York University and Revera Inc. have signed a memorandum of understanding to form a research and education partnership in the area of aging. Their first joint undertaking is the creation of a specialized Director of Care Certificate in Clinical Leadership (DOCL) program. This program is designed to provide a specialized credentialed certificate in clinical leadership for registered nurses who hold or aspire to hold the role of director of care in a long-term care home.
The first cohort of 20 students, comprised of Revera Long Term Care staff from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario, started the class Tuesday. They will take four course modules over the next academic year, while continuing to work. The program emerged from the Certificate in Clinical Leadership (Health Leadership and Learning Network/Faculty of Health Continuing Education) led by Professor Deborah Tregunno and Revera leaders. The new DOC Clinical Leadership program is designed to integrate theory into practice and improve care for residents and families.
“There are multiple winners from this unique partnership with Revera,” said York’s Faculty of Health Dean Harvey Skinner. “RNs will benefit from specialized leadership training delivered by our Health Leadership and Learning Network; research into healthy aging will be advanced by our faculty experts; and students will benefit from experiential education opportunities within Revera’s facilities that will enrich their learning opportunities and career prospects in this rapidly growing sector.”
The partnership also encompasses opportunities for community-based experiential education for York University Faculty of Health students, as well as research collaboration between the two organizations.
Speaking at the announcement of the partnership, Alice Pitt, vice-provost academic at York, said, “York has been a leader in community-university partnerships. You are not just receiving knowledge but creating it and your participation in this new program will help shape the curriculum.”
The research collaboration with Revera will include the York University Centre for Aging Research and Education, a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Faculties of Health, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies and Glendon.
Their mission is to promote innovative research, education and advocacy on graceful aging to shift attitudes about aging and contribute to improved health for older adults in Canada and around the world.
“This partnership with York is something we are really proud of. The DOCL program is going to provide much-needed advanced training for RNs taking on this crucial role,” said Joanne Dykeman, vice-president clinical services and quality at Revera. “The role of director of care has increased in complexity along with the increased care needs of long-term care residents. We’ve worked very closely with York and our most experienced directors of care to ensure that the curriculum delivers practical and essential leadership skills training.”
This partnership, the first in Canada between a private care provider and a university, pairs York’s wealth of research expertise and academic resources with Revera’s more than 50-year history of providing accommodation, care and services to seniors.