Becoming a Caregiver in BC
Caregivers in BC come from all walks of life and background - From family members and companions with no formal education to certified caregivers registered to work with government funded clients.Uneducated Caregivers
are people working in a caregiving position without completing a recognized caregiving course to become formally Certified. They usually work with:
- Their own family members
- Private families
- Some Private Home Care Agencies
- Group Homes with developmentally disabled adults funded by the province
Certified Caregivers
are people who have completed a recognized Caregiving course including Safe Patient Handling, Medication Administration and Dementia Care. They can work for all of the above plus:
- Skilled Home Care Agencies
- Non-Goverment-Funded Facilities
Registered Caregivers
are Certified Caregivers who have obtained BC Care Aide Registry #. There is no additional education attached to registration, it is simply an added designation that requires ongoing renewal of their Solicitor General Criminal Record Checks. Can work for the previous plus:
- Government-Funded Clients and Worksites including Hospitals, Facilities, Schools and Home Care
To be hired with CommunityPlus
you must be a skilled caregiver capable of dementia care, medication administration, safe patient handling and have experience with seniors. Not all of our caregivers are certified and registered but all are skilled. If you are a reliable and conscientious caregiver with a passion for community health please check our Job Postings!
To remain employed with CommunityPlus
you have to be a great caregiver and a great employee.
Sometimes people are amazing, intuitive caregivers
with challenging employment behaviours which includes excessive short notice absences, not communicating changes in availability and not returning communications in a timely manner. No matter how amazing a caregiver someone may be, it doesn’t matter if they don’t show up reliably and communicate.
Sometimes people are amazing employees
that show up reliably and communicate but may not be as attentive or conscionable as we need them to be. This shows up as missed or incomplete tasks, not doing tasks they don’t like or otherwise leaving someone without needed help. Being reliable as an employee doesn’t make up for a lack of inconsistent care.
Are we a team of unicorns? Perhaps yes. Don’t get into a job you don't have a passion for. Home caregiving requires exceptional patience and skills you won’t understand until you’re faced with the experiences required to learn them.