Decision Writer, Inquiry Committee Complaints and Practice Investigations

Full-time, permanent

Position summary

The decision writer, Inquiry Committee is key to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, having responsibility to produce documents related to the activities of the complaints and practice investigations department.

This position provides support to the deputy registrar and to panels of the Inquiry Committee as required in accordance with College policies and procedures and in compliance with the Bylaws pursuant to the Health Professions Act (HPA).

The decision writer, Inquiry Committee reports to the conduct manager, complaints and practice investigations and works closely with the deputy registrar and medical reviewers. The position will also interact with the College’s committee members, legal counsel, and other department staff.

Duties and responsibilities

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

Committee and department support:

• record, draft and prepare minutes for panels B, C and E of the Inquiry Committee
• collaborate effectively with members of the team, including legal counsel and medical reviewers, to ensure minutes are reviewed and finalized effectively
• complete secondary review of the decision letters following Inquiry Committee meetings for accuracy and quality
• complete secondary review of the decision letters following registrar decision prior to review by panel D of the Inquiry Committee
• attend agenda review meetings for the upcoming Inquiry Committee meetings for panels B, C, and E
• record notes during interviews with physicians, the deputy registrar, and medical reviewers when required, and assist in completing interview memorandums
• draft correspondence required for complaint files, as directed by a manager or director

Drafting complaint decision letters

• draft and edit documents and correspondence, as assigned
• draft disposition letters triaged as non-serious conduct matters for review and approval by the deputy registrar
• assist in the quality review of other disposition letters
• ensure documents are well-organized, accurate, consistent and in compliance with applicable regulations and adhere to the College's Editorial Style Guide and writing standards
• apply the Health Professions Act and information contained in the    College’s professional standards and guidelines in the formulation of decision letters
• amend the disposition letters to ensure the information is written in plain language

Documentation support

• develop and implement templates and procedures for consistent documentation
• work collaboratively with members of the team and other departments (as needed) to draft policy and procedural documents
• review and update existing templates to ensure they are written in plain language
• support the communications and public affairs department in the drafting of College Connector articles or case summaries for the College’s Annual Report at the direction of the Inquiry Committee or deputy registrar

 Skills and qualifications

• five years of experience in a legal environment such as a paralegal or a similar; or a background in health care and a willingness to acquire familiarity with relevant legal concepts
• above-average writing skills in English
• experience with technical writing and familiarity with legal and medical terminology
• excellent editing and proof-reading skills
• experience in minute-taking
• training and experience in plain language writing would be an asset
• ability to research health-related standards and best practices as it relates to the drafting of conduct-related dispositions
• stay up-to-date on the latest health regulatory trends and bring a curious and innovative mindset to the team
• proficient in Office 365 and Microsoft Teams
• knowledge and understanding of College’s practice standards and guidelines, the Health Professions Act, BC Family Law Act, BC Health Care (Consent) and Care Facility (Admission) Act and other legislation related to the adjudication of College complaint matters
• self-motivated with above-average analytical and problem-solving skills, including capacity to generate solutions independently or in collaboration with others
• proven ability to perform multiple tasks, balance continuous demands and priorities, and meet deadlines
• strong interpersonal and communication skills in individual and team-based settings
• ability to maintain a calm and collaborative demeanor during busy or stressful times
• ability to exercise good judgment in recognizing scope of authority
• ability to recognize and protect confidential information 

The compensation range for this position is $69,521 to $86,901 per year.

The College is committed to our ongoing journey to be a diverse, equitable and inclusive place to work. All interested applicants, regardless of age, family or marital status, physical or mental disability, race, colour, religion, place of origin, and ancestry, Indigenous identity, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation political belief, socio-economic background, criminal conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, are strongly encouraged to apply. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in the recruitment and selection process.

The College values the strength diversity brings to our workplace, so if you’re excited about a career at the College but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the current job postings or you are not ready to apply yet, we encourage you to create an employee profile in the careers portal and our HR team will be able to see your skills and proactively match you with other roles more closely aligned to your experience and skillset.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for interview will be contacted. 

The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC is located on the unceded and traditional territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking peoples―the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh-ulh Sníchim speaking peoples―the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation.

We acknowledge the rights and title of BC First Nations whose territories span across the province. These territories recognize that laws, governance, and health systems tied to lands and waters have existed here since time immemorial.