The province has established a registry of care aids and community health workers aimed at protecting the public and providing basic standards of care for seniors.
All care aids and health workers working at publicly-funded facilities in B.C. will be required to register with the B.C. Care Aid and Community Health Worker registry, which is believed to be the first of its kind in Canada.
While most care aids and health workers work at facilities that are publicly funded or partially publicly funded, registration is optional for their counterparts at privately funded facilities. But the industry is recommending that everyone register, regardless of where they work.
Care aids and community health workers have until April 28 to register and be able to maintain their current employment. Those registering after April 28 must demonstrate that they have the required knowledge and patient-care skills before they can work at another publicly funded employer.
With the registry, employers will be required to report any alleged patient abuse to the registry when the employee is suspended or terminated. Anyone with a record could have their registration revoked and their ability to be employed in a publicly funded facility curtailed.
Once fully operational, the registry might incorporate other features, including assessments of internationally educated care aids and community health workers and information on jobs and educational opportunities for registrants.
The province is also working with educational institutions to standardize care aid and community health worker education in B.C.