Care jobs in Canada

Commitment: 2 years, renewable

Availability: 7-15 hours a month (includes pre-reading and virtual or in-person meetings)

Location: Remote and in-person (Ottawa)

Health Standards Organization (HSO) is searching for Technical Committee members who share our passion for achieving quality health services for all. In Canada and around the world, we are building a bold and bright future for our enterprise and our clients. If you are looking for a challenge and seeking to be part of something larger than yourself, this position could be for you.

Health Standards Organization (HSO) is developing a new edition of the Palliative Care Services standard. The new standard will provide guidance to enable the delivery of safe, equitable, people-centred, comprehensive, and high-quality palliative and end-of-life services. It will support the needs and preferences of clients, caregivers, and support persons and apply to all populations, all ages, and all settings offering palliative care services, including hospitals, hospices, and home and community-based care settings, such as primary health care and long-term care settings. The standard will address advanced care planning and cover organizational roles, planning, performance, safety, risk, equity-informed and people-centred care, and quality improvement.

The standard will include measurable, outcome-based requirements to enhance palliative care quality and safety. HSO co-designs standards in partnership with patients, caregivers, providers, leaders, and other interest holders to ensure the standard supports:

• Improving quality of life and reducing physical and psychological symptoms;
• Providing support for caregivers and support persons;
• Achieving a peaceful and dignified death;
• Emphasizing the client’s and caregiver's role in care planning throughout the continuum of care.

This new edition will replace the current NSC CAN/HSO 13001:2020 Palliative Care Services.

HSO standards foster strong health care systems by providing the public, providers, and policy makers with a foundation that promotes high quality health services where it matters most. To accomplish this, HSO brings best evidence, best experts, and best practices to the table to inform a consensus-based, collaborative approach to standards development. As a member of the Technical Committee, you will be part of the development process that supports ongoing quality improvement measures in health care systems.

By working with HSO to develop standards you will be shaping the future of health services, resulting in a lasting impact on healthcare worldwide. Through the standard development process, you will have the unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with other passionate individuals who work in the field or have lived experience related to the topic of interest. In addition, your position as a Technical Committee member and standard author acknowledges your status as a subject matter expert.

• Monitor, identify, and provide strategic guidance to HSO on emerging areas of importance within the scope of the Technical Committee. This may include, but is not limited to, proposing the development of new standards.
• Help to identify sponsorship and endorsement opportunities.
• Work with key interest holders and experts from Canada and internationally in the revision or development of HSO standards under the Technical Committee’s purview.
• Bring the perspective of the membership category that you belong to (e.g. patient, provider, policy maker/health services interest holder, or general interest), and working for the benefit of the global community, over and above personal interests or those of the organization with which you are employed.
• Advise and reach consensus on the topics for inclusion and the content of the standards through a series of meetings.
• Maintain effective communication and knowledge transfer amongst Technical Committee members and the HSO staff.
• Provide guidance to HSO staff on standard(s) related interpretation questions and inquiries related to technical content of the standard(s).
• Promote the adoption of standards once published.

TC members should

• Identify with one of these four interest holder categories:

• Patients: Individuals who have significant and recent experience within the Technical Committee’s subject area. The term ‘patient’ is used to identify individuals who participate in, and benefit from, health systems and services as co-producers of health. This could include residents, community members, carers, or family members.
• Providers: Representatives from health care organizations or other potential end-users of the standard, including clinicians and administrators.
• Policy makers/health services interest holders: Members from a government ministry (health or otherwise), regulators, project funders, or government funded bodies such as health quality councils.
• General interest: Those with subject-matter expertise in applied research, academia, or representatives from private-sector industry.

• Have subject matter expertise through professional and lived experience.
• Have demonstrated experience working in collaborative settings, and exhibiting the diplomacy, tact, and respect required for group interactions.
• Be able to commit to the time investment and constraints as required for Technical Committee activities.
• Be able to work and collaborate with others in English, as this is the working language of the Technical Committee.

• Have previous experience working in a consensus-based team model.
• Have previous experience developing standards or other policy documents.
• Value professional integrity, credibility, and a commitment to ongoing improvement.
• Have strong critical thinking, judgement, and management skills.
• Approach everything with positivity, innovation, and credibility.
• Are fluent in French.

All positions on the Technical Committee are voluntary. An honorarium is provided to all patient and family members participating on HSO’s Technical Committees. HSO also provides reimbursement to Technical Committee members for expenses related to attending any in-person meetings in Ottawa. Additional information on membership, including patient and family honorariums, will be provided if you are selected as a Technical Committee member.

You will receive a confirmation email immediately after submitting your application. Please note that you will only be sent a follow-up interview request email if your application was retained for the recruiting Technical Committee.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to the principles of Employment Equity. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.