New Caregiver Pilot Program Canada: What It Is & How Does It Work?

The new caregiver pilot program was launched on the 18th of June 2019 to replace the old and expired caregiver programs. The new program was designed with more flexibility for caregivers who wish to migrate and work in Canada.  

Currently, there are two immigration programs (pilots) in operation under the new caregiver pilot program. Follow us as we explore the two pilots, their eligibility requirements, and how it works. 

New Caregiver Pilot Program Canada

There are two caregiver pilot programs under the new caregiver program currently accepting applications. They are; 

• Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCP)
• Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP)

Home Child Care Program

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot is designed for foreign workers with work experience in NOC 4411. If you don’t understand the NOC, check out our article on NOC Canada 2022 List: Find Your Occupation In-Demand List. 

With this program, Home Child Care Providers come to Canada on temporary work permits and can apply for permanent residence after gaining enough work experience. 

Part of the duties of these professionals is to help parents look after children and they may also be required to help out with household duties. The Home Child Care Program allows candidates to be able to provide care either in their own homes or in their employers’ homes. 

For you to be eligible or qualify for this program, you must have a job offer as a caregiver or have working experience in Canada. The program is open to applicants with the following job titles; 

• Nanny
• Babysitter
• Au pair
• Child-care live-in caregiver
• Child-care provider in a private home.
• A parent’s helper.
• Foster parent

The Home Child Care Provider Program accepts a maximum of 2,750 primary applicants per year including their immediate families. 

• Read Also: Quebec Experience Class Program

Job Requirements

To be eligible for the Home Child Care Provider program, you will be required to meet certain criteria. These include; 

• Educational Requirements: Applicants must have completed the Canadian Secondary School education or foreign equivalent to being eligible
• Training: Applicants must undergo and complete appropriate training in different areas including first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 
• Job Offer: Applicants must have a job offer in Canada at the time of application for a work permit
• Work Experience: To apply for permanent residence, applicants will have to gain a compulsory 2-year work experience which includes household management experience.
•  Language Requirements: Applicants are expected to meet Canadian Language Benchmark Level 5.  

Job Duties

The following are the duties of a Home Child Care Provider;

• Takes proper care of children and supervises their activities in their homes
• Prepares and feeds children
• For infants, the caregiver prepares formulas, changes diapers, bathes and dresses the children
• Ensures the child’s social development and emotional well-being are being taken care of.
• Follows the instructions of the parents to maintain discipline
• Keeps a proper record of the children’s activities
• Takes the kids to school if required
• Provides educational training to the children

Home Support Workers Pilot

The Home Support Workers Pilot program is a part of the new caregivers pilot program and it falls under NOC 4412. Home support workers help senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and individuals undergoing treatment by providing personal care and companionship in times of incapacitation, recovery, and family disruption.

The program usually requires candidates to provide care and reside at the employer’s residence. As a home support worker, you may be required to care for children but it is not your primary assignment.

Home support workers typically gain employment from home care and support agencies or private households. You can also be self-employed if you choose. 

The responsibilities of these professionals include preparing meals, feeding, bathing, changing dressings, administering medications, and other routine housekeeping duties. 

Home support workers may fall under any of the following job titles;

• Home support worker
• Family caregiver
• Housekeeper
• Personal aide as a home support
• Respite worker
• Attendant for people with disabilities – home care
• Live-in caregiver for seniors
• Personal care attendant – home care
• Doula
• Home visitor – infant care

Job Requirements

As an applicant of the home support worker pilot program, you will be expected to fulfill the following criteria; 

• You should have sufficient experience in house management
• You must have the necessary training for the elderly, people with disabilities, and convalescent care
• You have to be certified in first aid administration
• Must have completed a secondary school education
• Must have a college degree ( home support or any other related field)

Job Duties

Below is a list of some key duties of a home support worker; 

• Provide care and companionship for individuals or families during medical treatment and convalescence
• Prepare meals and special diets as recommended/according to their needs. 
• Responsible for performing routine health-related duties
• Bathe, dress and undress and provide ambulation to the patient or individual
• Performs housekeeping duties including doing the laundry, washing dishes, making beds, preparing meals, serving meals, and taking care of children if required. 
• Responsible for collecting medications or specimens under the direction of the household or home care agency. 

• Read More: Canadian Experience Class Program – Explained

Eligibility Requirements For The New Caregiver Pilot Program

To qualify for a work permit and permanent residence under the new caregiver pilot program, you must meet the following conditions;

• You must not be inadmissible to Canada.
• You must have one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its equivalent in foreign education
• Must have language test results with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5 in English/French
• Must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• Mus have a valid one-year verifiable experience in either of the pilots for which you’re applying under the New Caregivers Pilot program (HCCP or HSWP). 

Note: A work permit allows you to;

• Visit Canada and work in the interim 
• Gather the mandatory 2-year experience for a permanent visa application. If you’ve had previous work experience as a childcare provider, caregiver, or support worker in Canada, the experience will be counted for your eligibility for permanent residence. 
• Work without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• Work in specific occupations typically related to caregiving and support

How The New Caregiver Application Process Works

Applications for permanent residence submitted under the New Caregiver Pilot programs are usually scrutinized thoroughly before the applicants are granted a work permit to work with their Canadian employers either as Home Child Care Providers or Home Support Workers. 

You can expect to receive a decision on your work permit applications in about 10-12 months from when you submitted them and your permanent residence applications will be held until you have completed the mandatory 2-year work experience with a Canadian employer.

If you are on one of the old programs like the live-in program, you can apply to switch to the new caregiver pilot program or file for permanent residence but you must meet the PR requirements of the new caregiver pilot program. 

With this strategy, caregivers will be more at ease and will have an opportunity to get permanent residence in Canada. 

• You May Like The Start-up Visa Program: Canadian Immigration For Entrepreneurs.

How To Hire A Home Child Care Provider Or Home Support Worker

Are you an employer looking to hire a home childcare provider or home support worker? There are certain steps you must take to guide you in your search. 

1. Find A Caregiver

The first step is to find a caregiver of your choice within or out of Canada and then ask them to apply for one of the pilots.

2. Check The Caregiver’s Eligibility

It’s important to ensure that the candidate fulfills all the requirements before being hired to avoid complications. The requirements include having a post-secondary education in Canada or overseas, meeting the language requirements, and having sufficient experience according to the National Occupational Classification, NOC. 

3. Make An Offer Of Employment

If the selected person meets the criteria then you can proceed to make an offer of employment. The employment contract will have to be filled out and signed by both parties. Both you and your employees should have copies of it since it would be required when as a supporting document when the application would be filed. 

4. Let Your Employee File For A Work Permit And Permanent Residence

Your employee can now apply for a work permit and permanent residence either through one of the pilots after he/she has received their offer of employment. Typically, the work application takes up to 12 months to process and will be eligible for 3 years. 

Changes In The New Caregiver Pilot Program

Drawbacks Of The Old Caregiver Pilot Program

1. One of the major drawbacks of the old caregiver pilot program is that it is employer-driven and employer-specific. This means that caregivers are restricted to working for a specific employer. 

2. The old caregiver program restricted caregivers from bringing their families with him/her when coming to Canada. To come to Canada, the dependants or spouse would have to apply for their open work permit, study permit, or Visit Visa after the caregiver has received an Approval in Principle (AIP) on his/her permanent residence application. 

New Caregiver Program Features

1. Unlike the old caregiver program, the new caregiver pilot program is not employer-specific but occupation-specific. This means that caregivers are not bound to work for a specific employer or location. They are at liberty to work for as many employers as they want and at any location of their choice. 

2. The new caregiver pilot program permits the family of the principal applicant (caregiver) to come to Canada once he (caregiver) gets his/her work permit.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Canada is committed to keeping families together. Through the new caregiver pilot programs, they defeat boundaries and ensure that the families of caregivers stay together. 

The new program offers more flexibility, security, and confidence to caregivers. With any of the pilots, caregivers can change jobs easily and remove the barriers of restraints that keep the dependent family from coming to Canada. 

If you are looking to apply for any of the new caregiver pilots or you wish to switch from an old one, make sure you meet the requirements to avoid complications.

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