Director, Health Care Decisions and Capacity

Competition # : 49285

Department: Office of the Public Trustee

Location: HALIFAX

Type of Employment: Permanent

Union Status: Exclusion - Non Union - NSPG

Closing Date: 14-Jul-26 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

About Us

The Public Trustee of Nova Scotia is independent of government. It is set up as a corporation to protect the financial and personal well-being of its clients and offers a wide range of unique services. One such service is statutory decision-maker of last resort for vulnerable Nova Scotians who lack decisional capacity and who do not have a higher-ranked substitute decision-maker to act on their behalf. In this role, the Public Trustee is authorized to make decisions for a person who is not able to understand the risks, benefits, or consequences of an important decision about their health or personal care. This authority is set out In the Personal Directives Act, the Hospitals Act, and the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act.

About Our Opportunity

Are you a natural leader who thrives working in a fast-paced environment? Are you searching for a rewarding career where you will have a positive impact on the lives of Nova Scotians? If you answered yes to these questions, the Public Trustee of Nova Scotia has an exciting opportunity for you to explore as the Director of Health Care Decisions and Capacity Assessment.

Reporting directly to the Public Trustee, Deputy Head, the Director of Health Care Decisions and Capacity Assessment is responsible for the administration of the health care decisions program as Nova Scotia’s statutory decision-maker of last resort and ensures that decisions consistently and appropriately reflect the intent of the above-mentioned legislation, operational policies, and are: client-centred; respectful of human rights and freedoms; informed; in keeping with client’s wishes, values, and beliefs, if known; and in the client’s best interest.

As the Director of Health Care Decisions and Capacity Assessment you will be responsible for developing and providing an evidence-based capacity assessment training program for eligible health professionals as well as its associated policies; developing and providing a continuing competence program for qualified capacity assessors; and maintaining a provincial list of qualified capacity assessors.

Primary Accountabilities

• Developing and maintaining an evidence-based suite of policies and procedures that reflects the mission of government and the Public Trustee and that operationalizes the legislated authorities of statutory decision-maker of last resort and capacity assessment educator
• Providing strong leadership and mentorship to foster and support a culture of teamwork and client service excellence that is client-centred, based on health care ethics, and is responsive and timely
• Keeping current on new or unfamiliar medical diagnoses, treatments and interventions
• Providing staff with professional advice and guidance for quality decision-making in the client's best interest
• Preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to inform resourcing decisions, identify referral trends, identify opportunities for improved policies and processes as well as improved collaboration with external stakeholders.
• Developing and providing/overseeing the capacity assessment and continuing competency education programs.
• Maintaining the provincial list of qualified capacity assessors in accordance with the legislated mandate.
• Developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• Supervising periodic education outreach to stakeholder groups in acute care, continuing care, community care sectors regarding consent and capacity, and the Public Trustee’s role as statutory decision-maker of last resort.
• Ensuring the effective management of human resources by setting and evaluating staff performance targets, promoting diversity and a healthy, respectful workplace, demonstrating the leadership competencies, respecting corporate human resources practices, promoting teamwork and individual development, and maintaining internal communication.

Qualifications and Experience

This may be the right opportunity for you if you have the following skills and experience:

• A Master’s degree in Health Administration, Nursing or equivalent plus 4 years of related experience; an equivalent combination of experience and training will be considered.
• Previous experience with clinical nursing in an acute care and/or continuing care environment with responsibilities up to and including management of staff.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience interacting and collaborating with clients, colleagues and management at various levels.
• Previous experience analyzing data to monitor trends, identify opportunities for improved client service and stakeholder collaboration.
• Knowledge of legislation and operational policies to make informed decisions.
• Demonstrated experience supervising large caseloads.

Benefits

Based on the employment status, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

What We Offer

• Career development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career
• Engaging workplace: our employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in, we have forward-thinking policies and strategies
• Countless career paths
• A Dynamic, client-focused office environment where service excellence and teamwork are our focus.

Pay Grade: EC 12

Salary Range: $3,929.22 - $4,911.52 Bi-Weekly

Employment Equity Statement: Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.

Accommodation Statement: We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at competitions@novascotia.ca.

Current government employees may access this posting through the link below:

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.

If you are receiving a pension from the Nova Scotia Public Service Superannuation Plan (PSSP) or any related plans, you cannot receive pension payments while contributing to the same plan. If you accept a position that requires PSSP contributions, your pension payments must be stopped. Please contact the Nova Scotia Pension Services Corporation for more information.

Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.