Earlier this year, BC Care Providers Association hosted the 2nd Annual BC Continuing Care Collaborative in partnership with the BC Ministry of Health, bringing together over 170 stakeholders from across the continuing care sector. The day-long dialogue focused on how we will train, recruit and retain the next generation of continuing care workers. We have prepared a special report based upon the input of our delegates entitled “The Perfect Storm: A Health Human Resources Crisis in Seniors Care”, which will be released mid-April. The following post is a preview of that report…
Many stakeholders at the BC Continuing Care Collaborative identified that recruiting health care aides (HCAs) from other jurisdictions should be a key strategy to boost recruitment.
While international students are eager to enroll in Canadian health care programs, they face barriers to entry. International HCAs graduating from private career colleges are ineligible for post-graduate work permits, thus preventing them from using their credentials in Canada after they graduate.
If this policy was amended it could potentially increase the supply of HCA students by hundreds or even thousands each year. As PGWPs are a federal responsibility, advocacy on this issue will require a pan-Canada approach.
Internationally educated health care workers also face barriers when entering the workforce in Canada. HCAs from other countries must have their credentials certified through B.C.’s Nursing Community Assessment Services (NCAS), a process that can take several months.
“Expanding the Nursing Community Assessment Service to regions beyond Metro Vancouver would greatly improve access for workers and accelerate the recruitment process.”
Subsidizing the cost of the assessment would also increase access, as many international workers lack the funds to undertake a time-consuming and costly certification processes.
Recommendations:
- Expand the post graduate work permit to the HCA program in British Columbia to enhance the recruitment of international students into HCA programs.
- Ensure that qualified HCAs, LPNs, and RNs from other jurisdictions have timely access to the Nursing Committee Assessment Service by expanding services to regions outside of Metro Vancouver and providing government subsidies to cover costs.
Watch for upcoming previews at bccare.ca of The Perfect Storm report, to be released April 12th.
