Health Care Assistant - Diploma

Length: 2 years

Total Credits: 60 credits

Intake Terms: Fall

Delivery Method: In-person

Campus: Trail

Credential: Diploma

Cost:

Approximate program cost

Student Loans:

This program is not eligible for student loans

Effective Term: Fall

Effective Year: 20240801

Advanced Standing:

ADVANCE OR TRANSFER CREDIT AND PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT

1. A student may obtain credit for a maximum of 75% of program requirements by Transfer Credit, Advanced Placement, Prior Learning Assessment or combination thereof. See Policy 8614: Advanced Standing - Course Challenge, PLA, and Transfer Credit.

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Re-Entry Instructions:

1. Students in good standing who are required to withdraw for personal or compassionate reasons may apply for re-entry the next time the program is offered; admission is subject to seat availability.

2. Students must complete the entire program within 48 calendar months of initial entry. Re-entry applicants who cannot meet this deadline will not be readmitted.

3. As per the BC Care Aid & Community Support Worker Registry, no more than 3 months may elapse between the completion of lab skills coursework and the start of practice education. In cases where there is a period of more than 3 months, students would be required to re-take the HCA 107: Personal Care & Assistance course (i.e., in cases of leaves of absence, part-time students, etc.)

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Assessment:

1. Grading

a) The Standard Academic and Career Grading Table is used for EASL 066 or ENGL 110, HCA 101, 102, 103, 104, 105,106, 107, EACS 155, 170, 156, 161, 165, FAM 180, and HSER 174.

b) The Competency Based Grading Table is used for HCA 108 and 109.

c) To pass each of the following courses, students need to earn a minimum grade of 70%: HCA 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106.

d) To pass each of the following courses students need to earn a minimum grade of 60%: ENG 110, EASL 066, EACS 155, 156, 161, 165, FAM 180 and HSER 174.

e) In HCA 107, students must demonstrate competence in psychomotor skills in order to pass HCA 107 and progress to practice education courses. If a student is not successful in demonstrating competency upon the first attempt, they may attempt the skills test one additional time after individual remediation. If a student is unsuccessful on the second attempt, they are not eligible to pass HCA 107 and will be required to repeat this course.

f) To receive credit in HCA 108 and HCA 109, students must demonstrate competency in the program outcomes identified on page 1 of this document and complete scheduled practicum shifts according to the requirement of the HCA Program Provincial Curriculum (2023).

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Grading Table: Other

Grading Table: Both the Standard Academic and Career and the Competency Based grading tables will be used.

Types of Assessments:

a) Assessments may include written papers, small group projects and presentations, debate, case study, online and in person discussions/forums, in person and recorded or virtual simulation and/or psychomotor skill testing.

b) Quizzes are completed online within the learning management system, LEARN, within the time frame as described in the course outline calendar. Students may have two attempts at each quiz with the highest mark being recorded in the gradebook.

c) The Practice Appraisal Form (PAF) is an assessment document used in practice courses and is based on the HCA Program Learning Outcomes and their associated indicators. The PAF is used to provide an opportunity for student self-reflection, formal instructor feedback and guides the student and instructor in the collaboration of a student learning plan for success.

Supplemental Assessment(s)

a) A student may request a supplemental assessment if they earn under 70% on an assignment and they follow the guidelines below:

(i) Within 48 hours after the instructor posts marks, the student will provide the instructor with an email request, identifying the assignment they would like to redo.

(ii) Applications for supplemental assessments are approved at the discretion of the instructor in consultation with the Program Coordinator and/or School Chair.

(iii) Students must have maintained an average grade of 70% or better in the course.

(iv) The result of the supplemental assessment cannot exceed 70% and is used in calculation of the final grade.

(v) Supplemental assessments must be written within seven calendar days of the final examination schedule.

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Attendance:

1. Student attendance in class supports their progression toward meeting the course learning outcomes and contributes to the learning community as a whole. They will gain valuable insights and opportunities that would not be possible without the conversations and activities they will participate in. If a student finds themselves in a situation where they aren't able to get to class or will be late, they will need to contact the relevant instructor so that they can collaborate on a plan for continued student success. When students miss class, the chances of successfully meeting the learning outcomes may be reduced and/or prevent the student from passing the class.

2. Students absent from an HCA class, for any reason, are responsible for the course material they have missed. As part of the plan for success, they may be required to make up missed assignments, activities, lab and/or practice education hours to successfully meet the learning outcomes.

3. If 2 or more classes are missed, the relevant instructor will check in with the student to ensure they are set up with appropriate resources and to collaborate on a plan for success. Plans will be documented on record of advisement or learning plan forms.

4. Dates and times are set for written and competency/skill-based assessments. These dates and times are shared with students at the beginning of the course in order for students to plan and organize themselves accordingly. If a student is absent from a written or competency/skill-based assessment for reasonable cause (e.g., illness, family emergency, adverse weather conditions, etc.), they may be allowed a make-up assessment on the first day the student returns to the program (please check the course outline for specific details). A physician's note for illness, or a note substantiating the family emergency, may be required prior to arranging the make-up testing.

5. Students are expected to notify the course instructor before the scheduled written or competency/skill-based session if they are unable to complete the assessment. Whether they will be able to reschedule your assessments will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. If the student does not notify the instructor, they may forfeit their opportunity for a make-up assessment.

6. A student who must be absent from a practice or simulated learning experience is responsible for notifying the instructor at least one hour prior to the scheduled time of the experience. Missed hours may be rescheduled if learning outcomes are not being met and/or if the student has exceeded the allowable absences as described in course outlines.

7. The School of Health and Human Services cannot undertake to provide substitute or "make up" learning experiences outside of regularly scheduled practice education courses when students have been absent, for any reason.

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Professional Requirements:

Students in the Health Care Assistant Diploma program shall:

1. Acknowledge that Indigenous specific racism and colonialism exist and that students will integrate trauma-informed practice and work towards reconciliation of Indigenous health and wellness. (See also In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous- specific Racism and Discrimination in BC Health Care, 2020).

2. Conduct themselves in an informed way to be inclusive, culturally safe, and always striving towards cultural humility. (See also Selkirk College Policy 6040: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity).

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Other regulations:

A. REQUIRED WITHDRAWAL (See Selkirk College Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)

1. Breaches in confidentiality are grounds for dismissal from the HCA program.

2. Students who compromise the safety of clients in practice courses will be required to withdraw from the HCA program.

B. PROBATION (See Policy 8619 Student Probation and Policy 3400 Student Code of Conduct)

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