in Mental Health Nursing preferred.
• Minimum 1 year of recent related clinical experience in psychiatric mental health nursing required; forensic psychiatric nursing experience preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of psychiatric nursing, mental health and mental illness required.
• Current CPR, Asepsis Techniques, and Medication Administration Certification required.
• CPI – Crisis Prevention Training (or successful completion as part of clinical orientation) required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Mental Health Act and other legislation relevant to practice.
• Knowledge base of major mental disorders and current treatment modalities, with knowledge of the Criminal Code of Canada as it pertains to working with mentally disordered offenders.
• Demonstrated familiarity and understanding of Forensic specific Risk Assessment Tools (ie. HARM/AIS).
• Knowledge of therapeutic communication and counselling with a clear ability to apply knowledge to practice.
• Demonstrated ability to emphasize the interpersonal aspect of nursing such as: interest, empathy, honesty, non-judgmental attitude and respect.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of custody and caring in the clinical care of mentally disordered individuals.
• Advanced oral and written communication skills and proficient computer skills required for assessment report writing and word processing.
• Demonstrated competence (knowledge/skills/attitude) in the use of non-violent physical crisis interventions, trauma-informed care and other best practices available to promote healing and recovery.
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning, professional development, and continuous quality improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to set own workload priorities and document according to standards.
• Demonstrated excellent problem-solving and organization skills.
• Basic skill level with computers, MS Word, internet searches, data entry and patient information systems.
• Good work performance and attendance record is essential.
• An updated resume should accompany the application.

St. Joseph’s Nursing Vision is to make a difference in the lives of those we care for, our organization, and the future of our community through achievement of excellence in nursing and commitment to a culture of nursing innovation, empowerment, leadership and accountability.