Health Education Grants

Supporting continuous learning for VCH North Shore staff

Hospital Staff Hub

Health Education Grants

Lions Gate Hospital Foundation recognizes the importance of continuous learning to the success of both individual employees and to Vancouver Coastal Health as a whole. Lions Gate Hospital Foundation has a number of education funds to encourage and support VCH North Shore staff in their educational endeavours. These special funds were created with a dual purpose: to support staff in achieving their educational and professional goals to add value to the organization. Please check out the options available below.

staff education fund

This general fund  is open to Full and Part-Time North Shore VCH Employees who meet the required criteria. 

Apply for a Grant

allied health staff education fund for neurological rehabilitation

This specialized fund  is open to Full and Part-Time Allied Health Staff who work in neurological rehabilitation. 

Apply for a Grant

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to access these funds?
  • All regular full-time employees who have worked for a minimum of one year within publicly funded health care facilities on the North Shore (e.g. Cedarview, Kiwanis Care Centre, Lions Gate Hospital, etc.)
  • Casual or part-time employees who have worked for the equivalent of one full-time year (1950 hours) and worked 350 hours within the last year in publicly funded health care facilities on the North Shore.
  • *Applicants of the Allied Health Staff Education Fund for Neurological Rehabilitation must have worked in the field of Neuro Rehab (inpatient or outpatient setting) or have demonstrated interests in working towards specializing in the field of Neuro Rehab.

This fund supports VCH North Shore employees who are seeking:

  • Professional development. For example, conferences, seminars or courses related to their current job/role in the organization. *For the Allied Health Education Fund for Neurological Rehabilitation this would apply specifically in the field of neurological rehabilitation.
  • To expand their career options in health care in the VCH North Shore. For example, skill upgrading from LPN to RN, or Home Support Worker to Medical Office Assistant – through post-secondary education courses or programs. *For the Allied Health Education Fund for Neurological Rehabilitation this would be to expand their career options in healthcare at LGH in the field of neurological rehabilitation in either inpatient or outpatient. (For example, specialized neuro courses to improve their handling skills with patients with stroke or Parkinson’s disease.)
  • To expand their academic qualifications related to a health care career in VCH North Shore. For example, obtaining a bachelor’s, master’s or Ph.D. degree (*Staff Education Fund ONLY)

1. STAFF EDUCATION FUND

  • A maximum of up to $1,000 a year to support professional development such as conferences, seminars, workshops, or diploma programs. The fund will support 50% of the conference or the course registration fee dependent on available funds.
  • A maximum of up to $2,000 a year can be applied for towards a University degree – either an Undergraduate or Masters Degree. The fund will support 50% of the registration fee dependent on available funds up to a maximum of $8,000 per degree. Please note: VCH staff sponsored in the MALD program (Masters of Arts in Leadership and Development) at Royal Roads University will not be eligible for the staff education fund.

 

2. ALLIED HEALTH STAFF EDUCATION FUND FOR NEUROLGICAL REHABILTATION

  •  A maximum of up to $2,000 every two years to support professional development such as courses, conferences, seminars, or workshops.

 

Books, travel, accommodation, examination/certification fees, annual registration fees, memberships, licensing fees, and lost wages are not eligible for funding. The minimum grant to be considered is $50. Funds may be taxable; a T4A will be issued by VCH at year end.

  • If you resign from the organization within two years of receiving funding, you must refund the grant in full.
  • Your manager must approve your funding request.
  • You are expected to share your learning in one or more of the following ways: a workshop, presentation or in-service for colleagues; a written report for distribution to interested colleagues; a commitment to coach others in the organization;
  • All fee receipts as well as confirmation of course completion must be submitted within one month of completion of semester, course, workshop, etc.
  • You should apply WITHIN THREE MONTHS of attending or completing an education program/event. Funds will not be granted more than THREE MONTHS RETROACTIVELY.

Further funding requests will not be processed without this documentation.

  • Manager’s signature on the application.
  • Copy of course details should be included with your application.
  • Proof of registration should be included with your application form or within one month of course start date.
  • Proof of payment should be included with your application form or within one month of course start date. Once your proof of payment is received in the Foundation office, a cheque will be issued.
  • Proof of completion documents must be submitted within one month of completion of course(s) or event or at the end of each session of a degree program.
  • Please ensure home address and employee number are on the application form.

A committee with representation from the Foundation, from Programs and from Support Services meets quarterly on the 2nd Thursday of March, June, September, and December.

All applicants will be notified within two weeks of the Advisory Committee meetings of the status of their request. You will be advised as to what date your cheque will be available from the Foundation office at Lions Gate Hospital. When should I submit my application?

  • You should APPLY WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF ATTENDING or completing an education program/event.
  • You may apply for an upcoming course (starting within three months of application. In this case, once the funding request has been approved, receipt of documentation showing registration and payment must be received in order to access the funds.
  • Funds will NOT be granted more than THREE MONTHS RETROACTIVELY.
  • Please have application in to the Foundation office at least two weeks before the committee meets.
  • Deadlines for applications will be posted on the Foundation display wall and in the elevators.

Printed application forms are available in the Learning & Development offices, in union offices, at posting boards and in the Foundation office at Lions Gate Hospital. You can also download a PDF document of the forms by clicking the buttons above.

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