Health Care Assistant Program:

The HCA program is designed to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to function effectively as front-line caregivers and respected members of the health care team. Under the direction and supervision of a regulated health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families.

Upon completion of the HCA program, graduates are prepared to work in a variety of practice settings including home support, assisted living, group homes, complex care, special care units, other home and community care settings, and acute care.

Purpose of the Health Care Assistant Program:

Under the direction and supervision of a regulated health professional, graduates provide person-centred care aimed at promoting and maintaining the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families.

Learning Objectives/Outcomes:

Upon completion of the HCA Program, graduates will be able to:

1. Provide person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client.
2. Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families.
3. Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges.
4. Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges.
5. Interact with other members of the health care team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
6. Communicate clearly, accurately, and sensitively with clients and families in a variety of community and facility contexts.
7. Provide personal care and assistance in a safe, competent, and organized manner.
8. Recognize and respond to own self-development, learning, and health enhancement needs.
9. Perform the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable, and professional manner.
10. Recognize and respond to own self-development, learning and health enhancement needs.
11. Perform the care provider role in a reflective, responsible, accountable and professional manner.

Program Learning Outcomes and Performance Indicators:

1. Provide person-centred care and assistance that recognizes and respects the uniqueness of each individual client.
2. Use an informed problem-solving approach to provide care and assistance that promotes the physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual health and well-being of clients and families.
3. Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing complex health challenges.
4. Provide person-centred care and assistance for clients experiencing cognitive and/or mental health challenges.
5. Interact with other members of the health care team in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
6. Communicate clearly, accurately, and sensitively with clients and families in a variety of community and facility contexts.
7. Provide personal care and assistance in a safe, competent, and organized manner.
8. Recognize and respond to own self-development, learning, and health-enhancement needs.
9. Perform the caregiver role in a reflective, responsible, accountable, and professional manner.

Program Entry Requirements:

• Evidence of both of the following must be provided prior to acceptance:
• Proof of Grade 10 completion (or equivalent) OR mature student status
• Proof of meeting HCA Program Entry – English Language Competency Requirements
• For applicants with three years of full-time instruction in English*: English 10 completion or equivalent
• For applicants with less than three years of full-time instruction in English: Standardized English language proficiency test score
• International students must provide a clear police certificate from their country of origin as a program entry requirement.

Prerequisites for HCA Practice Education

• Evidence of completion of the following must be in student files prior to the first practice education experience. All Evidence must be current and valid. The requirements for the practice education for each student comprise the completion of:
• First Aid Certification: Online first aid and CPR courses are not accepted by the BC Care Aide Registry. Students are required to undergo in-person first aid and CPR training.
• CPR Level “C” Certification or “Basic Life Support (BLS)” Certification in-person training only
• Foodsafe Level 1 Certification (or a certificate course deemed equivalent)
• Completion of the Student Practice Education Core Orientation (SPECO) (available on the LearningHub), which must include the following:
• A signed checklist SPECO Checklist.pdf (phsa.ca)
• Proof of meeting current immunizations / vaccinations as per health care organization policies / guidelines (or signed vaccination exemption form, except TB)
• Criminal record check from the Criminal Records Review Program, including clearance to work with vulnerable adults
• Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum E-Learning Modules
• WHMIS – Provincial Course
• Completion of the Health Care Assistant Practice in BC E-Learning Modules (LearningHub)
• Completion of the Recognizing and Responding to Adult Abuse course (LearningHub)

Note: Practice education partner sites may also impose additional training or certification standards prior to placement. Therefore, students must ensure they meet the practicum requirements of the site where they will undergo their practicum including all the online orientation courses required by the Health Authority.

Note: Students who do not meet the immunization requirements may be prohibited from attending practice education experiences given particular Health Authority.

Delivery Method: In Class Delivery

Career Opportunities: Upon completion of the program, the graduates are prepared to work in many settings including home support, assisted living, adult day care, complex care, and special care units.

Program Duration: 745 Hours

Program Outline:

HCA 1010 – Concepts For Practice

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical framework for practice. Students will be introduced to the philosophical values and theoretical understandings that provide a foundation for competent practice as an HCA. The course focuses on concepts of caring and person-centred care; basic human needs and human development; and family, culture, and diversity as they relate to health and healing. Students will also be introduced to a problem-solving model that will be critical to their practice.

HCA1020 –  Introduction to Practice

This course provides an introduction to the role of the HCA within the British Columbia health care system. Students will be introduced to the health care team and the roles and functions of HCAs within the team. Students will also have opportunities to develop self-reflective skills required for competent practice and will be introduced to effective job-finding approaches.

HCA1030 – Interpersonal Communications

This course focuses on the development of self-awareness, increased understanding of others, and development of effective interpersonal communication skills that can be used in a variety of caregiving contexts. Students will be encouraged to become more aware of the impact of their own communication choices and patterns. They will have opportunities to develop and use communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, respect, and active listening skills.

HCA1040 – Lifestyle and Choices

This course introduces students to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health enhancing lifestyle. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices.

Students will be introduced to a model that can be applied in other courses to understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing.

 HCA 1050 – Common Health Challenges

This course introduces students to the normal structure and function of the human body and normal bodily changes associated with aging. Students will explore common challenges to health and healing in relation to each body system. Students will also be encouraged to explore person-centred practice as it relates to the common challenges to health and, in particular, to end-of-life care.

 HCA 1060 – Cognitive and/or Mental Health Challenges

This course builds on content from other courses to assist students to explore concepts and caregiving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive or mental challenges. Emphasis is on recognizing behaviors and identifying person- centered intervention strategies.

 HCA 1070 – Personal Care and Assistance

This practical course offers students the opportunity to acquire personal care and assistance skills within the parameters of the HCA role. The course is comprised of class and supervised laboratory experiences which assist the student to integrate theory from other courses to develop care-giver skills that maintain and promote the comfort, safety and independence of individuals in community and facility contexts.

HCA2020 – Practice Experiences in a Multi-level or Complex Care facility

This supervised practice experience provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses in the program with individuals in a multi- level or complex care setting. A portion of this clinical experience will be devoted to working with individuals experiencing dementia. Opportunity will be provided for students to gain expertise and confidence with the role of the HCA within a complex care facility.

HCA2030 – Practice Experiences in Home Support and/or Assisted Living

This practice course provides students with an opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from all other courses with individuals and families in a community setting. Opportunity will be provided for students to become more familiar with the role of the HCA within a home support agency, assisted living facility, or a group home to gain abilities that will prepare graduates for employment in these settings. It is important that students understand the philosophy of community care settings and the importance of client choice and independence.

The role of the HCA within a Home Support Agency and gain abilities that will prepare graduates to assume the role of a Community Health Worker.