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…
Delegates at the BC Continuing Care Collaborative identified that B.C.’s rural and remote regions face unique challenges with respect to attracting and retaining their health care workforce. Many delegates noted that it is difficult to attract workers to rural and remote regions without significant financial incentivise, as workers face significant affordability challenges due to a lack of rental housing and child care options.
One solution, however, may be to train more workers locally. Though there are few training programs for Health Care Aides (HCAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) outside of urban areas in B.C., creating satellite training centres may solve this problem.
Satellite training centres would be developed as partnerships between post-secondary institutions and employers, thus allowing workers to obtain hands on training in their local community. Though some examples of this model already exist within B.C., delegates at the B.C. Continuing Care Collaborative identified a need to replicate and expand this model across the province.
Recommendations:
- Create collaborations between post-secondary institutions and continuing care employers to deliver hands-on training through satellite training centres.
- Expand the number of program seats available in rural/remote areas of B.C., including by partnering with Aboriginal communities to train workers locally.
Watch for upcoming previews at bccare.ca of The Perfect Storm report, to be released April 12th.
