Safecare BC
1424-4710 Kingsway V5H 4M2 Burnaby, BC, Canada

As a frontline healthcare worker your mental health is a priority. Care to Speak’s peer supporters understand the challenges you’re facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and are here to support you via instant chat Monday to Friday 5:00pm to 9:00pm and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. #caretospeak www.caretospeak.ca

We’d like to give a shout out to Gordon Food Service Store, who on three occasions now has distributed significant amounts of donated PPE and hand sanitizer to care organizations throughout the province. With an already established distribution network to many of our member organizations, Gordon Food Service has been the ideal partner. "We are thrilled with the opportunity to partner with SafeCare BC, to help get these much-needed PPE products into senior living to support st...aff and residents during these dark times. One of our core values, which the Gordon Family has instilled in us, is our heart to serve" says Mark Dame, National Healthcare Account Manager of Gordon Food Service. "Supporting this was just a small way we felt we could give back to the community by using the resources that we have, to help make a difference to support the individuals that are on the frontlines every day taking care of our seniors. Thank you to SafeCare, as well as the donors of these products for helping to make a difference together."

On February 26 at 1:00 p.m. SafeCare BC will be hosting a "How To": Rapid Tests as a Screening Tool in Long-Term Care webinar. Three panelists David Hurford (CEO, Three Links Care Society ), Sandy White (co-founder, Rapid Test & Trace Canada), and Amanda Khan-Persaud (Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, Astrica Biomedics Pvt. Ltd) will join us to share their experiences and advice around using rapid antigen tests to screen staff, residents, and visitors for COVID-19. Register now! https://www.safecarebc.ca//how-to-rapid-tests-as-a-screen/

Unauthorized hand sanitizers and hard surface disinfectants sold by Protegel Quebec Inc. and Hangel Canada Inc. may pose health risks, says Health Canada. https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-aler//74953a-eng.php

Have you registered for one of the FREE upcoming Care for Caregivers webinars? There are limited spots available, so register now! https://www.careforcaregivers.ca/events/

Sign up now for the Occupational Health and Safety Committee: Part 1 Workshop on January 20! This introductory or ‘fundamentals’ Occupational Health and Safety course will introduce new committee members to the basic principles of workplace health and safety. This course also serves as a great ‘Back to Basics’ course for those OH&S Committee members who desire refresher training. This course meets the (Provincial OHSR 3.27) mandatory minimum training requirements effective April 2017 for new joint committee members. https://www.safecarebc.ca/event/16722/

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Sadarangani is back to answer your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. As the vaccine becomes more widely available to healthcare workersparticularly those in the home and community and independent living sectorSafeCare BC, through Care for Caregivers, is providing another opportunity to learn more about it from an expert. Join us on February 25 at 1 p.m. for this free webinar.... There is a limited number of spots. Register now: www.careforcaregivers.ca/vaccineqa Dr. Sadarangani is an Assistant Professor at UBC Faculty of Medicine ; and head of the Vaccine Evaluation Centre at BC Children’s Hospital, where he leads research to build an evidence base for local, national, and international vaccine policy.

On December 4, SafeCare BC launched an anonymous electronic survey to understand continuing care workers’ perceptions of a COVID-19 vaccine. The survey was distributed initially via SafeCare BC’s contact lists, and later disseminated by the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union and BC Nurses’ Union to their members within the continuing care sector. See the preliminary results here https://www.safecarebc.ca//covid-19-vaccine-survey-prelim/

We want to help answer your COVID-19 vaccine questions. For quick facts and other useful resources, visit www.safecarebc.ca/vaccination

We had a lot of fantastic prizes to give away during the Hearts and Hands event including this delicious looking prize package from SunRype, won by Kimi.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada's Minister of Health, will be holding an appreciation event to celebrate health care and allied health care workers. Please find the information below, and feel welcome to share this information with your staff. Wednesday, December 16th, 2020 | 8:00 AM PST Zoom Details: https://ca01web.zoom.us/j/65931952653 Dial-in option: 1-855-703-8985 (toll-free) Webinar ID: 659 3195 2653 / Passcode: 815136... Please RSVP to Nada Nasri at [email protected].

As a frontline healthcare worker, your mental health is a priority. Care to Speak’s peer supporters understand the challenges you’re facing during the COVID-19 pandemic and are here to support you via a peer support hotline 1-866-802-7337 (PEER) Monday to Friday 5:00pm to 9:00pm. #caretospeak https://bit.ly/37NJwDF

The SafeCare BC team loved reading your comments on each discussion board during Hearts and Hands! What was your favourite part of the conference?

Care to Speak is a peer support service that provides emotional and psychological help to healthcare workers. If you need someone to talk to, about anything, we’re here. Give us a call or chat with us online; it’s free and confidential. https://www.careforcaregivers.ca/caretospeak/

Working under acutely stressful circumstances for prolonged periods of time can really impact our mental health. But talking to someone who understands those challenges can help. Frontline healthcare workers seeking person-to-person support can now talk with a trained peer support volunteer via instant chat or by telephone on 1-866-802-7337 (PEER). #caretospeak https://bit.ly/37NJwDF

We hope you enjoyed this year's Hearts and Hands conference! As a reminder, you can still access every activity on www.heartsandhands.ca

In case you missed it, SafeCare BC has chronicled the pandemic so far in our extensive 2020 Timeline. Check it out: https://www.safecarebc.ca/timeline/

We would like to welcome Augustine House and Discovery Community College to the SafeCare BC family as Associate Members. They join Capilano University, Stenberg College and BC Association of Kinesiologists as Associate Members. Augustine House is a not-for-profit senior’s residence in Ladner, offering a mix of assisted living and complex care. Opened in 2003, Augustine House offers a premium level of care, support and housing for seniors. Just thirty minutes from downtown Van...couver, Augustine House has a lush country setting with mature trees, landscaped grounds and walking trails. Discovery Community College is committed to hands-on training and graduating work-ready students. With campuses throughout the province, the school offers several healthcare programs, including those for health care assistants, practical nurses and dental assistants. Discovery College is a Designated private, post-secondary institution through the provincial government’s Private Training Institutions Branch.

As Hearts and Hands draws to a close, please take a moment to fill out this survey. Doing so will give you a chance to win a prize! As a reminder, all content will remain viewable on the Hearts and Hands app after the conference. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7HJ3L8R

We're hiring! If you're passionate about making a difference during these challenging times, apply now to be on the team as a Programs and Events Coordinator. #BCJobs https://www.safecarebc.ca//job-opening-programs-and-event/

It's the final day of the Hearts and Hands conference, and we have just one thing to say: thank you. Thank you for all the work you have done during this extremely challenging year. With help from our friends and partners, we put together this video to express our gratitude. https://vimeo.com/469040614

Do you have questions about COVID-19 exposures in schools? Want to learn more about what is being done to keep schools safe? Join us on Friday, November 27 for a free Q&A Webinar with Jordan Tinney, Superintendent, Surrey School Board. This open discussion will address the psychosocial impact of your concerns, and provide the opportunity to ask questions and access resources.... https://www.careforcaregivers.ca//covid-19-in-schools-qa-/