Certification Program

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

Online Training for Healthcare & Long Term Care Housekeeping Managers and Supervisors.

About The Course

Acquire all the practical, technical management and leadership skills necessary to manage the overall operation of a Housekeeping/Environmental Services Department within a hospital or long term care facility.

The Canadian Healthcare Housekeepers’ Association Inc (CHHA)  in partnership with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), developed the Environmental Services Leadership Program.  

The educational prerequisite of minimum grade 12.

Time Commitment

Students can successfully progress through the program and complete it within the allotted time frame of twelve months. With the program being self-paced, there is no mandatory timeline for completing the deliverables.

We would estimate that 4-5 hours of study per week would be required. Please allow mentors a two week turnaround to grade your assignments, but you may still proceed to the next module.

Mentor Support

The Canadian Healthcare Housekeepers’ Association Inc. (CHHA) was formed in 1957. Our members are dedicated to the advancement of healthcare housekeeping as an integral member of the healthcare team caring for patients, residents and visitors in healthcare facilities.

All enrolled students are provided a dedicated mentor to offer one-on-one coaching and support while completing the Environmental Leadership Program.

Course Outline

Expand fields below to explore course content.

  • Sample of an Organizational Chart
  • Environmental Services Responsibilities
  • EVS Leadership Program-Guidelines to Source Properly
  • CHHA Academic Integrity
  • CHHA Rubric
  • Course Acknowledgement
  • Introduction Assignment
  • Recruiting
  • The Pre-Employment Interview
  • Hiring
  • Job Descriptions
  • Criteria-Based Performance Appraisal
  • The Performance Appraisal Interview
  • Problem-Solving
  • The Problem Employee
  • Helping the Problem Employee
  • Absenteeism
  • What is Labour Relations?
  • Labour Relations Terms
  • Labour Legislation
  • Management Rights
  • Constructive Discipline of Employees
  • Disciplinary Meetings
  • The Warning Letter – A Framework
  • Controlling Absenteeism
  • Administration of the Collective Agreement
  • Grievance Procedure
  • Co-operation
  • Housekeeping Staff
  • Patients
  • Behaviours
  • Hearing Impaired Patients
  • Communicating with Patients who are Hearing Impaired
  • Communicating with Speech Impaired Patients
  • Patients with Dementia, Alzheimer’s or Potentially Aggressive Behaviour
  • Patients’ Rights and Confidentiality
  • Guidelines for Protecting Patient Confidentiality
  • The Patients’ Bill of Rights
  • Rights Related to the Housekeeping Department
  • Comprehensive Inventory of the Institution
  • Comprehensive Inventory of the Institution
  • Housekeeping Cleaning Responsibilities by Work Task
  • Work Task Frequencies
  • Work Study
  • Task Assignment Sheets
  • Standard Time for a Work Task and/or Work Element
  • Fatigue Allowance
  • Work Study Report
  • Work Study Data Achievements
  • Work Frequencies
  • Staffing
  • Full-Time Equivalent (F.T.E) Calculations
  • Scheduling Staff to Job Assignments
  • Scheduling
  • Samples of Cyclical Scheduling
  • Computerization
  • The Chain of Infection
  • Routine Practices
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Sharps Disposal
  • Patient Care Equipment
  • Waste Handling
  • Additional Precautions
  • Contact Precautions
  • Droplet Precautions
  • Airborne Precautions
  • Important Considerations when cleaning an isolation room
  • Cleaning and Disinfection
  • Spaulding System
  • Cleaning Agents
  • Factors Affecting Cleaning
  • Equipment
  • Procedures, Policies and Schedules
  • Horizontal & High Touch Surfaces
  • Strategies for Cleaning Spills of Blood and Body Fluids
  • Healthy Workplace Practices
  • Understanding Cause
  • Principles of Prevention
  • Legislation and Standards
  • Incident reporting and Investigation
  • Workplace Inspections
  • Hazardous Substances Control Program
  • Occupational Ergonomics
  • Occupational Health
  • Training
  • Policy and Procedure
  • Emergency Planning
  • Definition of Policy, Procedure and Safe Operating Procedure and Guideline
  • Policies
  • Procedures
  • Summary
  • Healthcare Waste Management
  • Waste Streams/Type of Waste
  • Biological Infectious Waste (Biomedical)
  • Collection and Storage of Chemicals
  • Labeling of Hazardous Waste Containers
  • Storage of Waste
  • Internal Transport of Waste
  • External Transport of Waste
  • Process for Incorrect Disposal
  • Equipment Evaluation and Procurement
  • The Written Proposal/Business Plan to Your Supervisor
  • Time Estimates for Cleaning Operations
  • Equipment, Supplies, and Services
  • Purchasing Guides
  • General Recommendations
  • Contract Services
  • Environmental Services/Housekeeping Storage
  • Guidelines
  • Contracted Linen Services
  • Determining Tasks
  • Establishing Hours of Operation
  • Selection/Sizing Equipment
  • Infection Control and the Laundry
  • Systems Acquisitions
  • Space Requirements
  • Utility and Energy Needs
  • Staffing and Productivity
  • Maintenance of Systems
  • Textile Requirements
  • General Cost Guidelines
  • Recommendations for Linen and Laundry Operations
  • Source of Water Impurities
  • Changing Characteristics of Water
  • The Wash Process
  • Detergents
  • Alkalinity and Power of Hydrogen (ph)
  • Chemical Safety
  • Contracting Out Services
  • Glossary of Common Terms
  • Infection Control Recommendations
  • Waste/Linen Collection
  • Specialty Areas in Healthcare Facilities
  • General Cleaning Procedures – Cleaning Efficiently
  • Special Considerations
  • Procedure for Cleaning of Additional Precaution Rooms
  • Appendices and Sample Procedures
  • Risk Management Plan and Processes
  • Risk Identification
  • Risk Assessment, Evaluation, Analysis
  • Risk Treatment and Control
  • Evaluation/Monitoring
  • Indicators
  • General Guiding Principles
  • Fire Prevention and Protection
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Sharps Disposal
  • Reporting Deficiencies – It’s Everyone’s Responsibility
  • Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Systems (HVAC)
  • Water systems
  • Construction, Renovation, Maintenance and Design (CRMD)
  • The Multi-Skilled Worker
  • Budgets and the Budget Process
  • Budget Process at the Department Level
  • Supplies and Other Expenses
  • Planning and Control
  • Control Process
  • Capital Budget
  • Budget Approval
  • Analyzing and Reporting Variances
  • Summary

Course F.A.Q's

Expand fields below to get answers to common questions.

Yes, some facilities recognized the importance of the course and are making CHHA courses mandatory.

Quizzes are only knowledge checks and do not have any weighting on your final mark. If you want to redo quizzes, for Knowledge check, you can. Assignments however represent 75% of your final grade and are tallied after writing the course exam at the end. There are five assignments per Module, each worth 20 points.

When you start an assignment questions, you’ll be presented with a text box. You must answer the assignment through this text box for the system to acknowledge your response. If you are un able to use the text box provided, please write “Sent to Mentor” in the text box, submit and email the assignment to your assigned mentor for grading. This way they can still record your mark in the system and you’re able to advance through the course for the time being.

Yes, the course is designed in a manner that is easy to understand. The intention is that everyone will be successful. Help is always available.

No, there are 4 blocks in the course. These blocks are set up to ensure learners understanding of the content and allow mentors to review submissions. These blocks happen at the end of the following modules, once the final assignment of that module has been submitted:

  • Housekeeping Methodology
  • Policies, Procedures, Safe Operating Procedures and Guidelines
  • Laundry Services
  • Operating Budget

Once your mentor has marked your assignments you’ll gain access to the next modules or final exam. Please allow up to 2 weeks for your mentor to complete marking.

Once you have logged in, click in the “Courses” link on the site menu and select “My Course Progress” to view your profile page. Here you’ll see courses you are enrolled in and be able to expand the section to show your results and certificate. When your Mentor has marked your assignments, you will receive an e-mail from the system with a link, providing your marks and any comments they provided. You must be logged in to open the link.

 

Completion Criteria

The criteria for completion of the Environmental Services Leadership Program is based on 65 assignments, 13 quizzes and a final exam. A certificate of completion is issued to participants who successfully complete all required components of the program and score 80% or higher overall.

Registration
Fee: $1575.00. + HST

Payment Method
Payment can be made by Credit Card with a processing fee, Cheque or EFT payments are also accepted without processing fees.

Registration Confirmation
Upon successful registration you will receive a confirmation email with your login information, within 5 business days, you’ll receive your introduction package and assigned mentor.

Refunds
CHHA offers refunds up to 30 days after purchase. A administration fee will apply to offset processing costs on all refunds.

Have a question you would like to ask?

We are available to answer any questions you may have and encourage you to contact us through email or phone at your convenience.

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