Board of Directors Meeting Highlights
November 16, 2021
1. The meeting was opened with a land acknowledgement that HCO’s sites are situated on Algonquin Anishinaabe Territory.
2. The Board received a special guest presentation by Naini Cloutier, Executive Director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre. She presented her organization's experiences with diversity in the workplace. Naini was thanked for her presentation and insight which will help us on our Diversity journey.
3. Update:
4. Committee Highlights:
5. New Issues
6. Upcoming Events
7. The next Board meeting is January 18, 2022.
2. The Board received a special guest presentation by Naini Cloutier, Executive Director of the Somerset West Community Health Centre. She presented her organization's experiences with diversity in the workplace. Naini was thanked for her presentation and insight which will help us on our Diversity journey.
3. Update:
- COVID -HCO client numbers are down, consistent with our counterparts in other areas due to the COVID restrictions. However, Day Hospice is opening up and we will continue to monitor when visitor restrictions can be lifted. All active volunteers and staff have been immunized for COVID 19 with one medical exemption. Booster shots are now available but will not be mandated at this time. Flu shots are encouraged for all, with two clinics being held on site.
- Funding – One time funding of an additional $35,000 per residential hospice bed has been received for this year. There is no further information on whether this may become ongoing.
- Staffing -As approved at the last meeting, a strategy has been developed with the Resources Committee to address staff shortages, which includes:
- a wage increase for Residence staff
- a pension plan being explored
- social media outreach and promotion
- an employee referral bonus program.
- In addition, we are requesting proposals for a larger recruitment campaign with several companies in the city. We are also exploring a new grad incentive to offer a paid “internship”. Meetings are set up with 2 university Deans to discuss further.
- Stakeholder relations - We are thrilled to announce that The May Court Club as our sustaining benefactor, has once again provided us with significant operational dollars for the next year.
4. Committee Highlights:
- Governance Committee – The new ONCA (Ontario Not Profit Corporation Act) has come into effect and there will be a three-year transition period to meet the criteria. An overview of requirements will be presented at our next meeting and a plan for HCO put in place.
- The Quality and Risk Management Committee will be overseeing the HPCO Accreditation process for HCO. Our goal is to submit our accreditation material by June 2022.
- Communications and Advocacy. – Letters have been sent thanking our current government MPPs for supporting hospice with the one-time funding and restating our request for sustained funding. As well, congratulations letters were sent to all newly elected MPs in our area. We will begin working on pre-budget and pre-election advocacy in January with support from the information provided by HPCO.
- Resources Committee – Expenses remain on target. We anticipate increased revenue in December due to our fundraising events.
5. New Issues
- The HCO Vaccine Policy was previously approved by the Quality and Risk Management committee and was vetted by an employment law firm. The Board as a whole unanimously approved this policy.
- The HCO MAiD Policy was reviewed in light of recent MAiD legislation changes. It is still relevant and was updated to reflect new information from the legislation.
- A Briefing note on the history and status of the development of Maison de l’Est was prepared and shared. Thanks to the leadership of Benoit Hubert and the Champions committee, our goal continues to be to advocate for funding for Francophone hospice services. A business plan is being prepared with help from the Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program (CHPCP) specifically to fund the additional costs required to open hospice residential beds in the East end.
6. Upcoming Events
- Homes for the Holidays launches this weekend. Giving Tuesday is Nov. 30th.
- Shine A Light event is being held virtually on Dec. 13th for everyone who would like to participate in a memorial services to remember those who have died.
- The virtual all-staff/volunteer holiday party is on December 16th from 4pm to 6pm.
7. The next Board meeting is January 18, 2022.