Government of Canada’s Supportive Care Assistant Program

The Federal Government had announced last year that it will provide education and training programs to support the long-term care sector. 

On April 16th, the government announced the opening of a new initiative called the Supportive Care Assistant Program. 

We have compiled a list of questions and answers that may arise from those who are interested in the program.

These questions are not comprehensive by any means. 

If you have any further questions about the federal Supportive Care Assistant Program, you can email me at avtar@pswhq.com or leave a comment in the comments sections below. 

Please note that this program is not equivalent to a Personal Support Worker diploma program. 

If you’re looking to pursue a Personal Support Worker program, you have many options that you can explore here, here, and here. 

Who is Funding the Program?

The Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program is funding the Supportive Care Assistant Program. 

This investment move is part of the ongoing goal to expand and improve healthcare support for the long-term care sector and home care settings throughout Canada.

How Many Students is the Program Accepting?

The government is expecting to get at least 2,600 students across the nation trained and working as Supportive Care Assistants in the long-term care and home care sectors with the aging population by next year.

What Does the Program Curriculum Involve?

The Supportive Care Assistant program includes six weeks’ worth of online training, followed by a 4-month paid work placement. 

The online portion is flexible in nature and can be completed at the student’s own pace. 

Additionally, the program will be offered in both English and French language formats.

Some of the modules included in the six-week online training are:

• Professionalism
• Supportive client-centered care
• Communication
• Personal care
• Infection control & safety

Are There Incentives for Joining the Program?

The program tuition is completely free to students. 

The Supportive Care Assistant program offers a stepping stone curriculum for students who are interested in pursuing certification as a personal support worker (PSW). 

Partner employers will also receive a $5,000 wage subsidy per participant.

What will Students be able to do on the job after Completing the Program?

Students will earn micro-certificates as supportive care assistants that allow them to perform non-clinical duties for patients/clients such as:

• stocking materials,
• preparing meals,
• household and cleaning tasks, etc.

In addition, the duties of a Supportive Care Assistant are geared towards assisting certified personal care providers such as the PSWs. 

Here are some of the duties of a Supportive Care Assistant:

• Assisting with meals
• Assisting with cleaning and disinfecting
• Stocking materials required by clients and healthcare staff
• Making clients’ beds, cleaning their rooms and other areas
• Providing companionship, comfort, and support
• Assisting with moving about and accompanying clients as they move about
• Participating in activities with clients

Such duties will help support patients as well as regulated clinical healthcare providers.

Are There Catches or sign-on Contracts for Joining the Program?

The overall goal of the program is to infuse long-term care and home care with an increased number of healthcare providers to remedy the staff shortage across the nation. 

After completing the program, students will be expected to transition into employed long-term care or home care setting position.

Which Colleges are Offering the Program?

There are colleges across Canada that are offering the Supportive Care Assistant program. 

Below is a list of colleges that are currently offering the program. 

Please note that more colleges are becoming partners in providing the program. 

How to Apply?

The program start dates vary depending on the college. 

You will have to connect with the college you’re interested in to apply. 

Following is the list of colleges along with their email address to express interest in applying for the program.

College	Contact
Fanshawe College	cts@fanshawec.ca
Georgian College	sca-apss@georgiancollege.ca
Mohawk College	sca@mohawkcollege.ca
Norquest College	Rosario.vasquez@norquest.ca
Portage College	training@portagecollege.ca
Red Deer College	Kim.Hogarth@rdc.ab.ca
Cumberland College	pathways@cumberlandcollege.sk.ca
Parkland College	learn.essentialskills@parklandcollege.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Polytechnic	sca-apss@saskpolytech.ca
Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB)	sca-apss@ccnb.ca ;
Assiniboine College	continuingstudies@assiniboine.net