The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) Coordinator

Brant Community Healthcare System; Brantford; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Brant Community Healthcare System in Brantford, Ontario, is seeking an experienced HELP Coordinator to manage volunteer visits for patients at risk of delirium, working with geriatrics nurses and physicians. You will hire and train volunteers and coordinate patient visits in collaboration with the geriatrics team.

The role requires a 2-year diploma in Recreation Therapy or OTA/PTA, minimum 3 years in geriatrics, GPA certification, and healthcare experience.

Qualifications

• 2-year diploma in Recreation Therapy or Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assistant is required.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in geriatrics.
• Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) certification required.
• Healthcare experience is required.
• Inpatient acute hospital setting is preferred.
• Supervisor or team lead experience is required.
• Experience with volunteer coordination is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the screening of HELP program volunteers.
• Ensure volunteers complete comprehensive HELP program training.
• Shadow on unit patient visiting activities with new volunteers.
• Provide training for volunteers on delirium prevention and documentation.
• Review patient applications for HELP program services daily.
• Ensure referrals to the program are appropriate.
• Assign and schedule volunteer engagements with patients.
• May conduct patient visiting sessions to assess appropriateness for programming.
• Escalate concerns and collaborate with unit managers to ensure high-quality geriatric care.
• Collaborate with Geriatrics team to support high-risk patients and integrate HELP visiting activities with care planning.
• Attend meetings related to HELP program operations.
• Advocate for delirium prevention best practices.
• Educate clinical leaders about HELP program and support implementation.
• Promote delirium best practice behaviors within the clinical team.
• Maintain data tracking records of the program.
• Assist leadership in evaluating and disseminating program impacts at BCHS.

Skills

Volunteer coordination

Team leadership

Delirium prevention awareness

Education

2-year diploma in Recreation Therapy/OTA/PTA

Minimum 3-year experience in Geriatrics

GPA certification

Healthcare experience

Inpatient acute hospital setting (preferred)

Supervisor / team lead experience

Experience with volunteer coordination (preferred)

Job description

Grow Your Career at Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS)At BCHS, we are driven by a bold vision: To Lead Beyond Care. As a two-site community hospital system in Brantford and Paris, Ontario, we serve with purpose, passion, and a deep commitment to the people who rely on us.

• Brantford General Hospital – Our acute care hospital offering a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services.
• The Willett in Paris – Home to our urgent care centre and transitional care services, supporting patients through every step of their healthcare journey.

With Over 130 Years Of Service, BCHS Is Evolving With a Renewed Focus On Excellence, Collaboration, And Innovation. Our Strategic Priorities Center On Quality Care, Connected Teams, And a Healthy Future For Our Patients, Our People, And Our Community. Our Culture Is Shaped By Our Core Values And PillarsCore Values: Be Bold and Courageous | Commit to Excellence | Champion Equity | Be TrustworthyFour Pillars: Patient-First | People-Centred | Partnership-Based | Progress-FocusedThese values reflect who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together to have influence. Join us in shaping the future of healthcare—right here at BCHS.

Why Choose BCHS?

• Investing in You – Access to a centralized Education Fund, tuition support, and professional development opportunities.
• Flexible Scheduling – Within a standard work week
• Career Growth – Internal job postings, mentorship programs, and leadership development.
• Predictable Work Locations – Stability and consistency in your work environment.
• Collaborative Team Culture – Work alongside skilled professionals in a supportive, interdisciplinary setting.
• Employee Wellness Matters – Peer Support Team, Wellness Committee, Free, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their families.
• Commitment to Safety – Comprehensive safety programs for all
• Competitive Compensation and Benefits –– Salaries and benefits designed to align with industry standards, reinforcing our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent. Excellent Pension Plan.
• Diversity & Inclusion – We are actively working to diversify our teams and remove systemic barriers in hiring, retention, and advancement. We track and report on our progress because representation matters. We regularly review our benefits, policies, and programs through an equity lens to meet the needs of our diverse teams. Provide accommodations for religious practices and use trauma-informed policies that support mental wellbeing.
• Recognition & Rewards – Employee appreciation programs and professional recognition opportunities and Corporate Committee
• Community Impact – Make a real difference in patient care and public health every day.
• Choose Civility – Where every interaction matters. Civility and respect shape our workplace, as individuals treat one another—and the communities we serve with dignity, empathy, and cultural awareness. We foster a culture of civility by raising awareness, setting clear expectations, and continually reviewing our policies and practices to ensure respect is at the core of everything we do.

Position Summary

The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) Coordinator works with clinical leadership, including BCHS Geriatrics nurses and physicians, to co‑coordinate volunteer visits to patients at risk of developing hospital acquired delirium. The HELP coordinator is an experienced healthcare professional, with a comprehensive knowledge base and experience related to geriatric care needs who will help to operate the HELP program at BCHS. Daily task will include hiring and training of HELP program volunteers, coordinating patient visits, engaging in patient visiting and collaborating with clinical leaders and geriatrics team members to meet patient visiting needs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Supporting the screening of HELP program volunteers
• Ensuring program volunteers are engaged in, and have completed comprehensive HELP program training
• Shadowing on unit patient visiting activities with new volunteers
• Providing training for volunteers for core elements of the HELP program (delirium prevention, documentation of visiting activities
• Daily review of patient applications for HELP program services
• Ensuring appropriateness of referrals to program
• Assigning and scheduling volunteer engagement with patients
• May include performing patient visiting sessions to evaluate patient appropriateness for programming or support scheduling
• Escalation of identified concerns and collaboration with unit managers to ensure high-quality care for geriatric patients at BCHS
• Collaboration with Geriatrics team members to support high risk patients and integrate HELP visiting activities with care planning
• Attend meetings related to HELP program operations
• Be a frontline advocate for delirium prevention best practices
• Collaborate and educate clinical leaders at BCHS about the HELP program and support implementation
• Champion delirium best practice behaviours with clinical team members
• Maintain data tracking records of program
• Assist clinical leadership in evaluation and disseminating program impacts at BCHS

Mandatory Qualifications

• 2-year diploma in Recreation Therapy, or Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assistant
• Minimum 3-year experience in Geriatrics required
• Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) certification required
• Healthcare experience required
• Inpatient acute hospital setting Preferred
• Supervisor, team lead experience required
• Experience with volunteer coordination preferred

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

BCHS is committed to building an inclusive and accessible workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We welcome people from all walks of life, including people of all genders, sexual orientations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, Indigenous identities, abilities, and lived experiences. Inclusion is part of how we deliver better care

We are dedicated to removing barriers and providing accommodations at every stage of the hiring process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require any accommodations, please inform us when contacted, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

AI Use in Hiring

Brant Community Healthcare System does not use artificial intelligence (AI), automated tools, or algorithms to screen, assess, or rank candidates during the hiring process; all applications are reviewed by our recruitment team.