What you need to know about the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry--Deadline extended to June 28

Note: Deadline to Register has been extended to June 28

To all members of Components 2 and 4

The Ministry of Health Services launched the BC Care Aide and Community Health Worker Registry at the end of January.

When the ministry announced its plans to create the registry a year ago, the stated goal was to prevent care aides (CAs) and community health workers (CHWs) who had been terminated for resident abuse from being hired by other publicly funded employers in the future.

However, your union has been involved in every step of the process in developing the registry and over several months, we worked together with the Ministry, health employers and other health unions to broaden the mandate of the registry to include:

• the implementation of provincial training standards for all public and private education programs for care aides and community health workers; and
• a standardized, transparent process for investigating abuse allegations.

The broader mandate of the registry means greater protection for care aides and community health workers. It recognizes the value of high-quality training and the important contribution you make in supporting many of B.C.'s most vulnerable citizens.

What is the registry?

The registry includes a database of credentialed CAs and CHWs who are eligible to work for publicly funded employers. It includes an investigation process for complaints of resident abuse. It also includes a system to suspend, remove or reinstate CAs or CHWs who have been terminated for incidents of resident abuse and whose terminations have been confirmed through a grievance/appeal process.

Finally, the registry will establish province-wide training standards to make sure that future CAs and CHWs graduate with appropriate skills, and that their practice and role is fully recognized by supervisors and team leaders.

Your union will be involved in the Advisory Committee which oversees the registry. The Advisory Committee will address concerns and questions arising during the registration process, and for the life of the registry. We will ensure that the registry carries out its mandate in a fair, timely, and transparent way.

Why you should register

Anyone currently working as a care aide or community health worker for a publicly funded employer - with or without a certificate - should register by the April 28 deadline in order to be "grandfathered". After that time, you will have to provide proof that you have completed a provincially recognized CA or CHW training course. In the future, all registrants will be required to complete a recognized health care assistant training program in BC.

Even if you are off work on WCB, LTD or any other leave - but have a care aide or community health worker certificate - it's important to register now.
The government also requires you to register by April 28 if you:

• work in a position that requires a care aide certificate,
• trained on the job and do not have a certificate or the equivalent educational requirements,
• work for a private employer, but could work for a publicly funded employer down the road.

If you don't register by April 28 and you do not have a CA or CHW certificate, you will only be able to work for your current employer. You will not be eligible to work for other publicly funded employers until you provide proof of completing a CA and/or CHW training program in B.C., or an equivalent course from elsewhere in Canada.

How to register

Registration is easy and it's free. You'll need to complete an Application and Consent Form. You can do that online at www.cachwr.bc.ca, or you can fill out the form and fax it to 1-877-494-3222, or mail it to BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry, Suite 200-1333 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 4C6.

The website is also a good place to get more information on the registry. Be sure to read through the list of "frequently asked questions".

If you have questions or concerns about the registry, please talk with your steward.

Remember: you must register before April 28, 2010 if you want to be added to the Registry with your current education credentials.