HOME SUPPORT /RESIDENT CARE ATTENDANT CERTIFICATE
HOME SUPPORT / RESIDENT CARE ATTENDANT CERTIFICATE
(In January 2010, HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE will replace the HS/RCA Certificate)
DESCRIPTION
The Home Support Resident Care Attendant program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary to function as a front-line caregiver in a variety of long term care settings which include both residential care facilities and home support agencies. The graduate is prepared to provide care to older adults experiencing diverse, often complex but relatively stable health and illness needs.
Graduates are prepared to function collaboratively as members of a inter-disciplinary health care team. In a facility they work under the direct supervision of an appropriate health professional. In the home care setting they work more independently but are always under the direction of a health professional.
The HSRCA Program is part of the Education, Community, and Health Specialties initiative which provides students the opportunity to study with students in other programs. These programs include: SETA, CSW, HS/RCA and GBTR. Students from all four programs will take core courses under the acronym ECHS. In addition, students from the HSRCA Program will take program specialty courses. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive a certificate in Home Support Resident Care.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are qualified to work in any level of continuing care services, including:
- Home Support
- Adult Day Care
- Assisted Living
- Complex Care
- Extended Care
The following specific prerequisites apply:
Acceptable English language assessment score as determined by established program criteria*
*All applicants whose first language is English will write the ACP Accuplacer test and be required to attain a minimum score of writing level 8.
The recommended procedure for applicants whose first language is not English and who have taken less than 9 years of education in Canada is to take the Accuplacer – ELST test. The required score is 98 and writing band 5.
If you have completed English 12 with a C or better you do not have to write the English test but you must submit a transcript of the grade.
Additional admission requirements must be completed before final acceptance into the program will be granted. These include the following:
- A criminal record search completed within three months prior to enrolling in the program.
- Immunizations consistent with the requirements of clinical agencies.
- Food Safe Level I course.
- A valid First-Aid Certificate and CPR level C*.
*Examples of first aid courses that qualify are:
- St. John's Ambulance Standard First Aid
- Red Cross Standard First Aid
Students in the program are required to demonstrate the ability to perform a variety of cognitive, emotional and psychomotor skills safely and knowledgeably. Students with physical, intellectual or emotional disabilities are obligated to contact the Coordinator of the Home Support Resident Care Attendant program to discuss the required skills and competencies.
To be considered for re-admission to the Home Support Resident Care Attendant program, the applicant must:
- Complete any remediation specified at the time of withdrawal.
- Meet the original admission requirements at the date of re-application.
- Re-entry will be based upon seat availability. Returning students will be individually assessed to determine the most appropriate placement in the program at the time of re-entry.
The program is 30 weeks in length.
The student will spend approximately total of 870 hours in a variety of learning environments over the program length, including classroom, nursing laboratory, resident care facilities and home care environments. They will be expected to do both daytime (0700–1500) and evening (1500–2300) shifts.
The last five weeks of the program will be a full-time work experience.
- Semester 1
- HSRC 1120 Lifestyles and Choices for Wellness
- HSRC 1124 Health and Healing 1
- ECHS 1112 Interpersonal Communications One
- HSRC 1125 Personal Care Skills for Resident Care
- ECHS 1135 Essentials of Person Centered Practice
- HSRC 1130 Clinical Practice
- ABTY 1141 Word Processing
- Semester 2
In addition to tuition fees, students will spend approximately $1,500 for textbooks, course materials, uniforms and shoes, transportation and parking, etc. during the program. Students are also responsible for providing their own transportation to clinical experiences.
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Home Support Resident Care Attendant Certificate.
