January 23, 2017

The FIQ received confirmation today that the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) is dropping the initial evaluation (pretest) in order to comply with the spirit of Letter of Understanding No. 6.

Remember that, last October, during a presentation of the deployment of the assessment of the physical and mental condition of the user training program, and more specifically, on the initial evaluation (pretest), the MSSS talked about a process where the participants must submit to two evaluations. The reasons given were very laudable insofar as the first evaluation would allow either, an exemption of certain nurses or even to target the training modules necessary for completing the knowledge or skills of the members of the FIQ, and secondly, measure the effects of this training.

Since its implementation, we have even found several problems linked to the initial evaluation (pretest). The process is not attaining the objectives stipulated in the letter of understanding, because it does not allow an employee to be exempt from the training. It also does not allow the employee to specify her specific training needs to her superior.

Faced with this finding, the FIQ had taken the decision to no longer endorse the approach recommended by the MSSS, because it completely distorts this operation and is demanding that the MSSS drop the initial evaluation (pretest). However, the FIQ did reiterate their commitment to the training program as to its content and proposed form (25 hours, including 4 hours of content on video and 21 hours of coaching) as presented by the MSSS last October.

For more information, the members of the FIQ are invited to contact their local union team.