RESPITE CARE PROVIDERS
Responsible | Skilled | Kind
Who are Respite Care Providers?
Respite Care Providers are folks who have a passion for supporting children and youth under 19 years of age who have special needs. They have the skills, experience, and heart for supporting kids with developmental disabilities or a mental health diagnosis. Generally speaking, RCP candidates are often folks who have had the opportunity to get to know someone with a disability – often a family member, intend to pursue a career in working with children, or already have work in a related field:
- Education Assistants
- Community Support Workers
- Students pursuing a degree in paediatrics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, counselling etc.
Where do we find Respite Care Providers?
Cridge Respite Connect is well connected to Camosun College and UVic. Many of the RCP candidates apply to be on our listing after getting information on Campus. We specifically target fields of study in which students will benefit from respite care work experience. As well, we communicate with all elementary, middle, and high schools from Sooke to Sidney about the Cridge Respite Connect opportunity for their staff, particularly education assistants, teachers on call, and practicum students.
Additionally , we advertise on sites such as indeed.ca, usedvictoria, kijiji, and craigslist.
All candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, references, first aid certificate, and a criminal record check with the vulnerable sector search.
How do we vett applicants?
Safety is the number one concern that families have when choosing a respite care provider. Parents must feel confident that an RCP has the ability to keep their child safe. After that, parents tell us they will consider a respite care provider who has a “teachable spirit” if they lack experience. Many parents feel that a passionate, dedicated but inexperienced RCP can be taught how to support their child. Typically, they are looking for someone who demonstrates the ability to create a rapport with children, ensuring that their child will be happily engaged in enjoyable, meaningful activities during time spent with the RCP.
After reviewing a candidate’s cover letter and resume for suitability, we check the references they provide by asking the referee to fill in a standard reference check form. If the candidate clears this stage of the vetting, we invite them to a face-to-face meeting. If all these requirements are successful; the candidate will be invited to be listed on Cridge Respite Connect. Each RCP on the listing has provided us with a current copy of their criminal record check and a copy of their current first aid certificate.
Respite Care Providers are not employees of The Cridge Centre for the Family…
The Cridge Respite Connect website is a place where parents can find available respite care providers who are looking for work. They are self-employed, ready to be vetted, hired, managed, and paid, directly by parents. Although respite care providers go through an initial screening to be placed on the Cridge Respite Connect website, the onus is on parents to vett the candidate themselves, even if this may seem redundant. This is because the parent is the employer, not The Cridge Centre for the Family. Wage, hours, performance expectations, etc. are to be negotiated between parents and care providers. Cridge Respite Connect is an opportunity for parents to find available care providers who have been successful in meeting the criteria to be placed on the site. Cridge Respite Connect staff can provide additional information to help families navigate the process of vetting and hiring a respite care provider.
