Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Initiatives announced to attract more people to community care services

SINGAPORE — As the demand for eldercare workers grows, the Government is introducing a traineeship programme that will come with a bonus, as well as part-time job trials to attract more people, especially stay-home mothers, to join the community-care sector.

SINGAPORE — As the demand for eldercare workers grows, the Government is introducing a traineeship programme that will come with a bonus, as well as part-time job trials to attract more people, especially stay-home mothers, to join the community-care sector.

The two initiatives were among four announced by Senior Minister of State (Health) Amy Khor today (May 15), and the authorities hope they will help fill the 11,000 vacancies the sector is expected to have by 2020.

The job trial involves a three-day stint for potential caregivers to help them better understand the different roles in the care team. They can choose to do their attachment either full-time or part-time.

At the end of the trial, participants will receive S$120 for their transport and meal expenses.

To “bring jobs to the doorstep of Singaporeans”, recruitment fairs across the island will showcase different job opportunities in home and community care, Dr Khor said during the 2015 Community Care Forum at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

The fairs will offer a total of 500 job vacancies and the first will be held in Yishun later this month.

In addition, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), which oversees the intermediate and long-term care sector here, will organise learning visits for residents to help them learn more about eldercare facilities.

As for the traineeship programme,  training will be offered to those who want to become  community support care staff, such as senior care associates, health attendants and therapy aides. It is open to healthcare workers or those interested in making a mid-career switch.

During the five-week programme, participants will be exposed to 40 hours of classroom training and 160 hours of on-the-job training. They will receive a S$200-bonus at the end of the programme.

And to attract and retain support care staff, those who join the community care sector from next month will receive a bonus equivalent to one month of their basic salary — funded by the Government — at the end of their first year of employment, Dr Khor said.

There are currently 700 vacancies for support care staff, offering a monthly pay range of between S$1,000 and S$1,500.

Dr Khor pointed out that home-based care places will increase by half, and daycare places will double by 2020.

“But achieving quality care is just as, if not more, critical than expanding capacity,” she said. “Ultimately, the most critical factor to achieve good quality care is good people delivering the care.”

To encourage the development of  innovative care models here, the Tote Board will be injecting a S$100 million to the Community Healthcare Fund to pilot new solutions.

While the new initiatives may be attractive, competitive pay and passion are still the determining factors in enticing people to join the eldercare sector, several stay-home mothers told TODAY.

Mrs Percilia Chong, 49, said: “If you are really interested in eldercare, then you must have a passion to help people. No amount of money can buy passion.” 

WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY JORDON SIMPSON

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.