ANNUAL REPORT
June 2016
Calgary Service Provider Council Annual Report 2015/16 – Significant change with signs of progress calgaryserviceprovidercouncil.org
Change, challenge and new perspectives A message from Chair, Erin Waite. It has been a pleasure to work with members of the Council’s Executive Committee and Service Provider Council this past year. We’ve made our way, along with our new government and others in the community, as Calgary has been severely affected by the economic downturn. The support of a provincial government that believes in maintaining and investing in social services was notable against the pressures to reduce costs and obligations.
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Workforce Council report
2 Special Meeting: John McGee, Lawyer 3 How Relationships Lead to Good Decisions: Elaine Yost
Many of us were anticipating change from a new government and there was some impatience as directives and policy initiated by the former government continued.
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Member agencies of the Calgary Service Provider Council
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Over time, and with a series of small and then more significant changes, the disability community began to feel that it was heard.
Vulnerable Persons SelfRegistry
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Council Member Survey
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Treasurer’s Report
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Executive Committee members
Highlights of the year included a refreshingly open and thorough community engagement on Safety Standards that broadened the questions and discussed what it means to feel safe. Continued on page 4
Calgary Service Provider Council had six regular meetings and one special meeting on the new, proposed contract in 2015/16. Meetings for 2016/17 are on Wednesdays: September 14, November 9, January 11, March 8, May 10 and a June AGM.
ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2016
Workforce Council is a sub-committee of the Service Provider Council
Workforce Council Report Calgary Workforce Council has 19 members who work to develop, promote and implement regional human resource strategies. Calgary’s Council’s endeavors support the three strategic initiatives, shaped provincially: 1. Communication to build awareness of disability services work; 2. Human resources information gathering to identify trends and support informed decisions; 3. Skilled and healthy workforce with a focus on training and development. In Calgary, these strategies were implemented through a Nurturing Cultural Diversity by providing four one-day workshops entitled: Foundations of Intercultural Intelligence, Intercultural Communication, Managing Intercultural Conflict, and Coaching a Culturally Diverse Workforce.
2015/16 M emb ers of t he W or kf orce Council Kim McCullough, Co-Chair, DDRC Michelle Wolfe, Co-Chair, Scope Jody Amirault, ACDS Janis Bunton, Rehoboth Alexi Davis, Prospect – prepared report Helene de Klerk, New Age Diane Dmytryshyn, CCDS Karen Faint, Rehoboth
Along with generating solid results and progress for the workforce, the program has developed a more nuanced understanding of the cultural diversity challenges and gaps that further training can mitigate.
Emily Holland, DDRC
The second annual Leadership Symposium was held in October 2015 and was geared to emerging leaders. The cost was significantly discounted through sponsorships allowing participation by 121 employees.
Richard Lemaire, Alberta Government
During the year, a visioning session was conducted with a focus on ‘collective impact.’ As well, a strategic planning session was held to co-ordinate regional workforce initiatives with provincial strategies, to the benefit of the entire disability sector’s workforce. Continued on page 3
Bruce Skorobohach, Columbia College
Donna Jones, Bow Valley College Michelle Juett, CLAS Shaun Pearson, Supported Lifestyles Ann Sims, Springboard Stan Skoropad, PDD Stephen Wright, ADWA Shelley Zagajewski, Vecova
Special Meeting: a teleconference with lawyer, John McGee, Field Law Much of the 2015/16 year was made more stressful by the change in contract process with the introduction of procurement and the unexpected addition of a completely new contract template. It was extremely helpful to have a Special Meeting in April 2016 to videoconference with John McGee, a lawyer who is familiar with PDD contracts and a past guest speaker at Council. McGee’s candid commentary and his laymen’s approach to explaining contract law are invaluable. At the same meeting, Calgary’s representatives on the Procurement Advisory Table, Melanie Mitra of Prospect and Helen Cowie of DDRC, also participated, sharing their experience on that committee.
John McGee is an associate with Field Law in Edmonton. He has a long Subsequent to the special meeting, the new contract template was taken off the table. Thank you to Todd Rich, CLAS, for his time and efforts working history with the PDD contract. 2 contract issues. with ACDS on the
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Workforce Council Report continued….
How relationships can lead to good decisions
Provincially and regionally, Workforce Councils are reviewing and assessing all data gathering tools to ensure they have ease of use, thorough uptake and generate valid and valuable information about the workforce. Some of this work involves replacing existing tools or improving tools so that the burden of data gathering is reasonable relative to the value of the information collected. Surveys tested during the year was a “Best Practice” survey and a pilot of the “Your Voice” survey.
Relationships … one person interacting with another… one agency interacting with another… and the government interacting with the community are the heart of all of our work. Quality services rely on the ability to build cooperative partnerships. The Service Provider Council believes that relationship-building remains the bedrock of quality client service. Quality service relies on the ability to build partnerships where people who require support, the community and government work together. The re-structuring of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Department over the past year has shifted expectations, changed roles and responsibilities, spawned a new contract, and introduced and repealed Safety Standards. The Council’s energy and focus have been on ensuring that the complexity and impact of these decisions are fully understood and responsibly implemented. We have had to raise awareness of the impact of decisions, particularly on the individuals we support, and on our ability to maintain the excellent service that we are all committed to achieving.
AC KNO WELDG EM ENT We would like to thank Talent Pool, AWES, Alberta Disability Worker’s Association (ADWA), Ministry of Labour (formerly JSTL) and the Calgary Local Immigration Partnership who have partnered in the Workforce Council initiatives. Additionally, we would like to acknowledge Calgary Service Provider Council, ACDS, PDD, Alberta Works, Mount Royal University, Bow Valley College and the many organizations for their participation, hard work and commitment to the Council and workforce priorities within the sector.
Changing a complex system with diverse needs can be demanding for all involved and there are many ways difficulties can arise. Communication is the essential currency of all our negotiations and interactions. We have had difficulty determining the meaning of some of the changes government has introduced and the reasons for them.
c a l g a r y s e rv i c e p ro v i d e rc o u n c i l . o r g A new Calgary Service Provider Council website hosts a list of members with links to agency websites, list of the Executive Committee members, Agendas and Minutes from each meeting and information about the sector.
Concern has been expressed by Council members about the significant increase in a more bureaucratic and directive approach within a business-based framework. The Council wants to ensure that the citizenship of our clients is not undermined by well-intended but misguided decisions. We are grateful that our new Human Services Minister Irfan Sabir has listened to our concerns and created opportunities for consultation.
This basic website is a convenient resource to find Council information in between meetings.
The Service Provider Council of Calgary is committed to ensuring that the positive vitality of our sector is maintained and that the principles and vision of citizenship, human rights and choice remain at the forefront of all decisions. Elaine Yost, CEO of OPTIONS and Executive Committee representative
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Continued from page 1
SERVICE PROVIDER MEMBERS
The launch of Human Services’ competitive procurement initiative was more challenging and added more confusion following years of contract extensions.
Accessible Housing Society Alberta Council of Disability Services Calgary Alternative Support Services
The introduction and then retraction of a new contract template added to the stress of managing day-to-day operations. While the retraction of an unworkable contract template was more confirmation of the government listening, we continue in a procurement process that does not have a clear path.
Calgary Community Day Services
Optimistic, but watchful
Calgary Society for Persons with Disabilities
So far, the government’s willingness to listen has resulted in cancellations or removals. But what remains unknown is whether the replacements will better reflect our input and shared goals. With the goodwill reflected in listening to community concerns, it is now up to the community to step up and be part of the solution. We must continue to advocate for agency, family and self-advocate involvement in new policy and then we must all step up and bring our best knowledge and expertise to the table. Special thanks go out to Ryan Geake who brought the most pressure to the unintended consequences of the Safety Standards, leading to their eventual repeal and the subsequent, effective public consultation. Elaine Yost at Options continues to host Executive Committee meetings and Alexi Davis at Prospect offers meeting space for Council – I thank them both for their support. I look forward to facilitating Council members to be even more involved next year as we work to improve and strengthen our services while working with government on effective policy.
Calgary Progressive Lifestyles Foundation Calgary Scope Society Calgary Society of Community Opportunities
CBI Home Health Chrysalis Columbia College Connections Counselling and Consulting Foundation Community Living Alternative Services Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre (DDRC) Excel Society Foothills Advocacy in Motion Society In-Definite Arts Society Independent Counselling Enterprises Inc. L'Arche Calgary New Age Services Inc. OPTIONS Progressive Alternatives Society of Calgary Prospect Human Services Society Rehoboth Christian Ministries Resicare Society of Calgary
Respectfully,
Resourceful Futures Residential Support Springboard Centre for Adults with Disabilities
Erin Waite, Calgary Service Provider Council Chair June 8, 2016
Supported Lifestyles Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency Vantage Enterprises Ltd Vecova Ventures Society of Calgary Wheat Country Special Needs Society
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ANNUAL REPORT
JUNE 2016
Vulnerable Persons Self-Registry: introduced by Constable Patty Desormeau Calgary Police has developed a self-registry where people can voluntary add their name and information about them that would be helpful to emergency first-responders. The registry is controlled and kept separate from other police records. Carefully managed, it is only used to help the person who has registered themselves. Whether it is information on how the person communicates or how best to approach them, it is available for anyone to use. Constable Patty Desormeau has devoted years working on this tool to ensure that it includes features that are helpful and trustworthy. Council enjoyed a presentation on the tool, particularly as Patty has invested a great deal of time working with the disability community and talking to self-advocates to better meet their needs.
2015/16: Chronology of policy change in A lbert a ♦ Safety Standards take effect – Apr. 1, 2015 ♦ Notley elected Premier – May 5, 2015; Minister Irfan Sabir, Human Services ♦ Safety Standards halted – Sept. 18, 2015 ♦ Procurement information meeting – Nov. 12/13, 2015 ♦ Safety Standards Consultation Process announced – Dec. 4, 2015 ♦ PQR List information – Jan. 4, 2016 ♦ PQR posting included Master Agreement contract, not previously anticipated ♦ PQR List closes – Feb. 6, 2016 ♦ Safety Standards consultation – Feb/Mar. 2016 ♦ Safety Standards repealed – Apr. 1, 2016 ♦ Safety Standards phase 2 underway – May 2016 ♦ Human Services restructured – early 2016 ♦ Pat Firminger named Regional Executive Director (managing all HS for Calgary Region ♦ SIS repealed – June 6, 2016
Members’ feedback is always valuable A short survey of members shows that Council is valued for the opportunity to hear about policy and other changes at PDD, and provincial news. Guest speakers (John McGee, Constable Patty DeMorceau, Donna Jones and Nicole Jackson) were well received and their presentations highly valued. Council members said they’d most like to see more ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions as we’ve had in the past. We look forward to Council members sharing more ideas and suggestions so that we can share
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ANNUAL REPORT
June 2016
Treasurer’s Report Prepared by Alexi Davis Our organization continued to have stable membership, providing dues as revenue. As we now have one membership per agency, we have a slight decline in the number of paid memberships as some agencies had previously paid for two. A 2015 By-Law change led to one membership per agency structure. Membership voted to support the Leadership Symposium, hosted by our Workforce Council, in the amount of $2,500. The Council also paid for the 2015 AGM luncheon and venue. Remaining expenses covered ongoing Council operations (meeting costs, website domain, and insurance). The bank balance of $15,510 is available for future uses that will further the strategic objectives of the Council. A call by ACDS in early 2016 for Councils and agencies to contribute to a Legal Fund in support of contract negotiations was responded to by individual agency contributions. Council has offered to step up to respond to the need if legal advice is required beyond the current Fund balance.
Calgary Service Provider Council Income Statement For the year ended March 31, 2016 Incom e Membership Fees Other Total Income Disburseme nt s Annual General Meeting Bank Charges Executive and general members meetings Office, mailout, network, insurance Special functions Other Total Disbursements
2016
2015
4,060 0 4,060
$ 5,850 340 6,190
Thank you t o S ervice P rov ider Cou n cil m emb ers wh o serve on t he Executive C omm it tee Alexi Davis, Prospect – Treasurer Helene de Klerk, New Age
999 20 646 1,273 2,600 0 5,538
426 23 1,178 1,273 0 0 2,900
Earnings (Loss) From Operations
(1,478)
$ 3,290
Retained Earnings, beginning of year
16,987
$13,698
$15,510
$16,987
Retained Earnings, end of year
2015/16 Disbursements In 2015/16, we continued to focus on getting together as a community so that we could share our experience, expertise and respond to continual changes in government policy and procedures.
Karen Faint, Rehoboth Ryan Geake, Scope Debi LeFaivre, Vecova Darlene Murphy, In-Definite Arts –
Communications Secretary Jayne Myatt, Vantage Garth Reesor, L’Arche Erin Waite, Connections – Chair Jill Winters, CLAS Elaine Yost, Options