Our People

The Terms of Reference sets forth our desired leadership.

VCAFC Executive duties and responsibilities present a terrific opportunity for all persons who have ever lived through the journey of long-term care with someone they care for. As with individual member family councils, we often share our tasks but for clarity, we elect our Executive using the following roles explanations:

Chairperson

Meetings

Our Chairperson leads our regional VCAFC meetings in the following way:

  • schedules and chairs VCAFC executive meetings
  • attends all VCAFC executive meetings
  • works with the vice-chair to keep order at VCAFC meetings
  • approves the agenda drafted by executive secretary
  •  reviews the minutes of Executive and member meetings to ensure confidentiality and sensitive issues are kept out of the minutes. Minutes are posted (on website) on the VCAFC e-bulletin board and a copy sent to ILTCCABC
Governance

Our Chairperson contributes to our provincial association of family councils:

ILTCCABC as one of 3 representatives from VCAFC. The Chairperson automatically represents VCAFC at ILTCCABC meetings.

  • reports to ILTCCABC Executive
  • ensures knowledge of the VCAFC role in ILTCCABC advocacy & commitment to its mission, goals & objectives.
  • represents the VCAFC in a respectful manner
  • responds to outside questions/media/email inquiries on behalf of the association
  • ensures accountability, performance measures and succession planning
People/Leadership

Our Chairperson works side by side with our Vice Chairperson at growing our membership and ensuring VCAFC is led from behind, always gathering direction and input from our members.

  • helps the Executive make the wisest decisions possible
  • orient & build the team and relationships
  • is fair and impartial in decision making
  • maintains and promotes a democratic process
  • collaborates with VCAFC executive on correspondence with Health Authorities and/or       Ministry of Health and on any other correspondence deemed sensitive
  • collaborates with VCAFC executive on media communications strategies

Vice Chair

Meetings

Our Vice-Chair leads our regional VCAFC meetings in the following way:

  • learns (shadows) duties of the Chair role and presides as Chairperson when the chairperson is absent or unable to represent
  • collaborates closely with the Chairperson and other executive members on issues and projects as they arise
  • if Chairperson vacates post for any reason the Vice-Chair replaces until next election
  • may chair sub-committee(s) as created
  • acts as a signing officer
Governance

Our Vice-Chair contributes to our provincial association of family councils:

ILTCCABC as one of 3 representatives from VCAFC. The Vice-Chair automatically represents VCAFC at ILTCCABC meetings and follows the same role as the Chairperson.

People/Leadership

Our Vice-Chair works side by side with our Chairperson at growing our membership and ensuring VCAFC is led from behind, always gathering direction and input from our members.

Secretary-Treasurer

  • maintains the organization’s history by ensuring final documents are kept organized electronically, accessible by all current Executive and for future Executive Council to use as a resource.
  • serves as contact person for organization’s records & documents
  • helps organizational effectiveness & efficiency
  • reduces liability
  • takes minutes and distribute minutes in a timely manner, to members and ILTCCABC Executive
  • posts minutes to VCAFC website, e-bulletin board, Google Docs or wherever members go online to access VCAFC information
  • arranges for Zoom meetings or meeting rooms to be ready prior to each scheduled meeting
  • gives the treasurer report at each meeting IF a VCAFC bank account exists

Directors (2)

VCAFC has 2 positions available for Directors. Directors can be persons who have someone they are essential to in long-term care or they may have had someone close to them move through long-term care.

NOTE:  The Vancouver Coastal Health Region is divided up by VCH into 8 regions:

  • Vancouver,
  • Richmond,
  • the North Shore and Coast Garibaldi,
  • Sea-to-Sky,
  • Sunshine Coast,
  • Powell River,
  • Bella Bella and
  • Bella Coola.

Directors:

  • assist the executive as directed by the Chair
  • acts as the “boots on the ground” as our liaison to the LTCHs in their respective regions
  • assists in making connections or taking over connections made by the executive team

Past Chairperson

may remain as an Advisor to VCAFC executive for a year after the election if elected

Advisors

  • The role of an advisor is not to make decisions, but rather to provide current knowledge, critical thinking, and analysis to increase the confidence of the decision-makers who represent VCAFC. Advisors will provide guidance and support to the VCAFC executive staff to:
  • To assist in building strong and cooperative working relationships with Health Authority/territorial and other professional associations.
  • To help assess/evaluate impacts of the “actions/work” of Health Authority/territorial and other professional associations on VCAFC and its membership.
  • To identify tools and resources VCAFC may deploy to support the Health Authority/territorial groups in their operations, and vice versa.
  • To propose strategies to formalize communication and collaboration among VCAFC and emerging/existing professional associations.
  • To recommend strategies to deliver and sustain a strong and cohesive professional voice for Resident and Family Councils across VCH
  • An Advisor does not have a vote.
  • An Advisor is invited by the Executive for a term which is indefinite but reviewed annually.
  • There is no limit to the number of advisors as they are called upon by the Executive when their skills and abilities are needed.

ALL executives will:

  • act in the best interests of the association
  • be familiar with the association’s terms of reference, bylaws, policies, procedures and strategic plan, mission, etc.
  • ensures he/she avoids conflicts of interest of the association including operating in the best interest of the association not in self-interest or the interest of a stakeholder group
  • respect confidentiality policies that pertain to executive discussions
  • bring his/her own skills, experience and knowledge to the association
  • attend executive meetings regularly and arrive prepared
  • supports executive decisions once voted on