Creating Healthy Homes: Park Place Seniors Living’s IPAC Champion Program
September 23, 2024 | By Park Place Seniors Living |
As a trusted name in Canadian seniors’ care, Park Place Seniors Living puts the well-being of residents and staff first. A key element in maintaining this commitment is our dedication to strong, effective infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices. These protocols are essential, especially within a senior living environment where vulnerability to illnesses can be higher. To reinforce and elevate our infection control standards, we launched the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Champion Program in late 2022—a progressive initiative designed to empower staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to safeguard our seniors communities across Canada. Continue reading to learn more about this comprehensive program and how it has helped Park Place bring its health and safety measures to new heights.
Why the IPAC Champion Program Matters
Infection control isn’t just a set of rules; it’s a way of ensuring that our residents remain healthy and our staff remain safe. The smallest misstep in infection control can lead to larger health concerns. That’s why it’s essential for Park Place to ensure every staff member is equipped with the right tools and understanding to handle everyday infection control challenges. The IPAC Champion Program was developed as a proactive way to train staff members to be infection control experts within our communities, ensuring that best practices are followed consistently, especially when managing a critical situation such as an outbreak.
How the Program Works
Initially, the IPAC Champion Program was launched to provide weekly online sessions over the course of four weeks to the staff in our Canadian seniors’ care company. However, we discovered that the scheduling of these live sessions limited participation. To offer more flexible training options, we restructured the program to be self-paced. Now, participants begin with an intake session and work their way through five comprehensive modules, each covering key areas of infection control. To ensure understanding, each module concludes with a knowledge quiz. These modules are designed to be practical and accessible, making it easier for staff to apply what they’ve learned in their day-to-day roles. These modules include:
- Hand Hygiene
- Routine Practices
- Outbreak Management
- Surveillance & Monitoring
- 5S Workplace Organization
Participants also have the option to attend touch-base sessions to discuss challenges, ask questions, and share experiences. This element adds a collaborative layer to the learning process, reinforcing that infection control is a shared responsibility that requires communication, teamwork, and peer support.
Becoming an IPAC Champion
What does it mean to be an IPAC Champion? Staff members who go through this program take on a leadership role in infection prevention. IPAC Champions assist with outbreak planning and management, helping to identify areas where IPAC practices can be improved, and working closely with Home leadership teams to implement these changes. They also assist with conducting IPAC audits, ensuring that every area of our Homes meets our strict infection control standards.
One of the most impactful aspects of this program is the peer-to-peer education that IPAC Champions provide. By sharing their knowledge and skills with colleagues, they help reinforce the importance of infection control across all levels of staff. This peer education model makes infection prevention an ongoing part of the Park Place culture, rather than just a top-down directive.
The Results So Far
Since the program’s inception, over 100 staff members have completed the training and have graduated as IPAC Champions. These dedicated individuals are now equipped with the expertise to manage infection control practices effectively within our Homes. Whether it’s ensuring that common areas are kept clean, advising on the best practices during flu season, or stepping up during an outbreak, these IPAC Champions have proven to be an invaluable asset to our commitment to maintaining a safe environment.
Their efforts help to continuously refine and improve the infection control processes within Park Place Seniors Living, ensuring that we are always up to date with best practices and ready to respond to new challenges.
Why IPAC Champions Make a Difference
The program goes beyond just learning about infection control; it’s about creating a culture of shared responsibility. Every IPAC Champion plays a vital role in maintaining the health of our residents. Their proactive approach to infection prevention means fewer outbreaks, reduced spread of illnesses, and ultimately, a healthier environment for everyone in our community.
Having trained infection control experts on the ground also allows us to respond quickly and effectively during critical situations. With their guidance, outbreaks can be contained more swiftly, and preventative measures can be implemented with precision.
A Program Built on Collaboration and Continuous Learning
This collaborative, team-oriented approach not only strengthens infection control practices within Park Place Seniors Living, but also boosts team morale. Staff members feel supported in their roles and are empowered to take ownership of infection prevention, knowing that their contributions directly impact the health and well-being of the community.
We also collect feedback from program participants each step of the way to ensure a valuable experience, and have been delighted to receive positive feedback thus far. One of our recent IPAC Champion Program graduates has said: “This education provides us with a deeper understanding of infection prevention and control measures.”
Join Our Growing Team!
Are you passionate about creating a safe, healthy environment for seniors? Consider joining the Park Place Seniors Living team! Whether you are exploring part-time, full-time, or casual employment opportunities in Canada, Park Place features a wide range of positions to suit your skills and scheduling preferences. With locations across Canada (in BC, Alberta, and Ontario), the opportunities are endless. Visit our careers page to explore available roles and to start your application process.
