June 29, 2021
TRANSITION TO STEP 3 OF BC’S RESTART PLAN
Registrants are advised that WorkSafeBC has posted online advice on protocols for those providing in-person counselling services in preparation for the transition to Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan. Registrants will find advice on transitioning to communicable disease prevention as the orders, notices and guidance provided by the Provincial Health Officer that were required to address the COVID-19 pandemic are rescinded over the coming days. The Worksafe BC website is available at: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/covid-19/industry-specific-information/in-person-counselling
While the WorkSafeBC guidance for communicable disease prevention does not include the use of masks, the BC Centre for Disease Control requirement for the use of masks in health care facilities, most recently updated on June 18, 2021, remains in place and can be found at http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/Mask_Use_Health_Care_Facilities.pdf . CPBC will continue to seek guidance for registrants on these matters and will share any additional information as it becomes available. Registrants are encouraged to monitor the WorkSafeBC and BC Centre for Disease Control websites for relevant updates.
Registrants will find information regarding today’s announcement regarding the shift to Step 3 of the BC Restart Plan at https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021PREM0043-001268 as well as the slides of the presentation made by the Provincial Health Officer at https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/RestartBC_Step3.pdf
ALLIED HEALTH POLICY SECRETARIAT SURVEY OF ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
In June 2020, the Ministry of Health established the Allied Health Policy Secretariat (AHPS) to provide stewardship and focused leadership to more than 70 allied health professions and occupations providing vital health services to British Columbians. The core functions of the Secretariat are:
- Collaborate with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training to ensure allied health related education and training programs are consistent with current health system direction
- Provide strategic oversight and direction for allied health clinical capacity and student practice education
- Lead provincial policy and program development for allied health recruitment and retention
- Ensure optimization of the allied health workforce and support scope of practice and models of care that meet population health needs
The Secretariat has undertaken to develop and implement a three-year strategic plan for allied health in BC. To help inform that strategic plan, the Secretariat is seeking input through a survey for all allied health professionals and occupations (public, private, and contracted) with a focus on BC’s health sector, as part of a provincial consultation process to identify allied health workforce issues and opportunities related to seven core themes (identity and recognition, leadership, workforce and optimization, partnerships and collaboration, education and training, recruitment, and retention).
CPBC registrants are invited to participate in this survey before July 13 by going to: https://surveymoh.health.gov.bc.ca/public/survey/allied-health-provincial-consultation?destination=/home
This survey will take no longer than 20 minutes to complete and your participation is voluntary. All information will be stored anonymously, confidentially, and securely by the Allied Health Policy Secretariat at the Ministry of Health and will only be accessed by authorized persons.