What we are doing: practical resources and strategic learning
The program has four key components:
- Measurement and Evaluation Framework
- Joint Occupational Health Safety Committee (JOHSC) Resources
- Community of Practice
- Trust Initiative
21 Organizations represented in the Community of Practice
964 Trust Initiative survey participants
445 Collaborators on program infinitives and projects
Benefits of the PHS program
Contributes to healthier and safer workplaces.
Contributes to improved moral, culture, employee satisfaction, and team performance
Supports retention and recruitment in alignment with B.C.’s health human resources (HHR) strategy
Creates standard tools and resources for JOHSCs
Supports provincial alignment of implementation and evaluation efforts
Measurement and Evaluation Framework
This framework will establish a baseline of the current state of psychological health and safety in healthcare workplaces, and track progress in implementing the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z1003-13, the national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace.
Baseline
Assessing the current state of psychological health and safety in healthcare workplaces.
Implementation and Evaluation
Creating a standardized approach to psychological health and safety implementation and evaluation, alongside the development of helpful tools and resources.
Measurement
Establishing a consistent method for tracking and improving psychological health and safety, with tools and resources to support ongoing progress.
Help us create and expand PHS Resources for Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees
Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) play a critical role in preventing workplace injuries and fostering a culture of safety. This initiative provides committees across the province with standard, accessible, and practical tools and resources to support psychologically healthy and safe workplaces and help them fulfil their duties and functions.
We’re working closely with our partners to develop and refine these resources so they’re evidence-informed and aligned with best practices. Once tested, we’ll share these resources widely to all JOHSCs, and update them regularly to keep them relevant and effective.
Community of Practice
With members from more than 20 organizations, this collaborative group meets monthly to share best practices, participate in strategic learning, and provide consultation and recommendations on key topics.
The activities and insights shared by the Community of Practice help inspire our work and inform strategies to improve psychological health and safety in B.C.’s healthcare system.
See what members are saying about their experience:
Great dialogue with the Community of Practice members and wonderful coordination by SWITCH BC!
Always great to connect with peers in this space, and learn from and with them.
The Trust Initiative
Trust is an essential element of a psychologically healthy and safe workplace. The Trust Initiative is a collaborative research project
between the University of Victoria School of Nursing, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia, and SWITCH BC. It explores how health care workers perceive trust in the B.C. healthcare system, with a particular focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted trust levels.
More than 950 health care workers participated in a survey from November 2024 to February 2025. In summer 2025, the researchers will host focus groups to further explore the results. The findings will help shape recommendations to strengthen health care worker trust and create more psychologically healthy and safe workplaces.
