Appendix C1 - Benchmark Index by Function - Program/Service Delivery to Canadians

General Accountability

Is accountable for managing the development and implementation of integrated policy, program, model, accountability and other frameworks and systems for the provision of primary health care and public health services to assist registered First Nations and Inuit individuals to attain a level of health and of access to health services comparable to that of other Canadians living in similar locations.

Organization Structure

The Director General is 1 of 19 positions at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch. The others are Director General, Non-Insured Health Benefits; Director General, Community Programs; Executive Director, Office of Nursing Services; Executive Director, Office of Community Medicine; Director General, Strategic Policy, Planning and Analysis; Director General, Business Planning and Management; Director, Research Coordination and Special Projects; Senior Advisor, Issues Management; eight Regional Directors; Special Advisor, Risk Management; and Chief Executive Advisor, First Nations and Inuit Relations.

Specific functions of the positions reporting to the Director General, Primary Health Care and Public Health, are as follows:

Director, Primary Health Care, (staff of 51) is responsible for consulting, analysis, planning, development and agreement on policies, models, accountability frameworks, capacities and other requirements for integrated, accessible and quality delivery of primary health care and public health services and systems and programs (primary care services; home and community care; health information infrastructure; First Nations health system reforms and alternative models; e-Health Solutions; best practices and alternatives in Canada and internationally; and the health of human resources, including bursary and scholarship programs) to First Nations and Inuit populations.

Director, Communicable Disease Control, (staff of 15) is responsible for directing and managing medical and health surveillance, as well as risk assessment of infectious diseases, with particular focus on tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, to help First Nations and Inuit communities and populations address health inequalities and disease threats.

Director, Environmental Health, (staff of 20) is responsible for planning and developing strategies, initiatives and programs, in partnership with First Nations and Inuit communities, to promote and sustain healthy environments. Programs range from the Mould and Housing Program and the Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Program to training, advice and support to the regions in the management and delivery of various programs, including the Transport of Dangerous Goods, sewage and waste disposal, food inspection, pest control and Indoor Air Quality.

Director, Environmental Research, (staff of 21) is responsible for conducting, coordinating and funding laboratory and biostatistical services and scientific research into environmental health and contaminants issues that have an impact on First Nations and Inuit communities, as well as for promoting sustainable development involving fuel storage tank operations, air, water, soil, and country food.

Dental Unit (staff of 5) and Pharmacy Unit (staff of 3), in which each professional area is responsible for program and policy development in its area of expertise; for providing professional advice and specific evaluation of client services; and for providing advice to national associations, regulatory bodies and other areas within the Department on First Nations and Inuit dental and pharmacology needs.

Nature And Scope

The Department's mission is to help the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Its mandate, underpinned by a solid information and knowledge base, covers three broad areas: national health policy and systems, including health care; health promotion and protection, including disease, illness and injury prevention; and First Nations and Inuit health.

The First Nations and Inuit Branch ensures the availability of or access to health services for First Nations and Inuit communities; helps First Nations and Inuit communities address health barriers and disease threats and attain health levels comparable to those of other Canadians living in similar locations; and builds strong partnerships with First Nations and Inuit populations to improve the health system.

The Director General oversees the development and implementation of a national integrated policy framework for the provision of primary health care and public health services to First Nations and Inuit communities and individuals. First Nations and Inuit access to provincial health services, and the delivery of those services by the Branch regions to isolated or other communities where provincial services are not available is provided by primary health care and public health. That access includes hospitals, health facilities, nursing stations and emergency and community medicine. It also involves home and community care for a unique clientele with special needs, whose relationship with all levels of government continues to evolve in a complex and politically sensitive environment, and whose health care and public health services are complicated by a myriad of factors, including small isolated communities, diverse and unique cultures, high disease trends (both chronic and communicable) and environmental challenges (contaminants, water, housing).

The Director General provides federal leadership in negotiating agreements and partnerships to shift the focus of primary health care and public health programs and services to a delivery approach based on active, joint participation with First Nations and Inuit partners to meet the specific needs of their populations and communities. A major challenge for the incumbent is to lead the creation of national accountability and collaboration frameworks for the delivery of integrated and continuous primary health care and public health services, including the development of strong partnerships with other federal departments, provinces, health professionals and their organizations, and the many levels of First Nations and Inuit representation and organization.

The Director General oversees the development and improvement of specific programs and policies for the prevention, control and management of communicable diseases and diseases linked to environmental factors. The incumbent manages medical and health surveillance, as well as risk assessment; directs scientific research into communicable disease prevention and management in indigenous or isolated populations; and develops national programs and policies for immunization, communicable disease prevention and management, and health promotion and protection, spanning treatment protocols and guidelines; rehabilitation and support; health information and surveillance; initial trends in population health and risk assessment; health promotion; health protection; and disease prevention.

Another challenge facing the Director General is the continuous development and delivery of innovative health information systems that enhance health surveillance and services. The incumbent provides authoritative advice on proposed investments in new technologies for hospitals, health facilities and equipment, and health information systems.

The Director General ensures the provision of specialist expertise and authoritative advice on pharmacy and dental issues, and the championing of new policy, program and resource requirements to enhance quality programs and service delivery to First Nations and Inuit populations.

The Director General provides advice to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Directors and other departmental managers on primary health care, public health, and communicable disease and environmental health issues relating to First Nations and Inuit communities, and ensures that programs, policies and frameworks related to primary health care and public health address regional, First Nations and Inuit sensitivities, needs and issues. The incumbent consults extensively to ensure that national policies, programs and frameworks are aligned with overall national priorities, including those specific to Aboriginal concerns (such as the Gathering Strength initiative) or health concerns (such as the Wellness Agency, Health System Renewal), as well as other federal or departmental initiatives.

The Director General establishes and supports national multi-jurisdictional committees for the collaborative development and management of primary health care and public health. The incumbent is involved in federal interdepartmental committees and advocates new policies and programs to improve health for First Nations and Inuit clients. The incumbent also participates in major conferences, committees and meetings with other multi-jurisdictional and international organizations involved with the health of Aboriginal peoples.

Specific Accountabilities

1. Oversees the national development, implementation and improvement of programs and policies for the prevention, control and management of infection and environmental diseases to help First Nations and Inuit communities and individuals address health issues and disease threats.
2. Leads the creation of national accountability and collaboration frameworks for the delivery of integrated and continuous systems for primary health care and public health services to improve or sustain health of First Nations and Inuit populations throughout Canada.
3. Represents the Department as the primary federal representative in matters of primary health care and occasionally of public health services in negotiations for binding agreements, collaborations and partnerships with First Nations and Inuit organizations and with other levels of government in Canada to develop a delivery approach based on active, joint participation.
4. Leads the development and delivery of innovative health information systems and other technology-enabling capabilities to continuously enhance health surveillance, systems and services.
5. Sets priorities and oversees laboratory operations, initial surveillance of the health of First Nations and Inuit populations, and contaminant and other research to develop evidence for improvement of national programs.
6. Ensures that Directorate strategies, policy and program leadership, operations and other activities address regional, First Nations and Inuit sensitivities, needs and issues and are also aligned with relevant overall national priorities, including those specific to Aboriginal concerns, health concerns or federal or departmental initiatives.

Evaluation Rationale

Director General, Primary Health Care and Public Health

Know-How

G

Mastery of legislation, policy and programs related to primary health care and public health services; in-depth professional knowledge of First Nations and Inuit culture, traditions, practices, philosophy and organizations involved in primary health care; and in-depth professional knowledge of mandates, programs, services, objectives and priorities of provincial and territorial health services, and the interrelationships between multiple levels of government and community partners in order to develop integrated policies, frameworks and systems to meet First Nations and Inuit health needs.

III

Operational and conceptual management of national accountability and collaboration frameworks for the delivery of an integrated and geographically consistent standard of health care services through joint participation with First Nations and Inuit partners, provincial health service providers or Branch regions in isolated or other communities where provincial services are not available.

3

Successful achievement of objectives requires the incumbent to develop cooperative and trusting relationships with multiple stakeholders and partners to support collaborative development, management and delivery of primary health care and public health services to First Nations and Inuit communities and individuals.

700

Mid-range number reflects the depth of specialized knowledge and the solid managerial skill needed to provide federal leadership in reaching agreements and forming partnerships across multiple jurisdictions in order to ensure that the broad range of health needs of First Nations and Inuit communities are addressed.

Problem Solving / Thinking

F

Thinking within broadly defined policies and objectives in situations where First Nations and Inuit relationships with government are evolving.

4

Analytical, interpretative, evaluative and constructive thinking is required to lead the creation of national accountability and collaboration frameworks and to develop and improve specific national programs and policies. Programs and policies complement and support the Department's mandate and the government's health priorities, as well as other federal or departmental initiatives.

(57) 400

Solid percentage reflects the challenges associated with developing support, across all levels of government and the many levels of First Nations and Inuit representation and organization, to refocus programs and services on a delivery approach based on active, joint participation with First Nations and Inuit partners.

Accountability / Decision Making

F

Reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, the incumbent receives general direction in the development of policies and frameworks.

3P

Primary impact on the activities of the Directorate. The proxy selected to represent these activities is the Directorate budget of $4.6 million (constant).

460

High number reflects the latitude of the position in developing agreements and partnerships with multiple jurisdictions that advance the Department's mandate to ensure that health services are available and accessible to First Nations and Inuit populations.

Summary

Figure: 7 – B – 1 - Text version

Benchmark Number: 7 – B – 1

Director General, Primary Health Care And Public Health

The subject position is at the second managerial level reporting to the Assistant Deputy Minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, and there are 18 peer positions at the same reporting level.

Reporting to the Director General, Primary Health Care and Public Health are 4 Directors, 1

Dental Unit and 1 Pharmacy Unit

Linear organisation chart:

Assistant Deputy Minister, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch

• Director General, Non-Insured Health Benefits
• Director General, General Community Programs
• Executive Director Office of Nursing Services
• Executive Director, Office of Community Medicine
• Director General, Strategic Policy, Planning and Analysis
• Director General, Business Planning and Management
• Director, Research Coordination and Special Projects
• Senior Advisor, Issues Management
• 8 Regional Directors
• Special Advisor, Risk Management
• Chief Executive Advisor, First Nations and Inuit Relations
• Director General, Primary Health Care and Public Health
  • 4 Directors for :
    • Primary Health Care
    • Communicable Disease Control
    • Environmental Health
    • Environmental Research
  • Dental Unit
  • Pharmacy Unit