08: Abitibi-Témiscamingue

Regular project
Special project (2011-2012)

PROJECT TITLE

English Language Training for Staff at Health and Social Services Institutions in Abitibi-Témiscamingue

AGENCY

Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue

PARTNERS

The CSSS de Rouyn-Noranda, the CSSS de la Vallée-de-l’Or, the CSSS du Lac-Témiscamingue, the CSSS Les Eskers de l’Abitibi, the CSSS de Témiscaming-et-de-Kipawa, the CRDI Clair Foyer de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the CR La Maison, the Maison du Soleil Levant

OBJECTIVES

The regional training project’s objective is to allow health and social services institutions to equip themselves with staff able to communicate in English in a professional environment in order to receive, evaluate and refer English-speaking clientele and to offer said clientele treatment, health services and social services. Knowledge of the English language will allow staff to ensure a suitable response to this clientele within reasonable timeframes.

NEEDS AND PRIORITIES

The needs identified by the institutions are, first, to improve the ability of certain staff members to communicate in English (improvement) and, second, to increase the number of people able, in the medium term, to communicate sufficiently well in English to establish first contact and refer English-speaking users.

The Abitibi-Témiscamingue language training project is administered in a decentralized manner. Each CSSS chooses the training organization with which it will work from the organizations available in its territory that are able to provide training to staff from the health and social services network. Staff from CRDI Clair Foyer and CR La Maison will join the group from the CSSS located in the same area as their workplaces.

STAFF TARGET FOR 2010-2013

Reception (130), Health (217), Social (123)  
Total: 470

DESCRIPTION OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• Training activities: Training will be given in small groups in the presence of the instructor. Course organization will be defined between each institution and the training organization it retains. The number of groups will be determined based on the learners' level and availability.
• Activities for maintaining and developing skills and knowledge transfer:
  • CSSS Rouyn-Noranda: Participation in activities organized by the “Neighbours” Association and incentive to use manuals produced by McGill University.
  • CSSS Les Eskers d’Abitibi: Community lunches in English, case simulation with English-language workers, videoconferences in English, incentive to read professional order reviews and journals in English.
  • CSSS Lac-Témiscamingue: Monthly “Talk to me in English” theme days.
  • CSSS de Témiscaming-et-de-Kipawa: Organize conversation periods in English; watch DVDs; incentive to use the learning manual
  • CSSS de la Vallée-de-l’Or: Organize English conversation meetings.
• Learner evaluation: There will be a placement test (written and oral) before the session.  The trainer will also assess the learner at the start of the training.  Each training organization will conduct the end of session training assessment according to its own practices.  
• Training materials: Organizations will adapt and use existing materials. [Manuals and DVDs produced by McGill, workbooks, reference tools, for example: Pour une parfaite aisance from the McGill UHC, Petit lexique de la santé et des services sociaux, Easy Essential Grammar (a plastic laminated document which contains the basic rules of English)].

Courses will be offered on the premises of the institutions or training organizations and, in some cases, at the student's house when courses are given outside of work hours (in the case of the CSSS de Témiscaming-et-de-Kipawa).

PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES

Four out of five CSSSs offer courses outside of work hours without incentives. In the case of the other CSSS, a part of the courses is offered during the workday, without reimbursement for five people, with reimbursement for four people, and outside work hours with time off for three people. 

TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS

La Commission scolaire Harricana, Service aux entreprises; the Centre de Langues Boréal; the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Centre de Ville-Marie; the Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Campus de Val-d’Or and the Commission scolaire du Lac Témiscamingue, Centre de formation l’Envol

BUDGET ALLOCATED FOR 2010-2013: $240,000

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SPECIAL PROJECT TITLE (2011-2012)

English Language Training for Staff at the Centre jeunesse de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue (CJAT)

OBJECTIVES

To allow the CJAT to equip itself with staff able to communicate in English in a professional environment in order to receive, evaluate, refer and offer services inherent to its mission.

NEEDS AND PRIORITIES

In carrying out its mandate, the CJAT will provide services to 79 native English speakers (parents and children).  Workers must create a relationship of trust with these clients and the key to an effective intervention starts with good communication. 

STAFF TARGET FOR 2011-2012

Social (16)
Total: 16

DESCRIPTION OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES

• Training activities: Face-to-face training in two groups of eight.
• Activities for maintaining and developing skills and knowledge transfer: The CJAT will assign English-speaking clients to workers who participate in the regional language training project.
• Learner evaluation: There will be a written and oral online placement test before the session. The trainer will not assess the learner at the start of the training. The learners’ comprehension will be assessed by the trainer informally throughout the session. An oral evaluation will take place at the end of the session using an assessment grid based on the performance criteria.
• Training materials: The training organization will use the following materials:  Petit lexique de la santé et des services sociaux, Easy Essential Grammar, dictionaries and manuals developed by McGill.

PARTICIPATION INCENTIVES

Courses will be offered during work hours. The replacement costs will be reimbursed for eight of the participants.  

TRAINING ORGANIZATION

Le Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue

BUDGET ALLOCATED FOR 2011-2012: $15,091.61