Home Care/Special Care Aide Program

Entrance Requirements Grade 10 or GED 12

Standardization of Curriculum In Province SIAST has standard curriculum Brokers the program through Regional Colleges or Health Regions SIAST does all the Quality Assurance to ensure consistent standards are maintained SIIT equivalency granted till February 2004 Recognized Provincial Curriculum

Length of Program = 753 hours Theory 498 hours 12 courses 3 certificates Food Safe, CPR’C’/First Aid, PART – Professional Assault Response Training Practicum 4 practicums 2 mid – 1 long term = 105 hrs; 1 home care = 30 hrs. 2 final – 1 long term = 90 hrs; 1 home care = 30 hrs.

Courses within the HC/SCA Program

Personal Care 90 hours Skills necessary to assist clients in meeting personal care needs Study body systems, infection control, body mechanics, oral care, skin care, lifting and transferring techniques and devices, exercise and positioning, specimen collection, mobility aids, simple treatments and determining temperature, pulse and respiration

Personal Competence 30 hours Goals and philosophy of home care and long term care; employability skills, ethics Role of caregiver Client teaching Abuse

Safe Environment 20 hours Promote client independence in a safe, comfortable and pleasant environment Includes fire safety, emergency response, WHMIS, household cleaning and laundry

Interpersonal Communication 30 hours Interpersonal communication theory and applications in the workplace Includes the importance of self-awareness and self-esteem Perception problems Verbal and nonverbal messages Listening skills Creating positive communication climates Resolving interpersonal conflict

Human Growth and Development 30 hours Physical, social, intellectual and emotional aspects across the lifespan – infancy to old age Includes working effectively with all age groups within a family setting

Communication Skills 24 hours Application of attending behaviours Empathy Respect Concreteness and summarization Genuineness

Communication in the Workplace 30 hours Written and oral communication skills Including observing Reporting Documentation Care plans Includes basic medical terminology

Special Needs I 45 hours Basic needs and interventions of clients with chronic conditions Focus on clients with disruptions in sensory organs

Special Needs II 45 hours Basic needs and interventions of clients with Altered mental abilities Palliative care Disruption in mental health Infectious process Cancer Alcohol/drug dependency Body functions Body Systems

Post Acute Care 30 hours Skills to assist client to meet their needs in the post acute phase Includes surgical or recent illness

Dementia 45 hours Address causes Stages and behaviours of dementia Behaviour mapping Appropriate interventions to promote optional level of functioning

Nutrition 30 hours Normal nutritional requirements Meal planning, purchasing and preparation Assisting clients to eat

Program Learning Outcomes

Titles of unregulated workers used in the Province Home Care Special Care Aide Home Health Aide Special Care Aide Home Care Aide Attendant III

Delivery options Full time Part time 2 base programs – Saskatoon & Prince Albert Regional colleges (broker and deliver programs across the Province) Part time All courses are offered at SIAST’s 4 campuses as well as through regional colleges Approximately 2000 students across the Province

Delivery options (cont’d) Distance (correspondence) 11/12 courses are available through video correspondence two or three times a year 1 offered per year via SCN (Saskatchewan Communication Network) (televised) Work based (training on the job) (WBT) Agencies within Regional Health Authorities can deliver on site

Number of graduates per year Province wide – approximately 550-600

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Availability Individual course 12/12 courses available fro individual PLAR. Variety of assessment tools Total program Total program PLAR available Assignments Comprehensive exams Clinical component Practicums Individual practicum PLAR Cumulative practicum PLAR – all 4 practicums in one challenge

Salaries upon graduation Approximately $14.00 per hour

Providers of education in the Province Private Saskatoon Business College (SBC) (not an equivalent program) Public SIAST – Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology SIIT – Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology

Career opportunities Long term care Home care Acute care Group homes Private care homes Private home care services

Is a certificate from a recognized college in your province required prior to employment? No not prior to but must be attained within 2 years of employment

The End