HCA Care Activities Chart and HCA Decision Making Tool
A BC Health Care Assistant (HCA) Care Activities Chart and HCA Decision Making Tool have been developed as resources for HCAs and others who want to understand more about the role of HCAs in BC. The HCA Care Activities Chart lists care activities that BC HCAs may be expected to perform as part of their duties. It also specifies care activities taught within in the Health Care Assistant Program Provincial Curriculum and categorizes care activities as tasks or restricted activities. The HCA Decision Making Tool has been developed as a resource to support HCAs to make decisions about performing or assisting with activities of daily living to support client independence and optimal functioning. These tools have been posted to the Resources and Educator webpages of the Registry website.
Opportunity with Inspire Global Assessments
Inspire Global Assessments, formerly known as the Nursing Community Assessment Service (NCAS), is looking for participants to be part of setting the performance standards for the HCA assessment. This is a unique opportunity to help set the performance levels for the HCA assessment. The task: To share feedback on the content of an HCA assessment alongside other subject matter experts. Participants will receive training on standard-setting tools and activities, evaluate HCA performance and establish estimates of performance levels. Feedback will help to improve the assessment for future candidates. When: HCA standard setting will be conducted in person on July 3rd and 4th from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm at the Inspire offices in Vancouver. To be eligible, standard-setting participants must meet the following criteria: Possess up-to-date role registration from any of the following fields: HCA, LPN, RN, or RPN. Be currently employed as an HCA, or HCA educator/researcher/employer/supervisor. Demonstrate HCA experience, including work with IENs and recent graduates from Canadian institutions, in the three years preceding the standard-setting exercise. Possess strong knowledge of entry-level competencies corresponding to the represented role (HCA). Be available to participate in the in-person activity scheduled for July 3–4, 2024, in Vancouver. For IEN participants, have completed an Inspire assessment within the last two years, undergone transitional education, and obtained registration for the represented role in the standard-setting exercise. *Volunteer contribution will be acknowledged with a participation letter detailing the training received and the techniques used to set performance standards. Interested? Complete this form Inspire Standard Setting Survey to apply. Email assessmentdevelopment@inspireassessments.org if you have any questions about this opportunity. News & Information
BC Health Care Assistant Program Recognition – Seeking Appointees for Appeals Review Panel
The Health Employers Association of British Columbia (HEABC) is seeking volunteer appointees for a standing Health Care Assistant Program Recognition Appeal Review Panel (ARP). To improve the standards of health care assistant (HCA) education programs in British Columbia, the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry (the Registry) administers the HCA program recognition process. Educational institutions that do not meet provincial standards and have their recognition status withdrawn may submit an appeal (HCA Program Recognition Guide (2023) page 36). Minimum Qualifications for Appointees Candidates must have a minimum of 3 years of work experience in one of the following fields: health care, administration and/or post-secondary education. Candidates must be BC residents. Other criteria are indicated within the application form. The ARP will meet virtually to review appeals. Application Form To express your interest, please complete and return this form by email to Registry.Appeals@heabc.bc.ca on or before August 15, 2024. Please also attach your resume/CV. For each appeal, ARP appointees will: · Review appeal decisions in the interest of administrative fairness. · Maintain the confidentiality of information received. · Commit approximately 12-16 hours over a defined period (e.g., 45 calendar days) once or twice a year. For each appeal, ARP appointees will rotate as chair with functions including: · Convening meetings. · Contacting the Registry and the appellant to collect pertinent information related to the appeal. · Preparing and communicating the ARP decision to relevant parties. · Maintaining the confidentiality of information received. Further Information To learn more about the Registry process for reviewing and recognizing BC Health Care Assistant Programs, visit Educators – BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry (cachwr.bc.ca) A list of recognized BC HCA Programs can be found here: HCA Programs in BC – CareAide BC (cachwr.bc.ca) News & Information
Health Care Assistant Survey
BC health care assistants are invited to participate in the Choose2Care survey. By completing the survey, you’ll have the chance to win a $100 gift card! The goal is to gauge awareness of bursaries and services available for health care assistants in BC, delve into the motivations behind HCA career choices, and create materials for future campaigns. Direct link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6DFC5HD You are encouraged to complete the online survey by May 28, 2024. Thank you for your contribution!
National Care Aide Survey – Health Canada
BC health care assistants are invited to participate in a national research study. The focus of this study is to examine the role, scope, and function of health care assistants in various care settings in Canada. Direct Link here: https://focuspointconsulting.ca/ You are encouraged to complete the online survey and share your voice to this important work. News & Information
Temporary Emergency Registration (TER) for Nursing Students ends January 31, 2024
In spring 2020 to assist with COVID-19 pandemic efforts, the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry (the Registry) established temporary emergency registration (TER) for nursing students to register as Health Care Assistants (HCAs). The TER registration category will end on January 31, 2024. Temporary emergency registrants (TER registrants) who wish to continue with HCA employment in a publicly funded setting, must move to full registration status on the Registry before TER registration expires on January 31, 2024. There are two (2) Options to move to full registration status (dependent on registrant’s individual circumstances) before January 31, 2024. There is no cost for either Option. Further information can be found in the Official Announcement and FAQ. Please view the Official Announcement and FAQ here News & Information
Access to Practical Nursing Education Incentive Bursary
January 05, 2023 On August 23, 2022, the Ministry of Health (MoH) announced the Access to Practical Nursing Education Incentive Bursary. This bursary is for students and recent graduates enrolled in a recognized Access to Practical Nursing (APN) program at a BC-based public institution. The APN program is a unique career laddering program for Health Care Assistants (HCAs) wishing to train as Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). The APN program allows students to apply training and experience garnered as an HCA to accelerate their training as an LPN. Incentivizing HCAs to enroll in this program will help to retain HCAs in BC’s public health system and to expedite the number of LPNs available to support more immediate LPN staffing needs. This bursary will be paid in equal installments each semester to new students, as a one-time payment to recent graduates, or as a combination of these two payment methods for mid-stream students, to a total of $10,000. For more information, click here News & Information
Health Care Assistant Day 2022
October 03, 2022 October 18, 2022 marks Health Care Assistant Day in BC. Join us in celebrating and recognizing all Health Care Assistants in your community this year, to show our appreciation for their hard work and dedication to our health care system.Health Care Assistants make a tremendous difference in our lives and this annual event has been recognized by unions, educators and employers. Health Care Assistant Day was first officially proclaimed in 2011 by the BC Provincial Government. Health Care Assistants may have many different job titles including Community Health Worker, Residential Care Aide, Home Support Worker, Long-Term Care Aide, Home Health Aide, Continuing Care Assistant, and Personal Care Aide. The one thing all Health Care Assistants in BC have in common is that they provide frontline personal care and assistance services to vulnerable patients, clients and residents. Please take the time on Health Care Assistant Day (October 18, 2022) to recognize and thank Health Care Assistants across British Columbia! Download the Proclamation here. News & Information
COVID-19 Announcements
Information on this page is outdated. Please review RECENT NEWS ITEM POSTED HERE: Temporary Emergency Registration (TER) for Nursing Students ends January 31, 2024 – CareAide BC (cachwr.bc.ca). June 14, 2022 As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry (The Registry) will continue to send emails directly to those impacted by updates and to those applicants with questions. All updates and announcements will be consolidated on this webpage; please check back on a regular basis for updated information. TEMP registrants who have not yet met nursing coursework requirements for full registration as HCAs will be provided with an opportunity to transition to full HCA registration through a time-limited alternate process. Temporary Emergency Registration status for the student nurse category is in effect to support COVID-19 pandemic efforts. Temporary Emergency Registration will be automatically extended as long as the public health emergency related to COVID-19 remains in effect. When the public health emergency related to COVID-19 is declared over, the registration of nursing students holding Temporary Emergency Registration will automatically expire after 30 days. The alternate process must be initiated by TEMP registrants themselves and, as part of the alternate process, their employers have a role. When the public health emergency is declared over, detailed information about this alternate transition process will be published on this webpage and information will also be emailed to all TEMP registrants. The alternate process will cease to exist 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is declared over, at which time regular application requirements for nursing students will be in effect. Interim Registration Measures and Updates for Educators The Registry is aware that COVID-19 has further increased the demand for Health Care Assistants (HCAs). The Registry’s top priority at the time is to process applications and register HCAs. To remove barriers during this challenging time, the Registry has implemented a number of interim measures to support registration. BC HCA Program Graduate Registration The Registry will: Accept unofficial transcripts temporarily (subject to full verification at a later date) Online application here. Please see further information Specific Updates for BC HCA Program Education Programs. Important Note: BC HCA program graduate applicants must provide evidence of program completion. Incomplete transcripts indicating the HCA program is still in progress are not accepted. Transcripts must show final grades assigned for all required HCA courses. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Nursing Student Registration – Fully meet the established Registry criteria The Registry will: Accept unofficial transcripts, temporarily (subject to full verification at a later date) Waive the character reference letter requirement (students may attach the mandatory post secondary competency reference letter twice). See Appendix 1 Nursing Student Programs – Coursework for Full HCA Registration. Temporary Emergency Registration – Nursing StudentsTemporary Emergency Registration will be automatically extended as long as the public health emergency related to COVID-19 remains in effect. When the public health emergency related to COVID-19 is declared over, the registration of nursing students holding Temporary Emergency Registration will automatically expire after 30 days. For nursing program students who do not meet established coursework criteria for full registration, temporary registration will be possible for nursing students who apply online and provide evidence of successful completion of a minimum of one semester of foundational nursing coursework, with: Completion of a nursing skills course (including personal care skills lab practice and assessment) Supervised clinical experience in long term care and/or acute care setting (subject to program competency verification) A Nursing Program Administrator (e.g., Coordinator, Assistant Dean, Dean) must provide students with a competency reference letter that follows the Student Competency Letter Template. Online application here. IMPORTANT: To transition from temporary registration status to full registration status, you must provide evidence of completion of nursing program coursework as per Appendix 1 Nursing Student Programs – Coursework. Please send to register@cachwr.bc.ca or send a message with attached documentation in your online Registry account. Specific Updates for BC Health Care Assistant Education Programs As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, the Registry is aware of and is monitoring the impact on Health Care Assistant (HCA) education programs, faculty and students, and we want to extend our support as needed. Update – September 3, 2021 The Registry has implemented a Temporary Framework for Remote HCA Program Compliance Reassessment for recognized HCA programs. Use of this temporary framework has been extended until further notice due to COVID-19. In response to the Provincial Health Officer’s directive to educational institutions, health authorities and/or practice education placement sites, HCA programs may be required to move to virtual instruction or to cancel classes, labs and/or student practice placements. Recognized HCA programs are asked to be in contact with the Registry regarding any changes to program delivery, including but not limited to the following: Remote learning (e.g. moving to offer courses online or via videoconference, etc.) Practice education placements (e.g., interrupted or cancelled placements, etc.) One time funded programs (e.g., delayed or interrupted, etc.) Temporary program suspensions (e.g. due to closure of a campus, etc.) Delays and/or cancellations to regularly scheduled program intakes HCA programs will be responsible for documenting modifications made to programs during the pandemic emergency period, including changes in access to practice education placements and alternate methods of course delivery. The Registry may request reporting on these adjustments as part of the education program review process or as verification that new graduates have met requirements for registration. Modification to address these extenuating circumstances are permitted in the short term for the duration of the pandemic only and not precedent-setting or to become permanent changes to the program. In the event that the pandemic continues long term, additional requirements may be set. The Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) may set additional requirements. For more information or to report changes to your program, please email Education@cachwr.bc.ca. For further reference, please view: COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus – Provincial Health Officer Orders and Noticeshttps://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/current-health-topics/covid-19-novel-coronavirus *Original news article publish date: April 6th, 2021 News & Information
Health Care Assistant Opportunities for Internationally Educated Nurses
February 03, 2022 Health Match BC is hosting an interactive webinar for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) interested in the Health Care Assistant (HCA) profession in BC. The webinar event will be held on February 10, 2022. For more information and to register, go to: IEN Webinar – Choose2Care.ca – BC Health Care Assistants News & Information