Quebec launches paid accelerated training program for home care workers

Quebec wants to pay people to be in-home caregivers.

Health Minister Christian Dubé, Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Seniors Minister Sonia Bélanger announced the new program on Tuesday.

Registration is now open for the short-term training course for home support workers as health and social care assistants.

The goal is to train 1,000 new home care workers by fall 2024.

“Quebecers want care at home as long and as often as possible,” said Dubé. “Furthermore, in the current context of an aging population, it is our responsibility to focus on options beyond the private infrastructure of the health care network.”

It's part of the government's push to make a big change in home support as they look to boost home care teams to reduce the use of people in private agencies and hospitals.

Short-term training takes 705 hours, which lasts about five months, and 870 hours for regular training.

It is offered throughout Quebec at several professional training centers.

The first training sessions will begin in the coming weeks.

“Trusting people in all care settings, as well as the staff needed to provide quality care and services to those who want to stay at home, is one of the biggest challenges we face,” Belanger said.

To financially support prospective students, a $12,000 stipend is awarded in lieu of a six-month commitment period to work in the health and social services network.

The scholarship is paid in three installments of $4,000 and is contingent on a six-month commitment to work in the health care system.

The final payment of $4,000 is due upon receipt of their certification.

However, if the study is incomplete, it must be repaid.

In addition to financial support, prospective employees are guaranteed employment once they receive a Certificate of Professional Education (AEP).

This program follows a program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic that has enabled the recruitment of more than 10,000 PABs across the health and social services network.

It will also continue the short-term training that began in May, which trained 3,000 PABs to work in long-term care homes and public and private nursing homes.