Woven Blanket Model of Care

The “Woven Blanket Model of Care” reinforces a client focused approach and recognizes that clients can determine who are their helpers in their care and can include professionals, SKHC team members and volunteers, other community services and friends and families.

The SKHC community offers a unique opportunity for Aboriginal people to connect with other families and community members in an urban context. The broader community offers endless benefits for individuals and families to support them in their development.

In this model of care, team members have flexible roles so they can “cross cover” and “back up” others when required so when a client’s principal provider or any other team member is away, another provider from our team will fill in. This prevents a client from being “orphaned” should their principal provider cease practicing.

Similar to other primary care models, clients have a principal primary care provider (e.g. nurse practitioner, physician assistant or physician), but there are no “my clients” or “your clients,” only “our” team. The Centre’s Traditional and Four Directions Mental Wellness Programs are essential components of the team, ensuring that clients and families receive holistic and comprehensive care.

Unique to the Woven Blanket model are the “Client Navigators”.  In addition to coordinating an individual’s care, they are the “point people” for communication and advocacy.

The “Principal Providers” and other team members are resources to be called on by the Navigators. Regular team meetings, involving the Traditional, Four Directions Mental Wellness and the Clinical Programs, are conducted in a case management fashion. Priority cases will be discussed in the circle of care thereby allowing team members to become aware of the issues and to offer their unique resources and suggestions.

Most significantly, the Woven Blanket model offers a culturally safe environment that respects traditional values and embraces an individual’s unique needs within the context of their family and community. Similar to other primary care models, clients have a principal primary care provider (e.g. nurse practitioner, physician assistant or physician), but there are no “my patients” or “your patients,” only “our” team. The Centre’s Traditional and Mental Health Programs are essential components of the team, ensuring that patients and families receive holistic and comprehensive care.

Unique to the Woven Blanket model are the “Navigators” assigned to each team. In addition to coordinating an individual’s care, they are the “point people” for communication and advocacy.