Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences - Media Statement -
2010/2011 Operating Plan

WHITBY, ON, March 19 /CNW/ - Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores) would like to address the statements made by OPSEU in the Media Advisory dated March 19 as it relates to our 2010/2011 Operating Plan:

    
    -   Ontario Shores' 2010/2011 operating plan supports the organization's
        move towards national leading best practices for the delivery of
        specialized mental health care and supporting services. This plan has
        allocated resources to sustain existing service levels to meet the
        needs of Ontario Shores' patients and the communities it serves.

    -   Ontario Shores is introducing a new model of care for the treatment
        of borderline personality disorders that meets best practices. As we
        actively develop, consult and plan for this model of care, we have
        integrated Beacon House services into one location in Stouffville.

    -   Challenging Directions Enterprises has been transitioned to a model
        that better meets the recovery needs of patients and aligns with best
        practices in mental health care. This model consists of a supported
        employment program, groups and day treatment options. All patients
        from the former program are currently enrolled in one of these
        services.

    -   We are moving to a new model for patient laundry service. We will be
        seeking a third-party provider for the laundry service that will be
        cost effective while providing the same level of service for our
        patients. At present the laundry processing area has large, heavy
        equipment which is capital intensive and nearing the end of its life
        cycle. Increasing regulatory challenges in providing laundry
        processing services, adherence to regulations, infection control
        protocols and standards from the Canadian Standards Association will
        become more rigorous and harder for us to meet with an aging laundry
        facility. This will also reflect best practice in laundry processing
        and industry standards. All staff working in Laundry will be
        redeployed to other areas.

    -   To clarify the union's reference to 55 positions:
           -  Approximately 40 positions have been affected by the changes in
              the Operating Plan. Employees in these positions have an
              opportunity to pursue various options over the next four
              months, including the filling of existing vacancies and the
              transfer to newly created positions or openings that arise
              through voluntary exits and early retirement. We expect many of
              these individuals will be accommodated through this process.
           -  Ontario Shores is also offering support to staff affected by
              the changes in the Operating Plan.
           -  The other 15 staff are from the laundry and linen department.
              They did not receive layoff notices, but will be redeployed to
              other areas in the next few months.
    

For further information: or to set up a media interview, please contact: Andrea Worrall, Communications Officer, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, [phone] or [email protected]