An investigation into Janeway Psychiatry Unit J4D programs and services

AN INVESTIGATION INTO JANEWAY PSYCHIATRY UNIT J4D PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFICE OF THE CHILD AND YOUTH ADVOCATE PROVINCE OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR MARCH 2010 As the voice for the rights of children and youth in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, it is both the role and the desire of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA) to ensure that a child’s right to the enjoyment of the h [...] The OCYA hopes to assist the mental health staff of this Province in providing the best available treatment possible to the children and youth of Newfoundland and Labrador and is, therefore, proposing the following recommendations: Recommendation #1 THAT Eastern Health revise policies so that they are relevant to the patient population it serves. [...] If the primary nurse is unable to attend, the responsibility falls to the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) and the nurse in charge of the patient on that particular day. [...] The remainder of this Report will focus on the issues raised by patients, families and staff that led to the closure of J4D and the calling of this Investigation. [...] While we understand that the extreme levels of acuity on the Unit intensified the desire to maintain the safety of all persons, the inconsistency of the practice resulted in confusion and hostility between families and staff.