STIC - Health Care:
Facilitator's Introduction
Participant Profile
This Overview and Orientation Workshop has been designed specifically
for immigrants with foreign training, qualifications and experience in:
- Medical Laboratory Technology (technologists, not technicians)
- Midwifery
- Nursing (Registered Nurses and Registered Practical
Nurses)
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Respiratory Therapy
If you intend to accept members of other occupations into the workshop,
be aware that you may have to conduct further research and adapt the
curriculum to your needs.
Participants will benefit most from this program if they also meet one
or more of the following criteria:
- newcomers to Canada or
- have lived in Canada for some time, but have not been
able to gain access to employment in their field or
- lack awareness of the systems, supports, and resources
available to them or
- are seeking entry into their field.
Methodology
This workshop has been developed so that it is:
- interactive
- accommodates different learning styles
- demonstrates principles of adult education methodology.
Strategies used in the workshop include short lectures, individual activities,
pair work and group activities.
Sources of information for the content of this curriculum include:
- Human Resources and Skills Development (formerly Human
Resources Development Canada) Job Futures
- Ontario Government (Ontario Futures)
- Industry Canada
- Where the Jobs Are, by Colin Campbell.
- The STEPS to Employment Program, Citizenship and Immigration
Canada
www.stepstoemployment.net
- Material from the regulatory bodies for the health professions
Structure
The Overview and Orientation Workshop is intended to be delivered over
30-35 hours with time for discussion and breaks. The workshop has been
divided into seven sections, with an introduction and
wrap-up.
The sections do not necessarily need to be delivered in the
order presented ; the activities within each section, however,
should be delivered in order. In other words, you may choose to deal
with Registration before the Labour Market, but the activities within
the Registration Section should be delivered in order.
It is recommended that facilitators begin each day with an open
discussion of the labour market for members of the profession
or trade you are working with. You might ask:
- Was there anything in the news yesterday or this morning
related to your profession/trade?
- Was there anything in the business sections of the newspapers
about major employers in your field?
- Any job ads?
- Has anyone heard anything about job fairs or conventions
coming up related to the field?
Discussion of this nature conveys to participants the importance of
staying abreast of the field, of sharing information and of being aware
of the trends in the industries that affect their job search.
Preparation
In order to deliver the Overview & Orientation Workshop for Health
Care Professionals, you need:
-
The Facilitator's Guide (this document), including
the lecture notes, overheads, hand-outs and answer keys that are
included with this guide.
-
The Participant's Workbook – which includes
all activities. (One for each participant)
-
Resource Packages (see Building Your Resource
Packages, Building Your Resource Packages).
-
At least one Guest Speaker (see Guest Speakers, Guest Speakers).
Building Your Resource Packages
The success of this program relies on relevant, up-to-date resource
packages for each participant. Resource packages must be occupation-specific
(i.e. a different package for each health care occupation). The following
detailed bibliography will help you develop these packages.
Resources packages must contain:
1) Articles and other documents providing labour market
information on the specific occupation.
This will entail visits to a library or employment resource centre as
well as Internet access.
2) Sample job advertisements for the
occupation.
3) The relevant Acts and Regulations for
the occupation, including:
- The Regulated Health Professions Act
- Health Care Consent Act
- Substitute Decisions Act
- Act covering the specific occupation
Order the relevant
Act(s) and accompanying regulations for the profession or trade you
are working with from:
Publications Ontario
(416) 326-5300 or 1-800-668-9938
There will be a cost for each act
ordered.
4) The registration package (requirements
and process) from the occupational regulatory body
5) Articles relating to advances in technology in
the specific occupation.
Occupation-Specific Resource Packages:
Suggested Contents
Medical Laboratory Technologists
1. Labour Market Information
- "3211 - Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists'
Assistants." Job Futures Volume I.
Human Resources and Skills Development. www.jobfutures.ca/noc/3211.shtml
- CMLTO Focus - the newsletter of the College of
Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario - usually has several relevant
articles. Request current and past editions from the CMLTO: (416) 861-9605.
(Note: There will likely be a fee for the newsletter. You may wish
to order one set and request permission to photocopy relevant articles.)
- CMLTO Annual Report (specifically, membership
statistics)
2. Job Advertisements
3) Acts and Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- An
Act respecting the profession of Medical Laboratory Technologist.
You
can also obtain it through the Internet at www.gov.on.ca,
click "Publications", then "Acts & Regulations Publications
Ontario (416) 326-5300 or 1-800-668-9938. You can
also obtain it at www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.
4) Registration Package
- Procedure and Guidelines for Initial Applicants.
College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario. Request from
the CMLTO: (416) 861-9605.
5) Technology
Issues of CMLTO Focus, and specifically:
- "CMLTO Meets with the Minister", from CMLTO Focus.
June 1998.
- "Quality Assurance Questionnaire Summary" CMLTO
Focus, Vol 2, Issue 4.
- "Duties and Responsibilities of Laboratory Technicians", CMLTO
Focus, Vol 3, Issue 1.
Midwives
1) Labour Market Information
- Guidance Centre Career Monograph: Midwife. OISE,
University of Toronto, 1994.
- "Controversy lingers over role of midwife", Toronto
Star: July, 1998.
- Brochure: "Midwifery in Ontario ", request from the
College of Midwives. (416) 327-0874, admin@cmo.on.ca
- "3232 - Midwives and Practitioners of Natural Healing." Human
Resources and Skills Development. www.jobfutures.ca/noc/3232.shtml
- "Who's delivering the babies?" Toronto Star,
February 24, 2004.
2) Job Advertisements
Because Midwives are usually self-employed, job ads are not necessarily
relevant. You may wish to contact a local collective and request
information on what skills and attributes they look for in a new
member.
3) Acts and Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- An
Act respecting the regulation of the Profession of Midwifery (Bill
56, 1991)
4) Registration Package
- "Prior Learning and Experience Assessment (PLEA)
Information Package". Request from the College of Midwives.
(416) 327-0874, admin@cmo.on.ca
- The College of Midwives of Ontario Annual
Report. Request from the College of Midwives. (416)
327-0874, admin@cmo.on.ca
5) Technology
- "Natural childbirth is not for everyone", Toronto Star: July
1998.
Nursing: Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses
1) Labour Market Information
- "Tracking the Nursing Task Force (1999): RNs Rate
Their Nursing Work Life", RNAO, October 2002
www.rnao.org/html/PDF/Tracking_the_Nursing_Task_Force.pdf
- Current and past editions of Canadian Nurse, specifically:
"What
Nurses Do", Canadian Nurse, Aug. 1997.
"Delegating
Away Patient Safety", Canadian Nurse, Feb.
1997.
- Current and past edition of Communiqué, the
newsletter of the College of Nurses oF Ontario, as well as Nursing
and You. Request from the College of Nurses (416) 928-0900, cno@cnomail.org
- Daily newspapers and general interest newsmagazines,
specifically:
"Nursing: Off the critical list?" Toronto Star,
February 14, 2004
"Shortage of nurses by 2011, study says", Toronto
Star, Nov. 5.'97
"The Nurses: The front-line care-givers
are burned out. Is it any wonder?" Maclean's, April
28, 1997
From Human Resources and Skills Development
2) Job Advertisements
3) Acts and Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
4) Registration Package
- Brochure: "What is the College of Nurses of Ontario?" Request
from the College of Nurses: (416) 928-0900, cno@cnomail.org
- A Guide to the Process for Registration in the
General Class. Request from the College of Nurses
5) Technology
- "Good Nursing, Good Health: A Good Investment Progress
Report on the Nursing Task Force Strategy in Ontario."
- Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care: Joint Provincial
Nursing Council, Summer 2001
- "Nurses get wired to telepractice", Communiqué: College
of Nurses of Ontario. December 1998.
- "Nurses, Computers and Confidentiality", Canadian
Nurse, August 1997.
Occupational Therapists
1) Labour Market Information
Current and past editions of the Canadian Journal of Occupational
Therapy, specifically:
- "Towards Developing a Flexible Health Workforce", Canadian
Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol 64, issue 2.
- An Occupational Performance Process Model: Fostering
Client and Therapist Alliances", CJOT, Feb. 1997.
- Daily newspapers and general interest newsmagazines
From Human Resources and Skills Development
2) Job Advertisements
3) Acts & Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- An Act respecting the regulation of the Profession
of Occupational Therapy (Bill 58)
4) Registration Package
- College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario:
Registration Information (booklet). Request from COTO.
- Occupational Fact Sheet for Foreign-Trained Occupational
Therapists, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, APT.
5) Technology
- "Technology Update", Canadian Journal of
Occupational Therapy, Feb. 1997.
Current and past editions of Information Update, from the
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
Pharmacists
1) Labour Market Information
Current and past editions of Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal,
specifically:
- "Are You Ready for Managed Health Care in Your
Community?" Keeping
PACE (Pharmacy & Apotex Continuing Education, a supplement
to the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal) Vol 3, No. 1, 1997.
- "Innovations in Practice", Vol 3, No. 1,
1997.
- "Re-Professionalizing Pharmacy", Vol 3,
No. 1, 1997.
- "PULSE: Hospital restructuring uncertainty",
CPJ, April 1997.
- "Defining the Role of Pharmacy Technicians",
CPJ, May 1996.
- "Alternative Medicine: A Survival Guide for Pharmacists",
CPJ, July/Aug 1996
- Daily newspapers and general interest news magazines
Current and past editions of Pharmacy Practice, specifically:
- "11 Pharmacy Trends: the key forces that will
shape the destiny of the profession." Pharmacy Practice,
June 1997.
Human Resources and Skills Development:
2) Job Advertisements
3) Acts & Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- An Act respecting the regulation of the Profession
of Pharmacy (Bill 61)
4) Registration Package
- Occupational Fact Sheet for Foreign-Trained Pharmacists,
Ontario College of Pharmacists. www.ocpinfo.com
Registration Application Information. Request from the Ontario
College of Pharmacists: (416) 962-4861.
5) Technology
- Current and past editions of Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy
Connection, Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.
Physiotherapists
1) Labour Market Information
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada:
- "3142 - Physiotherapists" from Job Futures www.jobfutures.ca/noc/3142.shtml
- Daily newspapers and general interest newsmagazines
- Current and past editions of Communiqué, the
newsletter of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Request
from the CPO: (416) 591-3828
- "Pre-Employment: Q&A critical", Communiqué (newsletter
of the College of Physiotherapists), January 1997
- "Environmental scans explore impact of trends
on physiotherapy practice", Communiqué, May
1997
- Excerpts from the Annual Report of the College of Physiotherapists
2) Job Advertisements
3) Acts & Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- An Act representing the regulation of the Profession
of Physiotherapy (Bill 62)
4) Registration Package
- Occupational Fact Sheet for Foreign-trained Physiotherapists, APT
Unit, Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
- Application Package for Certificate Authorizing Supervised
Practice. Request from Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators:
(416) 234-8800.
5) Technology
- Current and past editions of Communiqué, the newsletter
of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. Request from the CPO:
(416) 591-3828
Respiratory Therapists
1) Labour Market Information
Human Resources and Skills Development
- "314-Therapy and Assessment Professionals" from Job Futures www.jobfutures.ca/noc/314.shtml.
- Current and past editions of College Update, newsletter
of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario.
- Daily newspapers
and general interest newsmagazines i.e. "Helping You Breathe Easier", Toronto
Sun, February 25, 2004
2) Job Advertisements
3) Acts & Regulations
In addition to the Regulated Health Professions Act, Health Care
Consent Act and Substitute Decisions Act:
- Respiratory Therapy Act, 1991
4) Registration Package
- Application Package, College of Respiratory
Therapists of Ontario.
5) Technology
- Current and past editions of College Update, newsletter
of the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario.
Guest Speakers
There is an opportunity within the structure of the Workshop to invite
guest speakers in to address the class. The topic for the guest speaker
is “workplace expectations and hiring procedures”; this may, of course,
be tailored to suit the speaker's expertise. You will have to secure
your guest speaker from the local community. Some possible sources are:
An Employment Agency
If there is an employment agency in your community which regularly serves
employers and job searchers in the profession or trade you are working
with, ask them to come in to address such topics as:
- needs of employers
- current hiring trends
- temporary work - if any
- resumes - what works, what doesn't.
A Human Resource Professional from a Large Employer
The speaker should address:
- How are positions advertised?
- What kind of people are they looking for?
- What stands out in a resume?
- What are the working conditions, benefits, etc.?
"A Day in the Life of..."
Participants generally enjoy listening to and asking questions of a
practising professional in their field. It is even more beneficial if
the guest speaker is foreign-trained and can address any challenges they
encountered and "secrets" to success.
One other option for a guest speaker is to integrate it into a field
trip. In particular, staff at Human Resources and Skills Development
are often able to give very effective presentations in such topics as
research tools, "The World of Work" computer program and tours
of the Centre.
Download the complete Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook.
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