Member, Specialized Community Services Plan Mental Health and Substance Use Committee

The Mental Health and Substance Use committee is looking for patient partners to sit on this committee and voice experiences they may have related to access or receiving mental health and substance use services. The successful committee member will also help to shape and inform the planning and implementation of services in this region by participating in monthly meetings. The meetings are attended by Health Authority members, Divisions of Family Practice and First Nation Aboriginal partners.

Open to: Patient partners in Williams Lake, 100 Mile House or surrounding area

Lead Organization or Department

Interior Health - Primary and Community Care Transformation

Aim

The goal is to simplify and improve coordination of care and services for the patient and family member to provide a seamless, coordinated health experience for patients with mental health and substance use health concerns. The experience and point of view of the patient and family is highly valued, and helps us understand how we can make improvements in accessing services and care. The role of patient partner is to provide input and patient perspective in service development.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will work together with you to formulate solutions and incorporate your advice and recommendations into the decisions to the maximum extent possible.

Eligibility

• Experience navigating the health care system as a patient, family member or caregiver. • For this work, the hope is to engage patients (or family/caregivers of those patients) with mental health and substance use experience. • Patient partners should feel comfortable sharing their experience and ideas for change. • Ability/willingness to read documents and stay on top of information/requests for input through email. • Willingness to contribute but also be able to reflect on contributions of others. • Patient partners must reside within the Williams Lake, 100 Mile House or surrounding area.

Logistics

Vacancies: 4 Location, date, time and frequency: Meetings will be monthly 1-2 hours in duration as needed during day time hours but may occur in the evenings on occasion Agenda and meeting minutes will be distributed several days prior to the meeting Details will be finalized and confirmed The commitment will be at least over a one year period but may continue longer Commitment: Over a year

Reimbursement

• Patient partner reimbursement follows the Interior Health staff travel policy. • Patients will receive out of pocket expenses for travel, parking, or local public transport. • If meetings take place over a meal time, the meal will be provided. • Once the form has been completed and receipts received, out-of-pocket expenses may take up to six weeks for reimbursement to occur.

Background

If you live in the Central Interior (Williams Lake, 100 Mile House or surrounding area,) have an interest in changing health care and are willing to be part of a MHSU Working Group, now is your opportunity to help shape the changes. This initiative is occurring as direction from the Ministry of Health to provide wrap around care for our patient population. The Specialized Community Services Programs (SCSP) Working Group will provide feedback which will be taken to the SCSP Steering Committee for consideration. All personal information shared within the Patient Advisory Focus Group will remain confidential and will not be shared outside the meeting itself. Terms of Reference, Ministry Policies and any other background information will be shared with those who express interest in the opportunity. The opportunity focuses on the care patients receive in the community (i.e., home) setting as well as the transitions between community and other levels of health care (i.e., hospital or long term care). Patient partners new to Interior Health initiatives will be required to sign a confidentiality agreement/

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Jacquelyne Foidart
Engagement Leader, Patient and Public Engagement | Thompson Cariboo and Kootenays
250.879.1077
jfoidart@bcpsqc.ca