Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee

1 Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-20160 | PageOffice of the Public Guardian and Trustee 2015-2016 Annual Report For more information, contact: Barb Martini Executive Director/ Public Trustee Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Human Services 4th FL John E Brownlee Building 10365 97 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3Z8 Public inquiries telephone line: 1-877-427-4525 (toll-free in Alberta) Electronic versions of this document are available at: Copyright 2016, the Crown in Right of the Province of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Human Services. You are encouraged to use the information in this publication, with only a few conditions. Please see the Open Government Licence ( ). Summer 2016 ISBN 978-1-4601-2966-1 (print) ISBN 978-1-4601-2967-8 (PDF) ISSN 2371-2651 (print) ISSN 2371-266X (online) Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 1 | Page Table of Contents Letter of transmittal.

2 3 Executive Director / Public Trustee s message .. 4 Context .. 5 Who we are .. 6 Our strategic direction (2016-2021) .. 7 What we do .. 8 Performance .. 11 Influences and accomplishments .. 12 Performance measures .. 15 Financial information .. 22 Independent auditor s report .. 26 Financial statements .. 27 Appendix: Study 54 Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 2 | Page Letter of transmittal June 30, 2016 The Honourable Irfan Sabir Minister of Human Services Dear Sir: I have the pleasure of delivering to you the first Annual Report of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee . This report covers the period April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Yours truly, [Original signed by Barb Martini] _____ Barb Martini Executive Director / Public Trustee Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 3 | Page Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 4 | Page Executive Director / Public Trustee s message It is an honour to present the Annual Report for the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) for the period of April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

3 Only two short years ago, the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Office of the Public Trustee (OPT) merged to become one. For decades, we had operated as two distinct programs within separate ministries. I am proud of what our staff has accomplished. Together, we achieved a high level of client service while re-engineering the way we deliver service. We made major strides integrating guardianship and trusteeship services in 2015-2016. With client needs front and centre, we challenged ourselves to reorganize the way we deliver and measure service. We held a strategic planning session with staff from across the province where we developed new goals and priorities. We piloted a position with blended responsibilities for guardianship and trusteeship in the Central Region, which we will be introducing throughout the province. We also redistributed represented adult files so that all OPGT reps will have more contact with clients.

4 From policy, procedures and process to the new website content, today s OPGT is new. It takes courage, vision and a great deal of energy to manifest this degree of change. I express my sincere thanks to the 288 dedicated staff across our province. Our journey has just begun. Change takes time but the path we have chosen is the right one. It aligns not only with government s direction towards integrated service delivery and increased accountability, but also with our first-hand knowledge of what is best for our clients. They are the reason we come to work each day. We know in our hearts that the foundation we are creating today will have a real and long lasting impact on their lives. This is the first time the OPGT has published an annual report. This report enables us to provide more information about our goals and the progress we have made in reaching them. It is also a reflection of the work we have been doing for the past three years to address the Office of the Auditor General recommendations, which are aimed at strengthening our systems, and increasing accountability and transparency.

5 As I think about what we accomplished this year and where we are headed, I am excited about the future for our clients and our staff. [Original signed by Barb Martini] _____ Barb Martini Executive Director / Public Trustee Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 5 | Page Context Who we areOur Ministry The Ministry of Human Services works to improve quality of life for Albertans by delivering respectful, adaptive supports and innovative, prevention focused programs and policy. The OPGT is part of the Community Services & Supports Division. Our values The OPGT embraces Alberta Public Service values of: xRespect xAccountability xIntegrity xExcellence Our mission The OPGT provides supports and services to vulnerable Albertans by: xprotecting and advocating for individuals who are unable to make personal and financial decisions for themselves; xproviding legal guardianship to represented adults making decisions regarding health care, where to live, with whom to associate, social activities, education, employment and non-financial legal proceedings; xadministering the property of represented adults, minor children and deceased persons and; xproviding information, education and support to the Public , private guardians and private trustees.

6 Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 6 | Page Our strategic direction (2016-2021) In November of 2015, 70 OPGT staff from across the province met to determine the future direction of the organization. Below are the goals and priorities against which OPGT will measure and report on its achievements in the 2016-2017 Annual Report. Our vision Create a province where all Albertans can achieve personal autonomy, live with dignity and maximize their potential. The OPGT will work with others to provide excellent, proactive, timely and respectful service to vulnerable children, adults, families of deceased Albertans and all Albertans. Our goal The OPGT is an innovative, integrated organization that exceeds client and staff expectations and encourages all Albertans to plan for the future so they maintain as much dignity and autonomy as possible throughout their life.

7 Our priorities and objectives Priority 1: Integrate service delivery xObjective 1: Provide regionalized service throughout Alberta. xObjective 2: Develop an integrated IT system. xObjective 3: Create consistent service delivery models for represented adults, managing deceased estates and the needs of official Guardian clients. xObjective 4: Develop a clear path of accountability for all services. Priority 2: Be a leader in advance planning xObjective 1: Establish innovative partnerships that promote advance planning. xObjective 2: Develop financial literacy resources for minors/young adults. Priority 3: Be an employer of choice xObjective 1: Create a culture of excellence and appreciation that attracts and retains highly talented and committed people. xObjective 2: Ensure clear service delivery standards and expectations. Priority 4: Regroup and recharge xObjective 1: Invest in partnerships, technology and education aimed at finding efficiencies, delivering quality service and effectively managing workload.

8 XObjective 2: Work with staff to identify new processes and streamline existing ones. Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 7 | Page What we do Advance planning OPGT believes in the power of advance planning. By writing a personal directive, an enduring power of attorney and a will, adult Albertans can choose the person(s) they would like to make decisions on their behalf. OPGT is proud to work with community partners like Alberta Health Services and the Legal Education Society of Alberta to encourage people to plan ahead. Guardianship and trusteeship The OPGT acts as the court-appointed Public Guardian and/or Trustee for more than 6,300 adult Albertans who have no one else to make decisions on their behalf. We also provide advice and guidance to the 10,000 Albertans who act as private guardians or trustees for their loved ones.

9 When a friend or family member decides to become a Guardian or Trustee , they submit a formal application package, which the OPGT reviews before it goes to court. This includes conducting reference checks on a prospective Guardian or Trustee , meeting with the adult to inform them of their rights and gather their views on the application, notifying relevant parties of the application and, preparing a report for the court. In 2015-2016, we reviewed 2,500 applications. In addition to guardianship and trusteeship, there are other options to assist adults who would benefit from decision-making support. The OPGT helps people learn about the options available ( informal trusteeship, co-decision-making, supported decision-making and specific decision-making, etc.) and make choices that best support the adult s independence. For people who have difficulty managing their AISH or CPP financial benefits each month, the OPGT offers a voluntary program to help them budget and pay their bills.

10 Some of the options, like specific decision-making (short-term health or placement/ discharge decisions) and psychiatric treatment decisions under the Mental Health Act, require a time-sensitive decision. The OPGT acts as decision-maker of last resort if a family is unwilling or unable to do so. In 2015-2016, we made 268 decisions of this nature. The OPGT also acts as agent (decision-maker) for adult Albertans who have named them in their personal directive, provided the OPGT agrees in advance to accept the role. In 2015-2016, that number totalled 140. Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-2016 8 | Page Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee Annual Report 2015-20169 | PageOfOfOOfOOfififififfcecececceccooooff fthththeeeePuPPuPuuublblblblicicicicGGGG G uuuauaardrdrdddddddiaaiaiaiaiaiiannnnnnn nanaananandddddddTrTrTrTrTrususususuttet eteeteeeeAnAnAnAnnAnnunnununalalalalRRRR eeepepepepepepooororoorortttt20202020002 001511515155551----2022169 9 99 999|||||PPaPaPaPaPaPagegeeegInvestigatio ns Most decision-making arrangements work well but if there are concerns, the OPGT investigates complaints that a Guardian , Trustee or an agent may be causing harm to the adult they represent.