Canada More Workers Tender

Staff shortages are a recurring issue in the long-term care sector. Continuing care students Amy Lake and Bryce MacDow are part of the solution.They are two of 18 CBBC Career College students currently working in a long-term care facility under the Provinces new tuition support and work-and-learn programs for continuing care assistants.This program has changed my life says Lake. It is an amazing opportunity to be able to learn and work in a supportive caring facility. This opportunity has given me the ability to further my education without financial concern and stress on my family.Lake and MacDow work two days a week providing care to residents at Dykeland Lodge in Windsor and attend classes the other three days.Learning in the classroom and on the job has been amazing says MacDow. It has given me the confidence I need to perform my duties for residents who I know and together we share a bond. Helping residents and giving them the best possible care makes me happy and confident in my abilities.More help for the long-term care sector is on the way. By early March almost 80 people will be working in long-term care facilities under the tuition support and work-and-learn programs for continuing care assistants helping to reduce some of the staffing pressures in the sector.The programs are part of the Provinces 57 million investment in the continuing care sector announced in December. It includes 22 million to cover tuition costs for more than 2000 full- or part-time students. Under the work-and-learn program students are paid and learn in a hands-on way.We are taking action to make a career in continuing care more attractive and accessible to ensure Nova Scotians have the care they need as they age says Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams. There are now several ways people can train to become a continuing care assistant so students can choose the option that works best for them. These programs remove barriers and give more people the chance to enter the workforce.A clearer picture of the workforce will be available soon through the mandatory Continuing Care Assistants Registry which opened today February 2. All continuing care assistants working in the field are required to register to give the government and sector a better understanding of the workforce to help plan recruitment and retention efforts. It is also open to those who have training but are not actively employed in the field.The Continuing Care Assistants Registry Act was proclaimed and came into effect today.QuotesThis program is attracting people who want a meaningful career to enter the workforce sooner because of their on-the-job experience. Well hire most of the students with other nursing homes happily offering them employment. There is huge need for continuing care assistants in our sector. The students will help to ease the workload of our dedicated staff now. This important initiative demonstrates to our staff that we are committed to providing quality care by ensuring staff have the help they need so they can take some much-needed time off.Krista Beeler CEO Dykeland Lodge WindsorSince the Province announced this exciting training initiative hundreds of students have expressed interest in becoming a continuing care assistant. This will ensure hundreds of new graduates will enter the employment market in the next 12 months. Nursing homes hospitals and home care organizations have all expressed overwhelming interest in hiring continuing care assistants. I would encourage anyone thinking about this career to connect with the college and take advantage of this exciting opportunity.Henry Devlin President and CEO CBBC Career CollegeWere pleased about this announcement. The registry will help us understand how many continuing care assistants there are in the province and where in the province recruitment efforts are most needed. Continuing care assistants are the backbone of long-term care and a registry will help to recognize this as the important profession it is inside the health system.Dana Power Regional Director Operations Enhanced Care Nova Scotia Shannex Inc.