The following is a letter from the Chair of SafeCare BC’s Board of Directors – Al Jina. Jina is also President at Park Place Seniors Living as well as a BC Care Providers Association Board Member.
Dear SafeCare BC Members,
With the start of the New Year upon us, it is a good time to reflect on 2015 and the progress SafeCare BC has made over the past 12 months. Recognizing that we are still a very young organization – officially founded just two years ago – SafeCare BC is already making a positive impact on the safety of long term care staff and the quality of seniors care in BC.
More than 850 employer representatives, front-line workers and seniors care partners attended 25 SafeCare BC special events and training workshops over the past year and, according to a recent province-wide survey, 75 per cent of our members report that they are changing how they work as a result of their engagement with SafeCare BC.
Our efforts in 2015 have been focused on putting our Strategic Plan into action. This has included an emphasis on:
- demonstrating sector leadership
- providing training opportunities for staff that reflect their real needs
- increasing awareness of best practices to prevent injuries and promote safe resident handling
Click here for a short summary of accomplishments in each of these areas.
While much has been achieved in a short period, we know there is much more work to do together and we are only getting started. Care providers are still under stress and the demand for complex care continues to increase as our population ages.
We look forward to working with you and your colleagues across British Columbia in the year ahead. Your feedback and unique expertise will continue to guide our efforts and be vital to our success as SafeCare BC continues to advance the strategic sector priorities we have identified together.
On behalf of our entire Board and staff, I want to thank you for your ongoing commitment and dedication to the seniors and families we serve across the province. Please accept our sincere best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year.
Yours truly,
Al Jina, Chair
SafeCare BC Board of Directors
