Joint Personnel Support Unit Core Functions -
A Smorgasborg of Services

With the recent stand-up of the Canadian Forces Joint Personnel Support Unit (CFJPSU) and the thirty Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs) - the first of which opened in Edmonton - wounded, injured and ill CF members, their families and veterans have a new administrative support structure that is designed to be integrated and individual centric.

The aim of the JPSU is to improve the coordination and facilitation of the delivery of standardized, high quality, seamless consistent care while wounded, injured and ill CF members reintegrate into military or civilian life and employment. The JPSU is the umbrella unit with regional HQs, and the Unit Identification Code to which the wounded, injured and ill are posted. The IPSC is where they report to and receive the services.

The idea behind the JPSU and their IPSCs is that wounded, injured and ill CF members need only to go to one place to receive access to all the services that are available to them in their recovery and rehabilitation. In other words, it's a "one-stop service" smorgasbord and it’s composed of five core DND/CF functions:

Return to Work (RTW) Coordination RTW Coordinators employed at all major IPSC locations where the population supports a dedicated staff, look at all available options to a wounded, injured or ill soldier to put him back to work as quickly as his condition will allow. This may include such activities as modifying the soldier's work hours or seeking new employment opportunities for the soldier in a different trade. At IPSC locations where there is no dedicated RTW Coordinator, protocols have been put in place to ensure that RTW coordination functions are provided through the nearest IPSC where those services are available.

Casualty Support Outreach Delivery IPSCs have been set up co-located on Bases where most of those who expect to benefit from the services are present, but some CF members who require IPSC services are located in remote locations such as in the case of some Reserve and Ranger units or retired members. To this end, the Outreach delivery coordinator position is responsible for reaching out to these CF and veteran members and ensuring that without exception the same form of support and information is available to all regardless of location.

Casualty Tracking There is currently no national system to ensure that all wounded, injured and ill members, both serving and those who have been released are followed to make certain that their needs are being met. The JPSU Casualty Tracking Coordinator's function is to maintain contact with the injured or ill member until such a time as the member returns to duty, is released medically and is capable of living independently or has expressed that he no longer requires the support being offered.

Casualty Administrative and Advocacy Services Bases/Wings support the JPSU and IPSCs in their respective locations by providing Unit Records System (URS) services. The Base/Wing URS provides support primarily in Release Administration, pay and records support, claims settlement, and access to Royal LePage relocation services.

Support Platoon The JPSU and IPSCs employ military personnel to provide leadership for those posted to the unit. While the structure of IPSC platoons differs at each Base/Wing dependent on the number of injured and ill personnel posted to the unit, most platoons are commanded by a Captain and consist of a Platoon Warrant Office and a Section Sergeant. The personnel posted to the JPSU and receiving services at their IPSC may be organized in separate platoons or sections based on their participation in either RTW program, recovery or transition. Platoon Commanders are responsible for liaising with the Director Military Careers Career Manager for injured members, the injured members themselves, and with the injured members' unit chain of command.

In addition to the five core DND/CF functions there is a group of Service Partners to which the JPSU/IPSC connects. These include:

• Veterans Affairs Canada Client and Transition Services
• CF Case Management services
• SISIP services
• Director Military Family Support Services
• Personnel Support Program (PSP) that manages "Soldier On" - a joint Canadian Paralympics Committee and DND initiative designed to enhance the quality of life of injured soldiers (and veterans) through sports.

"The services offered through the IPSCs are designed to provide a full range of support to wounded, injured and ill CF members, Regular and Reserve, and their families," said Brigadier-General Mike Jorgensen, Commander Land Force Western Area/Joint Task Force West. "The whole idea is that there is an equitable and consistent level of care and support regardless of environment or geographical location. In other words, under this new program CF members across the nation will receive the same excellent level of care."

Story by: Captain Lena Angell, LFWA Public Affairs