Open Letter on the Staffing Supply Accelerator Group
Open Letter on the Staffing Supply Accelerator Group
Download PDF of LetterMarch 18, 2021
Dear Deputy Premier Elliott and Minister Fullerton,
OCSA appreciates and understands the government’s reasoning in developing a Staffing Supply Accelerator Group to help recruit and train more personal support workers (PSWs), registered practical nurses (RPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) to meet the targets of the government’s long-term care (LTC) staffing plan. When the plan was first released in December, we noted that without a collaborative approach, the home and community care workforce would be negatively impacted having a disastrous effect on vulnerable Ontarians that rely on our sector to live safely in their homes and communities.
Since the plan’s release, our situation has become progressively more dire. Home and community care organizations are facing staffing shortages that are reaching a crisis point. Some providers are losing nurses and PSWs in numbers unheard of in the past and some large providers are unable to accept referrals due to lack of available staff. Without a comprehensive solution that includes our sector, vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities living at home will be left to fend for themselves; our sector needs a seat at the table.
Actions taken by the government must recognize the interdependencies between various health sectors and ensure a stable and resilient workforce across our health system. The workforce, particularly personal support workers, have historically worked between the two sectors of home and community services and long-term care.
As you know, the Canadian Institute for Health Information has reported that 8% of newly admitted residents to long-term care in Ontario could have been kept at home with the right supports in place; that is close to 8,000 Ontarians. However, the home and community sector cannot keep vulnerable people safe at home without appropriate staffing or funding.
Disparities in compensation have led many front-line workers leaving to work in other higher-paying sectors. The number of vacant positions for RNs, RPNs and PSWs across the sector grew by 14.5% between November 30, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Our sector’s workforce, which should be better utilized by the government, is not being provided adequate incentives or opportunities. Historically, lower compensation rates and mass shortages, in addition to the LTC staffing plan, will only compound the challenges for the home and community care sector if our workforce is not considered.
OCSA would appreciate the opportunity to arrange a meeting with both of you to discuss the impacts of implementing this human resource initiative and the urgent need to add our voice to the Staffing Supply Accelerator Group to ensure that the needs of vulnerable Ontarians who want to live safely in their homes and communities are raised at the table.
Sincerely,
Deborah Simon,
CEO, Ontario Community Support Association
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