May 2024 Board of Health Meeting - WECHU BOH Self-Assessment Competency Survey Other

Purpose

To identify the BOH strengths and identify opportunities for training and support. 

• BOH is required to conduct a self-assessment.
• Questions related to 12 competencies.
• The 12 competencies and related questions were developed based on the Ontario Public Health Standards, BOH By-laws, and the alPHa BOH Governance Toolkit.

Results

• Current board membership includes 14 members, of which 13 completed the survey.
• There were 2 to 4 questions asked for each competency.
• Average scores were created for each competency.
• A satisfactory and optimal range was determined:
  • Satisfactory range (average score ≥2 and <3):BOH members have the necessary competencies to successfully complete tasks related to that topic but might require assistance from an expert at times.
  • Optimal range (average score ≥3):BOH members on average can perform actions related to these competencies without expert assistance.

Self-Assessment Scale

Areas of Competency

1. Communication and marketing:

Interacting with partners to promote programs/services.

2. Community partners and stakeholders engagement: 

Identifying key partners/stakeholders.

Establishing strong partnerships with other organizations.

Resolving conflicts between partners/stakeholders.

3. Health equity: 

Identifying barriers individuals face when accessing public health services.

Consideration of health inequities in program/services decision making.

4. Human resources: 

Attracting and retaining employees.

Assessing the work-related performance of employees.

Succession planning in an organization.

Addressing challenges in a unionized environment.

5. Financial management: 

Managing a budget within an organization.

Assessing financial information.

Creating innovative approaches to deal with fiscal restraints.

Re-allocating resources within an organization.

6.  Knowledge of delivery of public health programs/services: 

Implementation of the OPHS, developing evidence-based program/services, integrating client/customer needs into programs/services

7. Leadership and governance: 

Service on other boards or committees.

Decision-making that considers the impact on relevant stakeholders.

Leadership-level guidance of organizational operations.

Guiding an organization through change to reach their goals.

8. Legal: 

Managing organizational legal considerations, applying ministry level legal requirements in an org, adhering to ministry required BoH legal obligations

9. Performance mgmt. and quality improvement: 

Supporting an organizational culture of continuous quality improvement.

Making organizational decisions based on the quality of programs/services.

10. Political acumen: 

Understand the formal process for decision making at the municipal level.

Identifying key players in the political decision making process.

Developing healthy public policies (e.g., analyzing, planning, implementing, and evaluating policy).

Advocating for the passing and enforcement of healthy public policies.

11. Risk mgmt: 

identifying organizational risks, documenting the cause and consequence of identified organizational risks

12. Strategic and operational planning: 

Development of organizational strategic plans.

Working towards organizational strategic priorities.

Monitoring progress towards meeting a strategic plan.

Competency Assessment

Top Strengths/Opportunities

Overall Recommendations

• Provide training education sessions and e-learning modules to board members.
  • Beginning with the areas of opportunity (e.g., Health Equity, Knowledge and Delivery of Public Health Programs and Services, Legal).
• Quarterly opportunity to provide feedback in regards to BOH operations and decision-making.