Funding from the Canada-BC Labour Market Partnership (LMP) will support a collaboration with the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development to implement a province-wide strategy that will assess labour shortages in the seniors' care sector and inform strategies to address them.
"Health care has been identified by senior levels of government as one of the top job-creation sectors of the BC economy," said BCCPA President Christine Nidd. "By taking action to address the skills shortage in our sector, we focus on creating much-needed jobs in the future while improving the quality of seniors' care in BC."
BCCPA established the provincial BC Cares initiative in 2008 with support from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Advanced Education, 20 public and accredited private BC colleges, Student Aid BC and local health authorities. In addition to promoting awareness of employment opportunities in seniors' care, student assistance was offered to qualifying participants.
A recent analysis of health authority operated seniors' residential care facilities in BC indicates a potential shortage of LPNs and care aides in the coming years. These projections do not include home support services or independent contracted care providers. The new provincial labour forecast is attached and available at a special web-site that has been established for the project at www.bccares.ca. It will be updated over the coming year as the project committee's work progresses.
BCCPA will receive over $300,000 from the LMP to build on the momentum of the 2008-2009 BC Cares seniors care aide enrolment initiative. The new project will include:
- comprehensive labour analysis of the non-profit & private residential seniors' care and home support sector
- development of an information campaign & career promotional materials
- enhanced focus on opportunities for Aboriginal communities, youth, new Canadians and families impacted by the current economic downturn
- establishment of a seniors' care human resources committee of government representatives, employers, educators and care providers
- inventory of financial aid programs for eligible students
- development of strategic plan to help address skills shortage in BC seniors' care sector beyond 2010
- outreach to BC health care & advanced education stakeholders
"This investment will ensure the labour needs of independent contracted care providers can be considered by the province in future human resource and education decisions. This is a first," said BCCPA CEO Ed Helfrich. "The decision to build on the momentum of BC Cares is also an example of how we can renew our seniors' care partnership in BC through constructive collaboration between government and care providers."
BCCPA has represented health care leaders in BC for over 30 years. BCCPA members employ more than 7,000 people. They care for over 10,000 seniors each day in residential care and an additional 4,000 each year through home support.
