Assistant Head Nurse - Intake Coordinator

Alberta Health Services; Ponoka; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Alberta is seeking an Assistant Head Nurse for the Seniors Mental Health Program. This role involves overseeing nursing staff, managing patient flow, and ensuring high-quality care. The ideal candidate will have significant mental health experience, relevant nursing qualifications, and strong organizational skills. The position offers a salary range of $44.71 - $61.18 per hour and a day shift pattern, with weekends off.

Qualifications

• Minimum six years recent mental health experience in the past ten years.
• Training in Connect Care and experience working with the senior population.
• Knowledge of the five units in the SMHP and other site programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff assignments and patient flow.
• Lead in promoting quality patient care and operational priorities.
• Coordinate Seniors Outreach Intake meetings with staff and psychiatrists.

Skills

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Knowledge of Mental Health Act

Leadership skills

Education

Completion of an accredited nursing program

Active or eligible registration with CRNA

Current BCLS-HCP certification

Tools

Connect Care

Job description

Your Opportunity:

Reporting to the manager, you will collaborate with psychiatrists in the SMHP program to assess admission appropriateness, rule out medical contributors, and ensure clients are medically stable or require further investigations. You will organize relevant information for psychiatrists' review, complete admissions in Connect Care upon client arrival, and liaise with community physicians and healthcare professionals to identify suitable resources for clients with complex mental health symptoms.

You will demonstrate critical thinking skills to triage clients on the waitlist, prioritizing urgent cases. Extensive knowledge of the certification process is required to support and educate clients, families, agents, and physicians regarding the Mental Health Act and admission procedures.

Working across all five units of the SMHP—including mood/thought disorder and dementia units—you will ensure clients are appropriate for their units, understanding acuity and bed management. Organizational skills are essential to manage high call volumes and admission requests. You will also lead the central zone Seniors Outreach team, supporting 22 nurses, requiring extensive knowledge of their program to assist with complex case recommendations and escalate referrals when necessary. You will coordinate Seniors Outreach Intake meetings with staff and psychiatrists, and knowledge of community resources like RPACT and CCMHBI Telepsychiatry Services is important for appropriate client support and referrals.

This position transitioned to Recovery Alberta effective September 1, 2024. By applying, you agree to become an employee of Recovery Alberta.

As an Assistant Head Nurse:

You will oversee staff assignments, patient flow, and act as a role model, clinical resource, and advocate for nursing staff. In addition to frontline care, you will lead in promoting quality patient care and operational priorities. Your expertise, judgment, and clinical experience will help resolve complex healthcare issues, supporting patients, interprofessional teams, administrators, and policymakers. You will play a key role in providing safe, quality, patient- and family-centered care aligned with AHS values.

Details:

• Transition Company: Recovery Alberta
• Classification: Assist Head Nurse
• Union: United Nurses of Alberta
• Unit and Program: Seniors Mental Health Program
• Location: Cent. Ctr for MH and Brain Inj
• FTE: 1.00
• Posting End Date: 07-AUG-2025
• Start Date: 18-AUG-2025
• End Date: 01-FEB-2027
• Hours per Shift: 7.75
• Shift Pattern: Days
• Days Off: Saturday/Sunday
• Salary Range: $44.71 - $61.18

Qualifications:

• Completion of an accredited nursing program
• Active or eligible registration with the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA)
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support - Health Care Provider (BCLS-HCP)

Additional Qualifications:

• Minimum six years recent mental health experience in the past ten years
• Training in Connect Care and experience working with the senior population
• Knowledge of the five units in the SMHP and other site programs
• Understanding of Community Addiction and Mental Health Clinics services
• Extensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act, CTO legislation, certification, and facility assessments
• Knowledge of telepsychiatry, RPACT, PCN supports, and the Seniors Outreach Team
• Ability to explain differences between Personal Directives, EPOAs, Public Guardianship, and Agents

Preferred Qualifications: As required