What is BC Cares?

BC Cares is a program that was designed by the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) in 2007 to recruit care aides into the growing seniors care sector. Initially developed as a pilot with the Fraser Health Authority, BC Cares became a province-wide initiative in 2009-2009.

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News

Results: BC Home Care Labour Market Analysis

One year ago, the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) received over $300,000 from the BC government to develop a comprehensive labour market strategy for the 'non-health authority' seniors care sector. Over the course of the year that has followed, the home care has emerged as an initial priority for this BC Cares project.

Among other things, a just-completed analysis of independent BC home care providers has concluded that half the BC home care workforce is comprised of casual workers and more than half of the employers surveyed expressed concerns about their future ability to retain these workers in the sector. This new analysis compliments three other reports that have been released this year regarding seniors care labour market, including:

BCCPA CEO Ed Helfrich said, "Our Association has been meeting with BC home care leaders and health officials to review the forecast data and develop recommendations to address these and other challenges facing the home support sector. A complete HR strategy will be released early in the New Year that will include a wide variety of recommendations to help ensure a sustainable supply of home care workers, residential care aides and LPNs for the coming decade.

Here is a summary of some significant findings in the report:

  • The number of Home Care Aides (HCA)/Community Health Workers (CHA)s in the non-health authority sector is growing steadily with an average of 3.631/ year from 2006-2008
  • From 2005-2008, approximately 47% of HCA/CHWs were casual workers - the rest were a composite of 21% part-time and 32 full-time
  • One of every four HCA/CHWs are over the age of 55 and 92% of all non-health authority HCA/CHWs are female
  • In 2009, over 4200 HCA/CHWs were working in the non-health authority sector - 58% of which are casual
  • Casual HCA/CHW hires accounted for 58% of all new hires in non-health authority home support sector over the past year
  • 30% of home support providers indicated a 'major problem' and 20% indicated 'quite a problem' in retaining casual HCA/CHWs
  • Undesirable shift schedule is the most common reason for retention difficulties for HCA/CHWs in all job statuses
  • Access to flexible working arrangements and career development opportunities were identified as most effective retention initiatives for full-time, part-time and casual HCA/CHWs
  • One of every three home support providers indicated a significant problem recruiting casual LPNs - 30% report the recruitment situation to be more difficult for casual HCA/CHW over past two years
  • Insufficient working hours and undesirable shift schedule are the most common reasons for recruitment difficulties for casual and part time HCA/CHWs
  • 41% indicated a significant problem retaining casual LPNs
  • 44% of new LPNs hired in non-health authority home support sector over past year have been casual
  • Most survey respondents indicate no or low problem recruiting full-time and part time LPNs, HCAs and CHW s
  • Without accounting for any increases in home support hours in the province over the next 8 years, there will be a minimum staffing gap in non-health authority sector of more than 450 HCA/CHWs

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