Consultant - Accessibility

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 178360  
Department/Program: Equity and Belonging , Clinical Care & Chief Nursing Executive  
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Permanent   Hourly FT (100%FTE)   x 1position(s)
  Start Date: ASAP
Union Status:   Non-union , Management/Non Union Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $36.5144 - $45.6429  /hour
Closing Date : April 17, 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time) This is not a designated position, however, preference will be given to qualified candidates who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Please self-identify on your application.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values , and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

The Accessibility Consultant at IWK Health is responsible for advancing the 2023-2026 Accessibility Plan, focusing on improving accessibility for both service recipients and employees. Their role involves leadership and guidance to achieve and continuously improve accessibility for all. The Accessibility Consultant will collaborate with community partners to ensure alignment with federal and provincial Accessibility Acts, as well as the joint accessibility plan developed by IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health. Their efforts are dedicated to respecting and enhancing the overall accessibility experience within the organization. 

The Accessibility Consultant will work closely with program/portfolio colleagues to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate policies, programs, strategies, and activities with the aim of increasing awareness, capacity building and education on accessibility.

The Accessibility Consultant will engage with groups within the community that have experienced barriers to accessibility like forms of discrimination, and other social and economic inequities. These experiences have deeply impacted their interactions with the health system and have resulted in health disparities.

The Accessibility Consultant will support diversity and social inclusion activities with IWK Health that are specific to people with disabilities in the community.

Hours of Work

Monday - Friday; 75 hours bi-weekly (Hybrid position with flexibility required to meet with clients on-site as needed)

Your Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field such as Social Work, health promotion, or other health-related discipline, or business and five years related experience  OR masters degree in a related field and three years related experience required.
• Experience as a health professional is an asset.
• Experience working with accessibility and/or disability communities, delivery organizations and applicable government programming required.
• Experience or knowledge of the health care system and community-based resources within the province required.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills: able to present ideas, build rapport, negotiate, and resolve conflict tactfully and diplomatically amongst diverse groups.
• Strong knowledge of adult learning principles and change management.
• Demonstrates leadership skill with emphasis on decision making, problem solving, effective staff motivation and communication.
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, time management skills with proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of conversion processes, tools, and testing procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written skills with experience writing detailed project documents. 
• Well-developed negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to manage change effectively.
• Knowledge of community-based programming, primary health care.
• Demonstrates ability to work as an effective team leader or member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality is essential.
• Knowledge of PC environment, software, hardware, and changing technologies.
• Demonstrates accountability for actions by providing rationale for decisions and actions.
• Acknowledges errors, taking corrective action, recognizing own limitations and the project limitations and consulting with others as necessary.
• Ability to coach, mentor, and support project related staff.
• Adapts to changes in the work environment.
• Manages competing demands.
• Changes approach or method to best fit the situation.
• Ability to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment, as well as independently. 
• Ability to work with limited direct supervision.
• Demonstrates sound judgment in decision making.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, email, and internet.
• Enthusiastic, flexible, able to work under pressure of many priorities and deadlines.

 

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Management/Non Union   bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

I f you are an employee of IWK Health , please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.