The Quebec government is launching a new offensive to encourage Quebecers to become orderlies. It increases the short-term training scholarship, which will increase from $9,210 to $12,000. Quebec wants to train 3,000 to 5,000 new beneficiary attendants by December 2023.
This was announced by Health Minister Christian Dubé, Education Minister Bernard Drainville and Minister responsible for Seniors Sonia Bélanger during a press briefing held in Montreal on Tuesday morning.
The government says it wants to “strengthen” the teams of beneficiary attendants who work in CHSLDs and homes for the elderly. He plans to increase the number of cohorts enrolled in short-term training “considerably over the next few months”.
“Young people, get involved! It’s important, we need you. In a press briefing, Minister Sonia Bélanger appealed to two groups: young people and retirees. According to her, the profession of beneficiary attendant is “interesting” for young people, both in terms of the “work environment” and the “human level”. It can be a stepping stone to eventually becoming a nursing assistant or nurse, she added.
Retirees could also be tempted by the adventure, according to her. “We have retirees who want to make a difference and not invest in the career they did previously,” she said.
Quebec launched a short-term training course in 2020 to recruit beneficiary attendants during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 agents who have taken the short training have been hired, said Minister Christian Dubé. Among them, 8,000 are still in office. “It means that we are exactly in the normal attrition percentage after three years,” he said in a press briefing.
Training
About fifty school service centers will offer the courses. The first cohorts will begin in August. Others will start in September. The 375-hour training will span 12 weeks.
To benefit from the scholarship, students must agree to work in the health and social services network for a period of six months. Quebec ensures that they will be assured of a job “as soon as they obtain their certificate”.
A scholarship of $8,000 will be paid in two installments of $4,000 during the training. A $4,000 bonus will be awarded upon graduation.
More details to come.