Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Health & Community Services

Description

The Department of
Health and Community Services
provides a leadership role in health and
community services programs and policy
development for the Province
This involves working in partnership with a
number of key stakeholders including regional
boards community organizations professional
associations postsecondary educational
institutions unions consumers and other
government departments



The Department provides support services to six Regional Institutional Boards four Regional Health and Community Services Boards two Regional Integrated Boards and one Regional Nursing Home Board in St Johns The actual delivery of programs and services including Health Promotion Disease Prevention Child Youth and Family Services and Community Corrections Family and Rehabilitative Services Addictions Mental Health and Continuing Care are provided by community health boards The institutional boards deliver hospital services and long term accommodations to persons 65 years and older and persons suffering from chronic debilitating diseases There are also a number of agencies directly accountable to the Department including the Memorial University of Newfoundland Medical School and the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information

The total Departmental budget allocation is about 12 billion which represents one third of all government spending About 800 million goes to support the 13000 full time equivalent jobs in the service industry sector with about 640 physicians receiving fee for service and about 300 receiving fixed salaries

Over the past year the Department has been reorganized to provide more efficient input into policy and program development and supports to boards and agencies There are currently 175 full time positions in the new organization The organizational structure is comprised of five branches with 15 divisions

The Board Services branch provides overall relations with the governmentfunded regional boards the coordination of their service the identification of service quality improvements and has program responsibility for road and air ambulance and other emergency services in the Province

The Policy and Program Services branch provides the overall policy and program development functions of the Department strategic planning for the health and community services system and applied research and evaluation activities

Government amp Agency Relations has extensive involvement with intergovernmental activity at the federalprovincialterritorial levels including monitoring changes to federal legislation and regulation to identify potential impacts on provincial programs and policies

The Support Services branch is responsible for the overall administrative financial human resource claims management and information management services of the Department including all financial arrangements with and financial monitoring of governmentfunded regional health boards

The Medical Services branch is responsible for the Departments mandate related to the provision of medical services disease control epidemiology environmental health and pharmaceutical services

Foundational Statements

The World Health Organization definition of quothealthquot is the foundation for the Vision Mission and Values Statements as well as the Lines of Business It states

Health is a state of complete physical mental social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Vision

All Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will enjoy optimal health quotOptimal healthquot refers to maximizing an individuals health and wellbeing in the context of their life and its limitation

Mission

The Department of Health and Community Services will ensure that the people of Newfoundland and Labrador have access to services and programs enabling individuals families and communities to achieve optimal health

Values

We believe

that all individuals deserve fairness respect and privacy

that all individuals deserve the right to participate in making decisions that affect them in their pursuit of health and wellbeing

in quality programs and services responsive to the needs of individuals families and communities

in a competent and committed workforce fostered through an appreciation for individuals team work and strong leadership

in developing and supporting partnerships to enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals families and communities

in being accountable to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador

Business Lines

1 Policy and Program Development

The Department will lead the development planning research and evaluation of provincial policies and programs to ensure that services are integrated and evidencebased

2 Support to Boards and Agencies

The Department will provide direction and support to agencies and regional boards to deliver a continuum of programs and services within available resources

3 Departmental Support Services

The Department will maintain organizational structures functions and resources to support the Departments mission