Client story: PHSA’s SafeCare
LCL transforms a 2-day in-person workshop to accessible, province-wide online training.
How PHSA Perinatal Substance Use (PSU) Program worked with LCL’s team to create effective, evidence-informed training to equip care providers to apply trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and Indigenous cultural safety principles into their practice and day-to-day interactions.
The problem to solve
How can more people get access to this workshop?
Up until March 2020, the highly respected, in-demand Perinatal Substance Use (PSU) SafeCare education was only available in-person. While effective, this delivery model limited access for many care providers, especially those in rural or community care settings.
The pandemic underscored the need for accessible, high-quality training in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and Indigenous cultural safety for healthcare and community care providers.
To address this challenge, PSU SafeCare needed to transition online and be redesigned to:
-Expand access across the province
-Enhance support for care providers to to apply their knowledge
-Broaden its application to community care and rural health settings.
The program also had to provide ongoing support and education for interdisciplinary teams across diverse practice environments and foster practice changes that improve care for pregnant and parenting individuals.
Practical and relevant
How we leveraged peer-based learning
LCL preserved the core strengths of PSU SafeCare’s in-person workshop, particularly its peer-to-peer learning experience. The online course included instructional videos featuring healthcare professionals, community practitioners, and individuals with lived experience. This approach modeled partnership, humility, and collaboration, while fostering knowledge sharing and a sense of community.
Collaborating with subject matter experts, LCL developed real-world scenarios that helped care providers to apply SafeCare principles, reflect on their practices, and strengthen relationships with patients, colleagues, and themselves.
Care providers also had the option to join peer-based synchronous sessions. These sessions used role-playing and group discussions to help participants practice, apply concepts, receive feedback, and build confidence in providing safe care in their respective work settings.
Broader reacher, greater impact
Strategic promotion for lasting engagement
Creating and delivering an accessible and effective learning experience is just the beginning. To amplify the impact of PSU SafeCare education, raising awareness and increasing reach are key.
LCL partnered with PHSA PSU Program to support province-wide promotion. We developed a comprehensive communication toolkit, including promotional videos and brochures, to secure organizational support, reduce barriers for learners in different care settings, and drive an ongoing promotional campaign. As a result, PSU SafeCare now reaches more care providers in diverse care environments (replace with stat?), expanding its influence and accessibility.
The results
Evaluation shows that SafeCare is making an important impact. Thanks to this asynchronous course and a virtual Community of Practice, healthcare in BC can improve.
Measurable practice framework
SafeCare competency framework providers measurable learning outcomes for continued practice improvement.
Cross-organizational impact
SafeCare is available for free to all providers in all health authorities across BC (and Canada). The eLearning curriculum allows motivated practitioners to take the course anytime, at their own pace. Without relying on instructor-led sessions or costly delivery resources.
Improved patient health outcomes
The combined offering of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and indigenous cultural safety became the strong base for practitioners to improve patient health across many disciplines.
“Leah and her team were the perfect solution for our education and training project. She and her team provided clear structure and process, invaluable advice, incredible service, and timely delivery. They’ve been conscientious and respectful, recognizing sensitive situations, issues, and pain points and addressing those diplomatically, and directly.
We have already enlisted their help with other projects!
I can’t say enough good things about my experience with Leah and her team! They’ve been a pleasure to work with.”
Stacey Boon, former Leader, Perinatal Substance Use Program, BC Women’s Hospital/Provincial Health Services Authority of BC
