Ben Gooch

Background

About Ben Gooch

With over 10 years’ progressive experience in healthcare leadership roles, I’ve developed a comprehensive knowledge of Community Support Services and Social Enterprise. In my current role as Regional Director, I’m charged with promoting excellence in treatment, rehabilitation, and support to a wide variety of community programs that support people with physical disabilities, brain injuries, dementia, and mental illness. I’m charged developing and enhancing partnerships with other programs, sub-programs, and external community agencies in order to continually improve service coordination, timely access to high level quality care, and an integrated continuum of services for individuals served within the region. I'm also Chair of the Hospital’s Operations Committee that ensuring collaboration, awareness and understanding across Providence Care’s community, hospital and long term care home’s operations. Prior to this role, I managed Providence Care’s Vocational Rehabilitation Program (VHP) where I led and implemented major projects and initiatives. Structured as social enterprise, the program has to generate sufficient revenues to offset all operating expenses and payroll to clients (the key indicator of the program’s success). My business acumen, innovation, and creative energy resulted in a 154% increase to revenues and 169% increase to payroll to clients. During my tenure, the program earned record profits for five consecutive years that could be reinvested in order to continually support expansion. While also heading the corporation’s business development, I was responsible for ensuring the program’s finances, operations, marketing, human resources, and programmatic strategies were developed and effectively implemented. I developed strong synergistic and strategic relationships with community partners, generated and implemented sound business plans, negotiated skillfully, and ensured compliance with all relevant regulations and legislation. Prior to that I worked in Labour Relations where I was able to expertly navigate a variety of complex issues and resolve conflicts efficiently and diplomatically. My integrity, demonstrated leadership, and interpersonal skills allowed me to build trusting relationships with union leaders and improve organizational outcomes – without ever compromising the organization’s bargaining position. During my tenure, I oversaw major organizational restructuring initiatives, led change management sessions, and was the hospital’s Chief Negotiator through three rounds of collective bargaining.