How to Become a Care Partner
Are you currently or have you recently been a patient, resident, or a family member, care provider, or friend of a patient or resident at St. Joseph’s? If so, we invite you to join us as a care partner.
Getting started is simple:
- Fill out the intake form. Complete the intake form to share your interests and experiences. This helps us match you to opportunities that align with your passions.
- Participate in Orientation. We provide all the training and support you need, so even if you’re new to this, you’ll feel confident and prepared.
Need help with the form? We're here for you! Call us at 519-646-6100 x45621 or email @email for assistance.
What happens after you fill out your intake form?
A member of St. Joseph’s Care Partnership Office team will contact you to set-up a time for orientation and answer any questions you may have.
Care Partner Orientation
All new Care Partners will be introduced to the supports of the Care Partnership Office through a formal orientation. Orientation topics include:
- Overview of St. Joseph’s mission, vision and values
- Privacy and confidentially
- Review of opportunities to participate in
- Safety information such as what to do if there is an emergency when you are in the building
- Expectations of both the Care Partner and the Care Partnership Office
Placement matching
Care Partners are matched to initiatives based on interest of the person and the types of participation requests received by the office. The process for matching is as follows:
1. Request for Care Partner received
2. Care Partner interests/preferences considered
3. Care Partners matched for initiative
4. Care Partner participation requested
5. Care Partner oriented for initiative
What projects and initiatives can Care Partners participate in?
As a Care Partner, you will be matched to participate in various projects and initiatives based on your interests and experience. You can participate as little or as much as you wish. We have many options for Care Partners to participate in, from giving input remotely on occasion, to being a part of a project working group or council that connects regularly.
Care partner roles can be in:
Storytelling: Share your health care experiences with at St. Joseph’s. Stories may be shared in print, video, or in-person presentations.
Quality Improvement Initiatives: This can include participating in focus groups, co-design events and working groups.
Committees/Councils: Serve on a variety of different councils/committees such as:
- Patient/Family Advisory Council at Parkwood Institute Main Building
- Patient/Family Council at St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Family Advisory Council for Finch Family Mental Health Care Building (Parkwood Institute)
- Mount Hope Residents Council
- Mount Hope Family Council
- Veterans' Council
Research initiatives through Lawson Health Research Institute: Serve as review panel members on research projects. Work with specific research teams to provide feedback on research projects.
*Additional training will be provided for this role.
Hiring Panel: Participate in the hiring and selection of staff with Human Resources and associated units. *Additional training will be provided for this role.
Care Partners will have regular communication, education and support from the Care Partnership Office team for the duration of their role with St. Joseph’s.
To learn more about Care Partnership at St. Joseph’s, view the Care Partnership at St. Joseph's video.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of projects have Care Partners participated in?
Organizational Change
- Capital Master Plan Project: Thirty care partners contributed essential input during the planning process, helping define our long-term vision for healthcare services and facility needs over the next 5 to 25 years. Their perspectives ensured alignment with both community and hospital goals.
- Statement of Patient, Resident and Family Values: Care partners participated in focus groups to analyze feedback from approximately 200 patients, residents, and family members across five sites. This process helped ensure that our values, originally developed in 2018, remain relevant and meaningful.
- In both projects, care partners were actively involved in steering committees, shaping decisions at every stage.
Quality Improvement
Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Education: A team of five care partners developed educational content on infection prevention and control, which has been shared with patients, residents, and families organization-wide.
Storytelling
- Care partners inspire and connect through storytelling at events like Breakfast of Champions, Social Workday, Seasons of Celebration etc. These stories leave a lasting impact on staff, community members, and healthcare planning.
Research Projects: Care partners collaborate with research teams at the Parkwood Institute Research and Lawson Research Institute, working to enhance the effectiveness and impact of research projects.
Hiring Panels: Trained care partners serve on hiring panels, asking thoughtful questions and offering feedback that helps hiring managers select the best candidates for St. Joseph’s.
Patient and Family Councils: There are seven patient and family councils across the organization that address ongoing challenges and ensure patient and family perspectives are central to our work.
What is the difference between a care partner and a volunteer?
Care Partners | Volunteers |
| Share their story. Talk about their health care experiences with clinicians, staff and other patients | Aid patients and visitors with hospital information and way finding |
| Complete surveys/questionnaires | Work in the library |
| Engage in the planning and development of different information and educational materials | Help with special events |
| Partner with staff on working groups/focus groups to improve services across the organization | Visit residents and patients |
| Serve on a variety of different councils/committees | Complete clerical work |
| Serve as review panel members in the selection of research projects and work with specific research teams to provide feedback on research projects | Help with sales at a variety of shops: Clothing shop, Gift shop, Lottery booth and sunset Variety |
| Partner in the process to recruit and hire staff at St. Joseph's | Have community placements |
| Help at information desks | |
| Work as information escorts |
What questions should I consider when deciding to become a care partner?
Are you interested in improving the quality of the care we provide in your community?
Could you provide insight and ideas based on your experience within health care?
Are you at a place in your health or care giving journey that you could provide appropriate input/feedback to move work forward?
If so, then being a care partner might be right for you. Reach out to the Care Partnership Office to find out more.
What qualities do care partners have?
- A passion for enhancing the health care experience for patients and families
- The ability to share insights and information about their past experiences to help evolve programs, services and hospital priorities
- A good listener
- Respect other people’s opinions and perspectives
- The ability to share your thoughts and opinions in a group setting
- Being open to seeing beyond your own personal experiences to contribute constructively
- Being open to working with others whose backgrounds, experiences and styles may be different than your own
Will I be paid for being a care partner?
Care partner roles are non-paid volunteer roles.