What’s Up at SafeCareBC?
Latest newsletter from SafeCareBC
We made the website!
You can thank a Health Care Assistant any time, but we really wanted you to show your appreciation on Health Care Assistant Day (October 18). And you did!
Sites across the province and even some MLAs downloaded our poster and shared why they’re thankful for the 35,000 Health Care Assistants working across BC. Check out some of the photos we’ve posted of the reasons people shared.
Finding the right support makes all the difference
When I learned about the TOP program, I thought it was something our organization could benefit from. We are COR certified [Certificate of Recognition], but still there are improvements we can make. We want to create more safety awareness for our staff and empower them to say no to unsafe work.
When we go through a COR audit, we are left with a lot of homework, and often on our own to find solutions. Through TOP, and with support from SafeCare BC, we are able to bounce ideas around, and can lean on their expertise to let us know we are on the right track. Searching for reliable resources and tools that are relevant to our sector can be challenging, but even more difficult when you’re trying to do it on your own.
Our injury rates have been going down, but we want to reduce them even further. The challenge for our workers is the changing physical environment depending on the client. In long-term care, homes are built with care staff in mind. In home care, they are set up for the clients, not the staff. Access to equipment is also a challenge, because it often takes time from the initial assessment to when the equipment arrives.
If you want to lower your injury rates and the costs associated with it, this is a good way. It’s just the beginning, but I’m confident that being part of TOP will make a big difference for us, and I would encourage other organizations to understand how TOP can help their organizations.
Director of Home Care, Lower Mainland
SafeCare BC will be recruiting a new cohort of TOP participants, beginning in January. For more information on the program, contact Mavis Gibson at mavis@safecarebc.ca
On the Road to Learn About Our Members
Recently, Mavis Gibson, our Director of Workplace Health and Safety Programs, visited eight sites in the Kootenays—Grand Forks, Trail, Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Invermere, and Fernie—to learn first hand about their health and safety challenges, education needs and to talk about what SafeCare BC can offer. In addition, she was able to more fully understand and appreciate both the staffing and community demographics.
“After visiting these sites, I was able to get a better sense of their training and education challenges, which includes limited staffing pools, driving distances between communities and sites and the additional difficulties winter weather poses. The insight gained during my trip will help us as we continue to develop new resources and technology to serve our members in distant communities.”
Mavis took along Boo, the SafeCare bear. Here are some of the places Boo visited.
Is Your Organization Road Safety Ready?
SafeCare BC and Road Safety at Work are co-hosting an interactive session that will help continuing care employers implement or improve a road safety program that fits their organization.
Road Safety at Work – Health Care Workshop
November 28 – 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
SafeCare BC Training Centre – Burnaby
Workshop limited to 24 participants. REGISTER TODAY.
The workshop is for owners, managers, supervisors, health and safety practitioners, Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee members and others who have responsibility for making decisions and developing programs to keep healthcare workers safe on BC roads.
Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the third most common injury type for home care and community health support workers?
For more information:
Angelina Robinson
angelina.robinson@roadsafetyatwork.ca
What’s Coming Up in Workshops
We offer an extensive range of in-person educational programming. You can check out our entire course schedule here.
Workshop Spotlight: Health and Safety Program Audit (Nov 6-7)
How well is your health and safety program working?
All organizations are required by law to have a health and safety program, but how do you know if yours is effective? How do you know if you’ve covered all your bases? Most importantly, how do you know if what you’re focusing on is what you really need to focus on?
At SafeCare BC, we recognize that most people aren’t health and safety experts. That’s why we designed the Health and Safety Program Audit tool and 2-day training course.
Designed by the continuing care sector, for the sector, with input from occupational health and safety experts and WorkSafeBC, this plain-language program will assist you in assessing your health and safety program. We will provide you with the tools, training, and support so you can get a snapshot of your organization’s occupational health and safety policies, procedures, and practices. As part of this program, you will:
- Gain access to SafeCare BC’s custom Health and Safety Program Audit Tool
- Receive training and one-on-one support on how to use the tool
- Conduct a comprehensive analysis of your organization’s health and safety program
- Obtain a clear picture of how your organization’s health and safety program performs
- Develop a concrete action plan to address areas of opportunity within your organization’s health and safety program
- Enhance the effectiveness of your organization’s health and safety program
Below are some other course offerings we are highlighting:
Safe Client Handling
October 29-30 – Burnaby
November 13-14 – Vernon
Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum
November 5 – Kelowna
Health and Safety Program Audit
November 6-7 – Burnaby
Creating Connections: Working with People with Dementia
November 13 – Parksville
Visit our website for a full list of courses and to REGISTER!
