Island Health’s Board of Directors has temporarily appointed an administrator to manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of Victoria Chinatown Care Centre long-term care home.
“Providing high quality, safe, dignified care for seniors in our publicly funded long-term care facilities is a key Island Health priority,” said Leah Hollins, Island Health Board Chair. “Due to the operator’s inability to meet the care expectations outlined in legislation, the Board of Directors has taken the extraordinary action to appoint an administrator to manage the facility.”
The appointment of the administrator was based upon the recommendation of the South Island medical health officer and Island Health’s Community Care Facilities Licensing program, following a diligent administrative process involving numerous complaint-based licensing inspections.
A detailed review undertaken in August and September by the Licensing program found two key areas of non-compliance with the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and Residential Care Regulation. Contraventions of the Act and Regulation included:
- Staff not demonstrating the skills and abilities to carry out the duties assigned
- Equipment not kept in good repair
- Lack of appropriate care planning
- Failure to meet the needs of a person in care
- Actions that may diminish the sense of dignity of a person in care
Licensing and the Medical Health Officer also cited the turnover of key members of the site’s leadership team.
The administrator will report to the Board of Directors through the Island Health’s Long-term Care Program and will provide comprehensive, on-site responsibility for the daily operation and management of the facility supporting critical functions including:
- Care planning
- Staff recruitment and orientation
- Development and implementation of audit tools
- Developing policies and procedures
- Overall compliance with the legislated standards of care
“The appointment of an administrator will provide Island Health the clarity of leadership required to help return the facility to compliance, thereby providing residents with the care they deserve and families the peace of mind they should have with publicly funded long-term care,” said James Hanson, Island Health’s vice-president of Clinical Services, Acute Care North Island & Community Services.
The Board of Directors appointed Derek Haynes as the administrator for a period of 6 months effective September 20, 2023. Mr. Haynes has worked in long-term care and assisted living for more than eight years. Recently he was the manager of Glengarry Hospital. Victoria Chinatown Care Centre is a non-profit 31-bed long-term care facility operated by the volunteer Board of Directors for Victoria Chinatown Care Centre. Island Health publicly funds all 31 of the beds.
The medical health officer’s report to the Board of Directors is posted on the Reports and Plans page.