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The Member agencies in the Specialized Clinical DS Network have been called upon to provide clinical expertise in the development and/or evaluation of programs; currently the SCDSN as a whole is engaged in a project that combines the Journey to Belonging guiding principle of Improving Quality and Accountability and the Developmental Services Workforce Strategy Framework focus on growing a stable workforce, enhance skills and training, and advance professionalism in the sector.  The DS Workforce Initiative identified a need to develop a more skilled, diverse and professional workforce.  The Specialized Clinical DS Network (SCDSN) submitted a Proposal to  the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services as part of the Workforce Strategy work with the sector. 

The SCDSN Proposal aims to strengthen the Developmental Services (DS) sector by implementing a skills-based acquisition model focused on diverse clinical delivery options. This initiative is designed to build capacity within the DS sector to better support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who were designated as Alternate Level of Care (ALC) in hospital settings and transitioned into the community.

The project includes a multi-pronged strategy aimed at building sustainable capacity within the Developmental Services (DS) sector.

Stream One – building skills and increasing confidence

A series of 4 pre-recorded virtual education modules were created and uploaded to the RealXchange designed to build clinical competencies and confidence in DS staff to support individuals with DD/ALC designation and complex needs in community settings.

Stream Two – Communities of Practice

Virtual Community of Practice (CoP) meeting are scheduled between September 2026 and May 2027 to foster peer learning, mentorship, and cross-agency collaboration.

Stream Three –  Alternate Level of Care Collaborative Clinic

Professionals selected for this Expression of Interest will work in a consultation clinic to provide strategic guidance and targeted in-person training or regional workshops to complement the virtual learnings.

During this phase of the project the Communities of Practice are being finalized and a Call for Expressions of Interest for Clinical Professionals for the Collaborative Clinics has gone out.

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