Violence Prevention
We're Updating Violence Prevention Training For People Working in Healthcare
Being safe at work is critical to your physical and mental wellbeing.
That’s why the Ministry of Health has asked SWITCH BC, in collaboration with our partners, to update the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum training program to ensure it works for everyone working in healthcare.
| What's improving | ||
|---|---|---|
| Now | New | |
| Violence prevention training program for health authority staff, offered primarily virtually, during pandemic. | One provincewide program available to everyone working in healthcare with different delivery methods (online and in person) and tailored to specific jobs and workplaces. | |
| Some people working in healthcare do not have easy access to violence prevention training. | Equal access to violence prevention training for everyone working in healthcare where required. | |
| Content last updated in 2016, with no official ownership of the program for responsive timely updates. | SWITCH BC will develop and maintain current best practices, including trauma-informed practice and cultural humility, throughout the training and build a sustainable process for ongoing curriculum updates. |
Everyone working in healthcare has the right to be safe and healthy, to thrive on the job and to return home safely to family and friends. Your ideas will make the violence prevention training work in all healthcare workplaces. Thank you!
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Find out “What We Learned” about violence prevention training in healthcare
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Health care workers have the right to be safe at work, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case. People working in healthcare are facing verbal and physical violence on the job. Fifty-nine percent of all violence-related time-loss claims in B.C. come from people working in healthcare and social services (WorkSafeBC) and a recent poll by the Hospital Employees’ Union found that 82% of healthcare aides/assistances face violence at work (HEU, 2023). With physical and verbal violence happening in the workplace, ensuring people have the training they need to stay safe is more important than ever.
That’s why SWITCH BC, with its partners that include unions, employers, physicians, WorkSafeBC, and the Ministry of Health, is updating the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) to provide an accessible provincewide program for the more than 300,000 people working in healthcare. As part of that work, we hosted engagement opportunities throughout the province to hear directly from the people who benefit from this training.
The What We Learned report shares the experiences of nearly 1,300 health care workers. It offers a representative snapshot of some of the opportunities and challenges within more than 110 different health sector roles and the current program.
We are grateful for the people working in healthcare throughout B.C. who took the time to participate in the PVPC needs analysis engagement opportunities. This work would not have been possible without the support of the facilitators from our partner organizations – unions, employers, and physicians – who helped with sessions and the location hosts who made it possible to have in-person focus groups and drop-in sessions throughout the province.
We know people working in healthcare have demanding schedules, and we value your time. Thank you.
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HEU poll finds 82 percent of care aides face violence or aggression at work
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SWITCH BC’s Board Partner the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) polled more than 800 health care aides / assistants and found nearly half of all respondents are considering leave their jobs in the next two years. The poll also shows 82% face violence at work and more than 60% of care aides end their shifts feeling mentally and/or physically exhausted.
Read the full news release to learn more, and find out how SWITCH BC is supporting healthcare workers through an update of the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum.
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Join the conversation to help stop violence at work
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SWITCH BC is updating the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) training program. Hearing directly from the people working in healthcare in B.C. will help shape meaningful updates to this vital training program.
If you work in healthcare in B.C., you are invited to register for one of the engagement sessions. You can also complete a short online questionnaire in addition to participating in a session or if a session doesn’t work for your schedule. [Update - all engagement opportunities are now closed.]
Violence can be hard to talk about. Your workplace may provide employer paid mental health supports, such as an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) or extended health coverage for sessions with a mental health professional. Contact your managers, union representative, or HR team member, for information or look into the free options below.
- BC Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code needed)
- Wellness Together Canada
- Care for Caregivers: 1-866-802-PEER (7337)
- Circle of Care: KUU-US First Nations and Aboriginal Crisis Line: 1-800-558-8717
- EFAP providers (counselling and 24/7 support):
- Homewood Health: 1-800-663-9099 (PHC, PHSA)
- LifeWorks: 1-844-880-9142 (all other health authorities)
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SWITCH BC leads refresh of Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum
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The Ministry of Health is taking steps to further support safer workplaces for everyone in healthcare. As part of that work, SWITCH BC is proud to be leading the refresh of the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum. The new violence prevention training will include trauma-informed practice principles and improving the way the course is delivered throughout B.C.
Read more about this work and other ways the Province is supporting safer workplaces in this news release from the Ministry of Health.
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Follow the Violence Prevention Curriculum update project here
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News and updates about the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) refresh project will be posted here.
If you would like to be alerted and receive updates on on the PVPC update project in your email, click Subscribe in the Stay Informed box on this page.
Who's Listening
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Email amy.dove@switchbc.ca
Project Timeline
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Start - fall 2022
Violence Prevention has finished this stage
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Engagement - summer 2023
Violence Prevention has finished this stageOnline and in-person engagement sessions, online questionnaire and ongoing conversations with subject matter experts.
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Develop - spring 2024
Violence Prevention is currently at this stage
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PVPC updated - fall 2024
this is an upcoming stage for Violence Prevention
About SWITCH BC
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SWITCH BC which stands for Safety, Wellbeing, Innovation, Training and Collaboration in Healthcare is a new organization focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone working in healthcare in B.C. Our unique organizational model brings unions, employers and physicians together with representatives of the Ministry of Health and WorkSafeBC to make consensus decisions supporting province-wide innovation, training and prevention while enhancing the culture of safety in healthcare workplaces.