At a time when healthcare facilities across the territory are facing staffing shortages, the BVI Health Services Authority has hired a consultant to undertake a comprehensive compensation review and job reclassification exercise.
The contract for the project, which the BVIHSA said will help ensure its workers receive competitive wages, was awarded to Ernst & Young Cayman Ltd. after a competitive bidding process, the agency announced last week.
“With Ernst & Young Cayman Ltd. now on board, we are setting the stage for long-overdue improvements that will directly benefit our hardworking staff,” said BVIHSA Board Chairman Ron Potter. “This is a vote of confidence in them and in the future of our healthcare system.”
Review plans
The project will include a detailed analysis of up to 100 job roles, extensive stakeholder consultations, and “benchmarking” across five to eight comparable health institutions, according to the BVIHSA.
Expected outcomes include updated job descriptions, a revised organisational chart, a compensation structure “aligned with market standards and inflation,” and management policy recommendations, the agency stated.
The consultant is expected to lead the review based on “clearly defined evaluation criteria” and international best practices, according to the BVIHSA.
“This project represents a pivotal moment in our evolution as a healthcare organisation,” said Dr. June Samuel, the BVIHSA’s acting CEO.
“We know that our people are our greatest assets, and this review is about honouring their contributions by creating an environment that recognises performance, supports professional growth, and reflects the realities of the modern job market.”
Leaders
The initiative will be led by Cerena Mitchell, associate partner for consulting at Ernst & Young Cayman Ltd.
In heading the project, Ms. Mitchell will coordinate with BVIHSA Human Resources Manager Dierdra Wheatley and Deputy HR Manager Kishma Chalwell-Williams, the agency stated.
The BVIHSA promised to ensure transparency by communicating closely with staff during the exercise and providing “clear timelines” for the review process.
The BVIHSA, however, did not provide a timeline for the review in its June 30 announcement, and it did not respond to the Beacon’s request for one.
The agency also did not respond to a request for the cost of the Ernst & Young contract and the number of other bidders.
British Caribbean News
