NICU Parent Liaison

Dedicated exclusively to children and their families, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is one of the largest and most respected paediatric healthcare centres in the world. As innovators in child health, we lead and partner to improve the health of children through the integration of healthcare, leading-edge research and education. Our reputation would not have been built – nor could it be maintained – without the skills, knowledge and experience of the extraordinary people who come to work here every day. SickKids is committed to ongoing learning and development, and features a caring and supportive work environment that combines exceptionally high standards of practice.

When you join SickKids, you become part of our community. We share a commitment and determination to fulfill our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to work alongside the world’s best in paediatric healthcare.

The Parent Liaison will be an active non-clinical member of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) inter-professional health care team. In order to fulfill this role the Parent Liaison must be a parent of a graduate from a Level III NICU and will utilize wisdom of personal experience coupled with the unique perspective of being a family member in a health care team.

The Parent Liaison will enhance overall family engagement in their infant's clinical course of treatment in the NICU. The Parent Liaison will help to advocate and champion communication processes with families to support their integration as a member of the Health Care Team. In collaboration with the SickKids teams and established community partners, the Parent Liaison will provide oversight, implement and evaluate different initiatives including, but not limited to, parent peer support, coordination of family programs, health education, and caregiver wellness.

The Parent Liaison will ensure the sustainability of parent programs and support future initiatives to support growth and coordinated care of the family care experience in the NICU environment. The Parent Liaison will demonstrate a commitment to championing family care in parallel with organizational strategies and vision.

The Parent Liaison will also provide input on behalf of parents and families on NICU initiatives, including but not limited to, policy review, practices, committees and research. The Parent Liaison will also oversee the NICU volunteer program in collaboration with NICU Leadership.

Here's What You'll Get To Do

Liaison between members of the inter-professional healthcare team and families in the NICU

• Role models the philosophy, core concepts, goals and objectives of Family Centered Care (FCC) in the NICU in the Hospital for Sick Children
• Assist families throughout their NICU hospitalization by helping them navigate internal resources as a point of contact. This may include activities such as helping with translation services, tours and orientation packages, using the breast pump rooms and introducing care structure and care team. The PL will achieve this through nurturing a partnership with the Social Work team, Charge and Clinical Support Nurses and other relevant stakeholders throughout their NICU experience.
• Assist parents in enhancing their experience by liaising with hospital resources such as but not limited to the Office of Patient Family Experience (OPFE) and chaplaincy.
• Participates and collaborates with the NICU Leadership Team to lead the implementation and evaluation of services, programs or systems that enhance the experience of children and families. This can be achieved through activities with families, data collection of family satisfaction survey measures or others.
• Collaborates with Allied Health members such as OT, Music Therapy and Child Life Specialists to identify and/or share feedback from families pertaining to the parental concerns of their children.

Facilitation/Liaison:

• Provides information and feedback to the NICU staff about the needs and experience of parents and families.
• Participates in NICU committees suggested by the NICU Leadership Team (Quality Improvement Project, Quality Assurance, and others as the NICU Leadership Team determines to be relevant) as a parent representative.
• Attends relevant educational opportunities as a member of the NICU team.

Administration / Leadership

• Participates in developing tools and pamphlets to communicate NICU parent participation and information
• Co-chairs Family Care Committee
• Participates in ad hoc projects determined by the NICU Leadership Team

Here's What You'll Need

Minimum Experience requirements:

• Graduate parent of SickKids NICU (must be five-years post-discharge)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including capacity to demonstrate positive interpersonal skills and work as a cooperative team member.
• Proficiency in computer software applications, including demonstrated experience in using email and using the Internet for locating resources
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity and inclusion objectives

Minimum level of education:

• Post secondary degree/diploma in a related discipline (eg. Nursing, sociology, psychology, equity studies, etc.) or an equivalent of education and experience.

Assets:

• Additional Health Care Education or work/volunteer experience would be an asset, but not required
• Experience in project management

The NICU Parent Liaison offers a unique perspective as a parent of a child hospitalized in the NICU at SickKids Hospital. This is an incredible opportunity for parents who have experienced similar circumstances to enhance other parents and families' experience. This role has a great impact not only on the admitted child but also their families. This is also a great opportunity to advocate and be the voice of the parents and families in the NICU and across the hospital.

Employment Type:

1.00 FTE, Full-time Permanent

The children and families we care for are from a variety of communities, and so are our employees. We welcome and encourage everyone to join our organization and be part of our team.

When requested, SickKids will provide access and inclusion supports to eligible candidates to support their full engagement during the interview and assessment process. Information received related to access or inclusion will be addressed confidentially.

Thank you for your interest in joining SickKids. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. In accordance with our Hospital policy, employment at SickKids is conditional upon the Hospital¿s receipt of all necessary documentation.

How to Apply

Tip: Combine your cover letter and resume into ONE document of 20 pages or less as you cannot upload multiple documents as part of your application.

If you are still experiencing technical difficulties please email ask.hr@sickkids.ca to send us a short description of the issues you are experiencing. Please note that we will not accept resumes sent to this inbox but we are happy to respond to requests for technical assistance.