Province Takes Immediate Action to Address Issues at Braemore Home
The province is taking immediate action to address issues identified in a report on Braemore Home Corporation's programs and operations, released today, Oct. 18.
Effective immediately, the province is suspending Braemore Home Corporation's licence and appointing the Cape Breton District Health Authority's board of directors to act as the Sydney facility's interim board.
"I'm extremely concerned, just as I'm sure everyone is, with the contents of this report," said Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse, who was in Sydney today to meet with the interim board.
"My first priority is the care and well-being of the people we serve and we're taking immediate action to address the most serious issues. We're already working on a long-term plan to better support residents, staff, and management of Braemore and other similar facilities."
The independent review was conducted by Deloitte. It looked at Braemore's management, programs, operations and organizational culture, and included input from a number of interested parties, including staff, residents, and their families.
The report's recommendations focus on nine key areas:
- long-term strategy and oversight
- legislation
- accountability
- client service
- organizational culture
- operations
- funding
- partnerships
- governance
Some of the recommendations for Braemore include:
- developing governance practices for Braemore’s board of directors
- redefining its organizational model, roles, and responsibilities
- shifting its organizational culture to include practices of leading organizations
- partnering with a leading organization in adult autism and residential services
"The district's board of directors welcomes the opportunity to support this interim measure and we will do what we can to assist the Braemore team now and in the future," said Cape Breton District Health Authority Board chair Yvon LeBlanc.
"As health-care providers, we can't forget that we are in service to our patients and our residents every day. Their care, well-being, and quality of life are our main priorities, and that includes the people who live at Braemore."
Deloitte's report also makes recommendations on how the province can better support facilities like Braemore by developing a long-term vision and strategy, providing standards, and enhancing its oversight of client support practices.
A team of experts will develop a strategy to address issues at Braemore and across the sector. In addition, government established a cross-departmental team in the spring to begin work on a long-term strategy to address Nova Scotia's continuing care and services for persons with disabilities sectors. That group will consult with interested parties in the first half of 2012 and take recommendations to the government.
"This report clearly shows that there are issues with the residential system and that we need a long-term plan to help us better support Braemore and other places like it," said Ms. Peterson-Rafuse. "We've already begun this work and we're committed to making the changes needed."
Braemore provides residential services and support to people with physical and intellectual disabilities. The Department of Community Services requested the independent review in March after the province investigated a case of abuse at the facility.
The report can be found online at www.gov.ns.ca/coms.