French-language
Services Plan
2016-2017
Department of Health
and Wellness
Table of Contents
Page Message from the Deputy Minister 1 Responses to French Requests 2 French-­‐‑language Services Inventory 2 French-­‐‑language Services Coordinator 3 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives for 2015-­‐‑2016 4 Goals, Objectives and Measures for 2016-­‐‑2017 9 Priorities of the Acadian and Francophone Community 11 Contribution to the Preservation and Growth of the Acadian and Francophone Community 11 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan ii Message from the Deputy Minister
Bonjour! As Deputy Minister of the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, I am pleased to present our French-­‐‑language Services Plan for 2016-­‐‑2017. The Department of Health and Wellness is committed to ensuring that health care services are available in French to Acadians and Francophones in Nova Scotia. Offering health care services in French can take various forms, such as a bilingual greeting to indicate that French-­‐‑language services are available or bilingual materials. The Department promotes and encourages the recruitment of French-­‐‑speaking health care professionals with initiatives such as the funding of seats for Francophone medical and pharmacy students. Our strong relationship with Réseau Santé Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse ensures that the Department is informed of the needs and priorities of the Acadian and Francophone community. As you know, our Department is in the midst of a significant redesign. The Department will be placing a stronger emphasis on accountability for healthcare. The Department will set priorities for the healthcare system, track and monitor results, and ensure that Nova Scotians are getting the best outcomes from their health system. Offering services in French will continue to be an important priority for the healthcare system under this redesign. In the coming year, the Department will support the implementation of French-­‐‑language services within the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK. The aim is to provide resources and services to patients and their families so they can be more at ease communicating with health care providers. We look forward to continuing our work with our partners to better respond to the language, culture and specific needs of French-­‐‑speaking Nova Scotians. Dr. Peter Vaughan, CD, MA, MD, MPH Deputy Minister, Department of Health and Wellness 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 1 NOTE: For the purpose of this document “Department” means the Department of Health and Wellness and “coordinator” means the Department of Health and Wellness French-­‐‑language Services Coordinator. Responses to French Requests
Written and Oral
The Department is committed to providing services in French to Acadians and Francophones residing in Nova Scotia, in accordance with the French-­‐‑language Services Act proclaimed in 2004 and the French-­‐‑
language Services Regulations adopted in 2006. The Department has a French Written Correspondence and Verbal Communication Policy, the intent of which is to provide direction and guidance to employees in the Department in order to comply with the requirements of the Nova Scotia French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations. The policy is to ensure that •
written correspondence received in French will be responded to in French •
verbal requests to communicate in French will be accommodated to the extent possible Furthermore, the Department maintains a list of staff able to respond to verbal requests for information. In rare instances, where no staff are available to respond to a verbal request, the request is logged and responded to in a timely manner. French-language Services Inventory
The Department has a number of programs and publications available in French. These include, but are not limited to: •
Take 5, the Gambling Support Network / La règle de 5 Réseau d’aide pour la dépendance au jeu: English and French websites are available on line. The program includes a help line available in English, French and other languages. •
The administration of an online Directory of French-­‐‑speaking Primary Health Care Providers which can be found at http://novascotia.ca/dhw/repertoire-­‐‑sante/. •
HealthLink 811 which is available in French through French-­‐‑speaking nurses as well as an on-­‐‑
demand third party translation service. Service is also available in multiple languages. •
Active recruitment and support of French-­‐‑speaking health professionals in Nova Scotia through the funding of three seats for Francophone medical students and one pharmacy seat shared between the Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education. •
Towards Understanding, A Dementia Strategy for Nova Scotia / Pour une meilleure compréhension. Une stratégie en matière de démence pour la Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse and a three-­‐‑year action plan are available in both official languages. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 2 • Publication in English and in French of the document Living Well, Continuing Care Services / Bien vivre, services de soins continus to provide an overview of continuing care services in Nova Scotia. French-language Services Coordinator
The Department of Health and Wellness French-­‐‑language Services Coordinator is Joëlle Désy. She can be reached at [email protected] or at (902) 424-­‐‑6011. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 3 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives for 2015-2016
Strategic or corporate objectives are taken from the Nova Scotia Strategic Plan for French-­‐‑language Services. Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Objective 1 – Leadership and policy direction The Department enhances • The Deputy Minister of Health French-­‐‑language services in and Wellness is committed to the province by engaging the Department in establishing actions in line promoting and enhancing French-­‐‑
with departmental and language services. government priorities. In 2015-­‐‑2016, these areas • The Department will publish a included continuing care French-­‐‑language Services Plan that with regards to the identifies key areas of focus in dementia strategy and enhancing French-­‐‑language support and guidance to services in the province. the new province-­‐‑wide Nova Scotia Health • The coordinator will participate in Authority for French-­‐‑
the French-­‐‑language Services language services. Coordinating Committee organized by Acadian Affairs. The The Department continues coordinator will also participate to to work to enhance its sub-­‐‑committees as needed to programs and services to advance the French-­‐‑language ensure they are meeting the services agenda. needs of the Acadian and Francophone community. • The coordinator will continue to work with branches and divisions to provide information on the Department’s obligations under the French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations. Champion and support the policy development, planning, and administrative framework for the implementation of the French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations. Department Planned Measures 2015-­‐‑2016 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 • The staff orientation session includes information on French-­‐‑
language services. • Ongoing participation of the coordinator on the government-­‐‑
wide French-­‐‑language Services Coordinating Committee led by Acadian Affairs. • The coordinator leads the Active Offer Sub-­‐‑Committee which aims at supporting active offer in the provincial government, and is a member of the Human Resources Sub-­‐‑
Committee for the evaluation of French language training. These are two sub-­‐‑committees of the provincial French-­‐‑
language Services Coordinating Committee. • More Department’s branches are aware of available French-­‐‑
language services such as translation, French language training and how to reach the internal contact (FLS Coordinator) for those services. • The Department worked in close collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK to consolidate French-­‐‑language services and to support in the development of their French-­‐‑language Services Plan. • A resource list of French speaking staff at the Department of Health and Wellness was distributed to the main points of contact at the Department (reception desk, main phone receptionist, etc.) 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 4 Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Department Planned Measures 2015-­‐‑2016 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Objective 2 – Availability and accessibility of French-­‐‑
language services The Department promotes active offer of French-­‐‑language services and visibly promotes the use of the Bonjour! program. • The Department will publish the Dementia Strategy in both official languages and will report on diversity and cultural specificity including Acadian and Francophone population. The Department continues to enhance materials available to French-­‐‑speaking Nova Scotians, in print and on its website. • Take 5 is a gambling related support initiative that will enhance current services, such as the gambling helpline, expand its services and launch an awareness campaign. As part of the Take 5 initiative, the Department will develop French materials including posters, stickers and business cards and website. • The Department published in both official languages the strategy Towards Understanding: A Dementia Strategy for Nova Scotia / Pour une meilleure compréhension: Une stratégie en matière de démence pour la Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse. The strategy includes a three-­‐‑year action plan whereas in collaboration with the Department, the Acadian and Francophone community has identified areas for further development and collaboration. Increase the prevalence and awareness of French-­‐‑language services through active offer, communications, printed and electronic material, and increased French-­‐‑language capacity of public servants The Department continues to review position descriptions to ensure the needs of French-­‐‑speaking Nova Scotians are met through the hiring of bilingual staff where appropriate. • The Department will continue to update and enhance the electronic Directory of French-­‐‑
speaking Primary Health Care Providers and will look at the feasibility of adding new professions. • The coordinator will work in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK which are often the first point of contact for patients and families, to enhance French-­‐‑language services. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan • The Gambling Support Network was launched in March 2015 and includes a help line with services available in English, French and other languages. The website, ads and a video were translated and are now available in French at https://gamblingsupportnetwork.ca/fr/ • The Continuing Care Branch of the Department of Health and Wellness published in English and in French the document Living Well, Continuing Care Services / Bien vivre, services de soins continus to provide an overview of continuing care services in Nova Scotia. http://novascotia.ca/dhw/ccs/ • The Department Intranet website includes French-­‐‑language Services tools such Human Resources, Translation, Communications, Consultation and Web guidelines. • The coordinator supported and guided the request for funding to Acadian Affair, managers of the Canada Nova Scotia Agreement of French-­‐‑language Services, from the Nova Scotia Health Authority to enhance French-­‐‑language Services in HRM, and in Cape Breton, including the regions of Sydney and Chéticamp, as well as for future province-­‐‑
wide services. 5 Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Department Planned Measures 2015-­‐‑2016 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 • The coordinator will encourage the use of the Public Service Commission Human Resources Guidelines for positions requiring French language capacity (identification, advertisement and hiring). • A Bonjour! sign is displayed at the reception desk of the Department in Barrington Tower. • The Department will continue to support staff to take training such as French language training, Acadie at a Glance sessions and Health Care in French at a Glance. • The Department and its Public Health Branch will continue to revise and update public health and health promotion resources in print and online. • French language training courses and Acadie at a Glance workshops were promoted within the Department for staff to learn more about and celebrate the Acadian and Francophone culture. • Nine staff from the Department of Health and Wellness participated in French language training in 2015-­‐‑2016 (participants to the 2016 winter Sessions are not included). • The Department ensures that French language information on its website and Intranet is included, up to date and added. • The Department coordinated the translation of over 80 documents including those of the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK. • Seven new educative public health resources were added to the growing number of DHW resources available in French for a total of 139 resources as of March 31, 2016. • The well-­‐‑being of Nova Scotians is of utmost importance to the Department, therefore, it published 10 news releases in French to the public. Objective 3 – Community engagement and outreach The Department engages the Acadian and Francophone community on key 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan • The Department will continue to build on its strong relationship with the Réseau Santé-­‐‑ Nouvelle-­‐‑
Écosse. • As part of the Action Plan that supports Towards Understanding: A Dementia Strategy / Pour une meilleure compréhension. Une stratégie en matière de démence pour la Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse, the coordinator initiated a meeting 6 Objectives Encourage the participation of the Acadian and Francophone community in the development of government policies with a view to improving the delivery of services in French. Department Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 areas, including new programs, services and legislation. The Department makes every effort to ensure Acadians and Francophones are aware of opportunities to participate on government agencies, boards and commissions, and encourages them to submit nominations. The Department meets the needs of French speaking Nova Scotians and enhances French-­‐‑language services and programs available to them. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan Department Planned Measures 2015-­‐‑2016 • The coordinator will also work with other organizations that support French language healthcare services. • Executive Council has the primary responsibility for recruiting members of the public to government agencies, boards, and commissions (ABC), and regularly advertises current opportunities, in both French and English. For more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/exec_council/abc. The Department of Health and Wellness has over 30 agencies, boards and commissions. The Department will continue to work with partners such as Réseau Santé to help attract qualified individuals to the ABCs. • The Department will fulfill its obligations under the French-­‐‑
language Services Act and Regulations to consult with the Acadian and Francophone community when holding province-­‐‑wide public consultations. Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 between Réseau Santé and the Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia to raise awareness of the needs of the ageing Acadian population, and to discuss areas of collaboration. Subsequent collaborations included a presentation of the workshop Health Care at Glance by Réseau Santé to staff of the Alzheimer Society of NS, the sharing of French resources on dementia, as well as a follow up meeting to develop a communication plan for an education campaign on dementia. • The coordinator conducted two information sessions with the Regroupement des aînées et aînés de la Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse during at an Acadian Seniors Conference in the fall 2015: the first session looked at the provincial 811 Telecare Health Services, and the second one presented the Department’s Long Term Care Bed Placement Policy. • Following the sessions, the community requested additional information on the LTC Bed Placement Policy and its application. The coordinator organized an information meeting with Réseau Santé, Regroupement des aînées et aînés, Nova Scotia Health Authority and the Department. • Partnerships and Physician Services Branch supports the recruitment and retention of French-­‐‑speaking health professionals in Nova Scotia through the funding of three seats for Francophone medical students and one seat for Francophone pharmacy students. Funding is shared between the Department of Health and Wellness and the Department of Labour and Advanced Education. • The coordinator chairs regular meetings of partners involved in the development and training and French-­‐‑
speaking health care workers, namely Department of Health and Wellness, Department of Labour and Advanced 7 Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Department Planned Measures 2015-­‐‑2016 Progress in Reaching Goals and Objectives 2015-­‐‑2016 Education, and Consortium national de formation en santé / Université Sainte-­‐‑Anne. • On February 25 & 26, 2016, Department’s staff met with French speaking medical students in Québec and presented at the Outside Québec Career Day to help recruit French-­‐‑
speaking physicians to the province. They were accompanied by two representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Authority and one representative from the Consortium national de formation en santé/Université Sainte-­‐‑Anne. • During the year, the coordinator met regularly with Réseau Santé to better align work and maximize opportunities. The coordinator also met with other Francophone organizations to support their health related activities. • Ads were placed in French media such as the weekly newspaper Le Courrier de la Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse to advertise opportunities to serve on agencies, boards and commissions. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 8 Goals, Objectives, and Measures for 2016-2017
Strategic objectives and expected results are taken from the Nova Scotia Strategic Plan for French-­‐‑language Services. Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2016-­‐‑2017 Department Planned Measures 2016-­‐‑2017 Objective 1 – Leadership and policy direction The Department supports French-­‐‑language services in the province by establishing actions related to its core activities as per the Department’s redesign. Champion and support the policy development, planning, and administrative framework for the implementation of the French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations. • The Deputy Minister of Health and Wellness is committed to engaging the department in promoting and enhancing French-­‐‑language services. • The Department will publish a French-­‐‑language Services Plan that identifies key areas of focus in enhancing French-­‐‑
language services in the province. • The coordinator will participate in the French-­‐‑language Services Coordinating Committee organized by Acadian Affairs. The coordinator will also participate to sub-­‐‑
committees as needed to advance the French-­‐‑language services agenda. • The coordinator will continue to work with management to provide information on the Department’s obligations under the French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations. Objective 2 -­‐‑ Availability and accessibility of French-­‐‑language services The Department promotes active offer of French-­‐‑
language services and visibly promotes the use of the Bonjour! program. Increase the prevalence and awareness of French-­‐‑language services through active offer, communications, printed and electronic materials, and by increasing the capacity of the public service to offer services in French. The Department continues to enhance materials available to French speaking Nova Scotians, in print and on its website. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan • The coordinator will work in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK, which are often the first point of contact for patients and families, to enhance French-­‐‑language services. • The Department will continue to support staff to take training such as French language training, Acadie at a Glance sessions and Health Care in French at a Glance. • The Department will continue to update and enhance the electronic Directory of French-­‐‑speaking Primary Health 9 Objectives Department Goals and Objectives 2016-­‐‑2017 Department Planned Measures 2016-­‐‑2017 Care Providers. Objective 3 – Community engagement and outreach Encourage the participation of the Acadian and Francophone community in the development of government policies with a view to improving the delivery of services in French. The Department engages the Acadian and Francophone community on key areas, including new programs, services and legislation. The Department makes every effort to ensure Acadians and Francophones are aware of opportunities to participate on government agencies, boards and commissions, and encourages them to submit nominations. The Department meets the needs of French-­‐‑
speaking Nova Scotians and enhances French-­‐‑
language services and programs available to them. • The Department will continue to build on its strong relationship with the Réseau Santé-­‐‑ Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse. • The coordinator will also work with other organizations that support French language healthcare services, and facilitate collaborations between them. • Executive Council has the primary responsibility for recruiting members of the public to government agencies, boards, and commissions (ABC), and regularly advertises current opportunities, in both French and English. The Department of Health and Wellness has numerous agencies, boards and commissions. The Department will continue to work with partners such as the Réseau Santé to help attract qualified individuals to the ABCs. For more information, visit www.gov.ns.ca/exec_council/abc. • The Department will fulfill its obligations under the French-­‐‑language Services Act and Regulations to consult with the Acadian and Francophone community when holding province-­‐‑wide public consultations. 2016-­‐2017 French-­‐language Services Plan 10 Priorities of the Acadian and Francophone Community
The Department consults and partners with Réseau Santé Nouvelle-­‐‑Écosse on issues related to the health and wellness of the Acadian and Francophone community. The Department also ensures that the French-­‐‑
language services plan is reflective of the community-­‐‑identified needs and priorities to improve the overall health and well-­‐‑being of French-­‐‑speaking Nova Scotians. Conclusion: Contribution to the Preservation and Growth of the Acadian and
Francophone Community
The intent of this plan is to outline the efforts of the Department of Health and Wellness to provide and actively promote appropriate health services in French. The Department will continue to encourage the Acadian and Francophone community to utilize the services which will in turn contribute to the preservation and growth of the Acadian and Francophone community. 2015-­‐2016 French-­‐language Services Plan 11