INITIATIVES AND TARGETS
The Council has identified 10 key initiatives that will advance our strategic priorities in 2021. Each of these initiatives will be advanced throughout the year, with the targets due to be completed by the end of Q4 2021.
DEVELOP A BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND DATA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Objective:
Develop a Business Intelligence and Data Management Plan.
Outcome:
The Council’s capacity to collect and analyze data will expand with the development and implementation of this plan, enabling better measurement and monitoring of both the Council’s and the system’s performance and helping internal and external stakeholders utilize risk-based decision making.
Targets:
- Conduct a current state assessment of the Council’s information and technology systems.
- Develop a Business Intelligence Plan by the end of 2021, including key performance indicators, metrics, and program-level outcomes.
Metrics for Success:
- A completed business intelligence plan.
ALBERTA SAFETY CODES AUTHORITY FEE REVIEW
Objective:
Engage stakeholders in reviewing and restructuring the ASCA fee schedule.
Outcome:
The fee schedule will be simplified to reduce red tape for permit holders and contracted agencies, providing greater clarity and ease of use around ASCA’s fees.
Targets:
- Complete stakeholder engagement process.
- Develop a draft fee schedule.
- Implement new fee schedule by end of Q1 2022.
Metrics for Success:
- Customer satisfaction survey: ASCA regularly surveys permit holders on services received.
- Once the simplified fee schedule is implemented, permit holders will be surveyed to indicate whether the new permit fee schedule provides greater clarity.
STORAGE TANK SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
Objective:
Use feedback gathered from regulatory representatives and tank owners and operators in the stakeholder engagement process to make improvements to storage tank permitting and inspections services. Included in this process is the research and development of educational materials and resources to assist clients in the operation of storage tank systems.
Outcome:
Storage tank permitting and inspection services in unaccredited areas of the province will be streamlined and standardized for consistency of client services. Tank owners and operators will have adequate resources for the proper operation of their systems.
Targets:
- Communicate identified priorities for improvement and enhancements to stakeholders.
- Standardize requirements for storage tank inspections.
- Develop storage tank system education materials and resources for owners and operators.
- Survey stakeholders to confirm intended outcomes of system improvements and enhancements by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Reduced turnaround times for permit applications.
- Satisfaction survey: The Council will continue to survey clients and stakeholders in order to determine the effectiveness of services and establish further opportunities for improvement.
- Educational materials posted to the web will be monitored for engagement in order to determine whether resources are reaching their intended audience.
INDIGENOUS SCO STUDENT BURSARY
Note: This was an initiative identified in the 2020 plan. While some bursary funding was awarded in 2020, the program development was delayed due to COVID-19. The bursary will be officially launched in 2021 including an online application process.
Objective:
Launch the Indigenous SCO Student Bursary, review applications, and award funding to successful candidates.
Outcome:
This bursary will reduce barriers for Indigenous individuals completing their SCO certification and increase the capacity of Indigenous communities to provide safety services to their residents. Supporting SCO certification in these communities also provides economic development opportunities, as individuals will be qualified to work in safety services throughout the province or form an agency in their own community.
Targets:
- Launch first official intake of bursary applications. Review applications and award funding by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Stakeholder engagement: the Council will work with the individuals and communities selected for this bursary to ensure that the bursary is effective in reducing barriers and increasing safety service capacity.
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Objective:
Partner with government and stakeholders to create accurate, relevant, and sustainable ways for the public to find information on the safety codes system.
Outcome:
This program will improve access to resources for a broad range of stakeholders and system users while strengthening relationships with our partners through engagement and information sharing.
Targets:
- Identify stakeholders and current publicly available resources.
- Engage stakeholders, create an information-sharing plan, and begin implementation.
Metrics for Success:
- Analytics: Track webpage views and engagement on social media posts in order to determine whether the information is reaching its audience.
- Successful partnerships with government and industry will produce sustainable information-sharing opportunities that will drive an increase in content available to the public.
CONTINUING EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
Note: This initiative began in 2018. The Council has developed four workshops including variances and plans review workshops in 2020.
Objective:
Develop two continuing education workshops by the end of 2021.
Outcome:
These continuing education workshops will address stakeholder demand and respond to emerging system needs in order to provide SCOs and other safety codes system professionals with actionable information to update skills and increase knowledge.
Targets:
- Based on the topics identified through the results of the SCO Competency Profile project, complete the development of two workshops by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Satisfaction surveys: participants in workshops are surveyed on their satisfaction with the materials and the workshop’s relevance to their profession.
- A successful workshop will have registration numbers that remain high through multiple offerings.
CURRICULUM MODERNIZATION
Objective:
Develop a framework for reviewing and evaluating options to update and modernize the Council’s SCO curriculum and develop a plan to update base competency courses.
Outcome:
Curriculum modernization will help to attract more individuals to choose SCO certification as a career path, increasing system capacity. A focus of the modernized curriculum will be outcomes-based training, strengthening common understandings of roles and responsibilities, codes and standards, and the broader system, resulting in higher regulatory consistency.
Targets:
- Validate competency profiles and discuss educational needs with stakeholders and system users.
- Develop a curriculum review framework outlining principles, outcomes, and methodology for determining curriculum for generic and discipline-specific courses.
- Complete plan to address base competency courses by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Stakeholder engagement: The Council will engage affected stakeholders and system users throughout the curriculum modernization process to ensure that programs continue to be delivered effectively and in a manner that addresses identified issues.
VIDEO LEARNING SERIES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
Note: This initiative began in 2020 with the development of two videos, “What is the Safety Codes Council?” and “Codes, Standards and the Sub-Councils.” The series will continue to grow based on needs identified by stakeholders.
Objective:
Develop two educational videos to address commonly asked questions by the public and external stakeholders.
Outcome:
These videos will provide an accessible platform for a broad range of stakeholders to learn about the role of the Council and the benefits of the system as a whole.
Targets:
- Complete a video, “Who Are Safety Codes Officers,” and post to our website by the end of 2021.
- Complete a video, “What is the Value of a Permit,” and post to our website by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Analytics: Page views, click rates, and engagements will be tracked continuously to determine the effectiveness of individual videos.
- Additional feedback will be gathered through web comments as well as stakeholder engagement.
NEW SUB-COUNCILS
Note: This will be the last step in the completion of the governance review that began in 2017. Timing was delayed due to the postponement of the 2020 AGM.
Objective:
Create the Electrical Utilities and the Private Sewage Disposal Systems sub-councils to assume a formal advisory role in their disciplines. These sub-councils will also develop and continuously update the Alberta Electrical Utility Code and the Alberta Private Sewage Disposal System Standard of Practice.
Outcome:
Creating sub-councils for these two specific disciplines will reduce a layer of administration, as they currently exist as working groups that must present their work to their respective sub-councils to make any recommendations. Their sub-council status will also provide more transparency through governance best practices and align Alberta with other provincial recommending bodies.
Targets:
- Develop membership matrices for the Electrical Utilities and Private Sewage Disposal Systems sub-councils.
- Fill the seats of the Electrical Utilities and Private Sewage Disposal Systems sub-councils by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Member satisfaction survey: the Council surveys sub-council members annually to determine the effectiveness of sub-council meetings and identify opportunities for further improvement.
MASTER ELECTRICIAN PROGRAM REVIEW
Objective:
Conduct a review of the Master Electrician Program in consultation with stakeholders.
Outcome:
This review will provide the opportunity to identify performance-based outcomes of the program as well as improve services for clients.
Targets:
- Create a Master Electrician Program Review Working Group.
- Summarize findings identified through the working group and identify improvements to make to the Master Electrician Program by the end of 2021.
Metrics for Success:
- Stakeholder engagement: The Council will engage affected stakeholders and system users throughout the Master Electrician Program review in order to identify improvements and ensure that all improvements are instituted effectively.