Health Care Support Worker Orientation

Hi,

Welcome to the Health Care Support Worker (HCSW) Orientation website! Below is your personal orientation checklist, please continue below by clicking on each box and complete the necessary action prior to attending your Scheduled Learning Sessions.


  1. Welcome
  2. Introduction to your HCAP Orientation
    5 mins
  3. Immunizations/Tuberculosis (TB) Testing
    15 mins
  4. Choose2Care / Required Certificates/ N-95 mask
    15 mins
  5. VCH Regional Orientation
    7 hours 30 mins
  6. Provincial Online Orientation
    22 hours 30 mins
  7. Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC)
    7 hours 30 mins
  8. Important VCH Contacts
    5 mins
  9. Online Orientation Complete

Choose2Care / Required Certificates/ N-95 mask

15 mins


The following certificates/records are requirements for admission to school - we will pay you three days in lieu to complete the two certifications below (on your schedule as "Student to Book" days). You will also have access to the HCAP Pre-Requisite Stipend of $342.00 to cover the cost of these certifications. If you completed an English equivalency test OR paid for immunizations (other than TB, which is reimbursed by VCH), you may be eligible for additional funding based on proof-of-payment by the applicant. All HCAP participants should apply for the HCAP Stipend Application to receive $342 and any additional reimbursement, if applicable.

  • FOODSAFE - Level 1
    • We recommend doing either the one-day in-person in a classroom or one-day virtually over Zoom. Check this link for some course options https://courses.foodsafe.ca/
    • If you already have an equivalent certification to FOODSAFE Level 1 (check here for equivalent certifications), please make sure this certification is valid for the entire duration of the HCAP program
  • Standard First Aid & CPR Level C
    • There are many companies who provide this certificate, such as Intensive Care First Aid. The website is provided above.
    • OFA (Occupational First Aid) 1 is not equivalent for HCAP purposes – you must complete a Standard First Aid/CPR-C certification.

If you cannot get courses for the days assigned, you may have to use a weekend, however, you will only be paid/given time on the days stated. You should complete the certification as close to the requested dates as possible.

Both certifications are school requirements and you must provide them copies during the admissions process – you do not need to provide VCH or your manager with copies of these.

If you already have one or both certifications, you do not need to repeat them, as long as they are exactly as requested or equivalent and will not expire within the next year. Please email HCAPemployees@vch.ca if you are concerned about your certificate expiring soon.

As a VCH employee, you must ensure you have annual Fit Testing for the N95 respirator prior to coming into contact with clients with airborne transmissible illnesses etc. However,it is at the discretion of the site to require it. Please contact your site manager to confirm if the site requires the test for HCSWs.

  • Please click HERE to find a VCH site to book your Fit Test as a VCH employee. Remind to send the receipt of the fit testing to hcapemployees@vch.ca to be reimbursed.

You may move onto to the next tab: VCH Regional Orientation

  1. FOODSAFE - Level 1
  2. STANDARD FIRST-AID AND CPR LEVEL C
  3. Confirm that you will have completed both certifications BEFORE your first day on-site working!