Press Releases

Bayshore Home Health Succeeds with Coaching Ourselves

Leadership development program builds teamwork and community

Mississauga, Ont., August 26, 2009 –Bayshore Home Health has initiated a new peer­to-peer development program, called Coaching Ourselves, to help develop skills and grow leaders among its 800 administrative staff. The new tool, developed by professor and author Henry Mintzberg along with former high-tech company director Phil LeNir, reflects Bayshore’s commitment to continuous education and the personal growth of its employees.

“The Coaching Ourselves program is unique in that it allows us to build potential leaders for the future from all levels of the organization,” says Liz Davy, national human resources director for Bayshore Home Health. “Any administrative staff member has the opportunity to participate and collaborate in a peer-group setting that allows for both self- realization and personal development.”

Coaching Ourselves is used by organizations around the world to cultivate leaders. Participants come together in groups of 6-8 including a trained facilitator. The program begins with a foundation of eight modules covering a range of issues such as dealing with the pressure of managing, management style and the challenges of decision making. As participants finish the foundation modules, others are added to expand the depth of knowledge.

Davy adds that the program is particularly suited to decentralized organizations such as Bayshore. It is highly flexible, always timely and relevant, and owned by the participants. “Staff are able to form groups from within their own branch, across a region or from branches across the country and meet via teleconferencing. Experiences are shared and best practices are developed for handling similar situations in the future,” she says.

Marie Graham, area director for Bayshore’s Kitchener office, has participated in the program and is also a facilitator “This unique experience has allowed us to share experiences, learn from each other and brainstorm solutions for common challenges we face,” she explains. “We currently focus on communicating more effectively and strengthening our teams. As a result we have been able to develop teams within our own branch and with other branches where we share services and staffing.”

Bayshore began Coaching Ourselves with a pilot in 2008 and subsequently launched the program organization-wide. To date more than 125 staff members have either completed or are currently enrolled in the program.

About Bayshore Home Health

Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, it is the country's largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 50 home care offices, 20 community care clinics and 8,000 employees. Its core services are in-home nursing, personal care and home support – which can be purchased directly by individuals and also accessed through government care programs, personal and group insurance plans and workplace safety insurance. The company also provides nurse/caregiver staffing services, health education programs and treatments in its community dialysis centres. Through its subsidiary, Bayshore Specialty Rx, it offers infusion pharmacy, infusion clinic and pharmaceutical support services to a variety of health care and pharmaceutical organizations.

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