Employers & Educators

As employers and educators of Health Care Aides, there are important elements of the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory that that will be beneficial and provide valuable information. The directory will provide employers with information regarding HCAs’ attainment of core competencies. Through the Directory, employers will have access to more information for workforce planning. For example, reports for their organization, facility and/or unit.

The data in the directory will provide valuable information for both government and educational institutions as they undertake current and future health workforce education and planning.

Initially, the new Directory requires employers to validate an HCA’s competency status if the HCA is not certified. Once complete, this will result in decreased workload for employers after the initial implementation.

Other benefits include:

• Transferability of assessed attainment of core competency,
• Employee attainment of core competency reporting,
• Comprehensive workforce data for planning purposes, and
• Demonstration of meeting the requirements for basic core competency (as per the Continuing Care Health Service Standards (2008)).

For more information on the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory check out specific information:

For Employers

For Educators

If you still have questions check out the Frequently Asked Questions section.

 

For Employers

Here are some common questions that employers may have about the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory.

1. How would a new directory be different from the current directory?
2. How will this directory benefit employers?
3. Are HCAs required to enrol in the Directory?
4. Will the HCA Directory require HCAs become certified?
5. What does this mean for my previous submissions?
6. Who will be reviewing documents for alignment with Provincial HCA curriculum?
7. Am I required to keep Competency Assessment Profiles (CAPs) on staff who are no longer working at my facility?
8. As a continuing care operator, do I keep submitting to the AHS directory?

 

1. How would a new directory be different from the current directory?

Employers enrol their HCAs in the current AHS Directory. In the new Directory, Health Care Aides will enrol themselves. The HCA Directory will be available to all HCAs in the province.

 

2. How will this directory benefit employers?

The directory will provide employers with information regarding HCAs’ attainment of core competencies.

Through the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory, employers will have access to more information for workforce planning. For example, reports for their organization, facility and/or unit.

Initially, the new HCA Directory requires employers to validate an HCA’s competency status if the HCA is not certified. Once complete, this will result in decreased workload for employers after the initial implementation.

Other benefits include:

• Transferability of assessed attainment of core competency,
• Employee attainment of core competency reporting,
• Comprehensive workforce data for planning purposes, and
• Demonstration of meeting the requirements for basic core competency (as per the Continuing Care Health Service Standards (2008)).

 

3. Are HCAs required to enrol in the Directory?

The goal is all HCAs in Alberta will enrol in the directory. We are exploring options to ensure all HCAs will be enroled.

 

4. Will the HCA Directory require HCAs become certified?

No. However, they are required to be competent. Some employers require certification before hiring; some require HCAs to obtain certification within a certain time period after hiring, and some employers will train employees on the job. This is an employer specific policy.

 

5. What does this mean for my previous submissions?

The Directory acknowledges and appreciates the commitment made by employers to the Directory. Information previously submitted is valuable to employers and government for workforce and educational planning and employment research purposes.

The new Directory has new data requirements. Because of data quality concerns and privacy issues, previous data will not be transferred. However, the Directory will honour previous decisions made on HCAs’ competency or substantial equivalency assessments and will not require employers to re-assess their HCAs. But this information will not be transferred to the new Directory as HCAs will be required to submit evidence of their competency status and employers will need to verify the information according to the new Directory policies.

6. Who will be reviewing documents for alignment with Provincial HCA curriculum?

Employers will continue to be responsible to assess substantially equivalent status. Employers will be required to submit proof of substantially equivalent status to the Directory.

 

7. Am I required to keep Competency Assessment Profiles (CAPs) on staff who are no longer working at my facility?

Employers retain CAPs as per their organization’s record retention policy. The Directory does not have any requirements for this.

 

8. As a continuing care operator, do I keep submitting to the AHS directory?

Yes, please continue to submit until you are advised of the transition plan.

 

For Educators

Here are some common questions educators may have about the Alberta Health Care Aide Directory.

1. How will this directory benefit me, as the educator?
2. How do my HCA students enrol in the directory?
3. Can I enrol my HCA students once they graduate?
4. Can I advertise on the directory?

 

1. How will this directory benefit me, as the educator?
The data in the directory will provide valuable information for both government and educational institutions as they undertake current and future health workforce education and planning.

 

2. How do my HCA students enrol in the directory?
HCA program graduates will be able to enrol once they receive HCA certification.

The Directory will work with educators to facilitate ease of new graduates’ enrolment.

 

3. Can I enrol my HCA students once they graduate?
No, only Health Care Aides will have the ability to enrol themselves. Another person will not be able to enrol a Health Care Aide. Graduates will be required to provide proof of course completion directly from their post-secondary institution.

 

4. Can I advertise on the directory?
There are currently no plans to have advertising on the Directory.