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 the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, the Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, as well as the Minister responsible for Seniors, Sonia Bélanger, during a press briefing held in Montreal on Tuesday morning. .
“The needs continue to increase for beneficiary attendants, particularly with the aging of the population,” said Minister Christian Dubé. As of March 31, there were 11,000 attendants missing from the health and social services network. If left unchecked, that figure could rise to 15,000 or even 20,000 by 2027, he said.
Thanks to this recruitment campaign, the government wants to “strengthen” the teams of beneficiary attendants who work in CHSLDs and homes for the elderly.
“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 becoming a nursing assistant or nurse, she argued.
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 had previously,” she said.
Quebec launched a short-term training course in 2020 to recruit beneficiary attendants in CHSLDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 attendants who have completed the short training have been hired, recalled Minister Christian Dubé at a press briefing. Among them, nearly 8,000 are still in office. “That means we’re exactly within the normal attrition percentage after three years,” he said.
Training
Quebec plans to increase the number of cohorts enrolled in short-term training “considerably over the next few months”. About fifty school service centers will offer it. The first cohorts will begin their studies 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”.
The $8,000 scholarship will be awarded in two installments of $4,000 during the course. A $4,000 bonus will be awarded upon graduation.
“We want, from January 2024, to offer training for beneficiary attendants for home care,” added Minister Bernard Drainville.