NEW WESTMINSTER – Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) has a new career option available for Northern Lights College (NLC) graduates supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.
Graduates from NLC’s Early Childhood Education and Care Diploma; Education Assistant Diploma; Practical Nursing Diploma; and Social Services Worker Diploma are now eligible for direct admission into JIBC’s Advanced Specialty Certificate in Community Care Licensing.
This new educational and professional pathway has been made possible through an agreement signed between JIBC’s Health Sciences Division and NLC’s Academic and Vocational Division.
“This new educational option enables early childhood educators, education assistants, practical nurses and social service workers to become well positioned to further contribute to the health, safety and well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Barb Kidd, Dean of JIBC’s School of Health, Community and Social Justice. “The need for residential and community-care facilities will only continue to grow in B.C. and across the country, and graduates of our program will be well-positioned to use their education and training.”
“The partnership between JIBC and Northern Lights College is an exciting opportunity for our education, health sciences, and social services graduates to seek a new career pathway.” said Steve Roe, Dean of Academic and Vocational Programs at NLC. “Co-creating this credential pathway is an important step towards the goal of employing qualified Community Care Licensing Officers that are needed both in the Peace Region and across the province.”
The Advanced Specialty Certificate in Community Care Licensing is Canada’s first and only credential to address the needs of Community Care Licensing Officers (CCLOs) that help protect B.C.’s most vulnerable residents. These licensing officers are employed by health authorities to inspect and monitor both publicly funded and private residential-care and child-care facilities. They also provide education and support to licensees, conduct investigations, and take action to bring facilities into compliance with the provincial acts and regulations that govern them.
The program comprises 30 credits of specialized and advanced curriculum with courses delivered in a flexible online format designed to suit the needs of people with work and family commitments. It is primarily aimed at current CCLOs seeking professional and career development; and prospective CCLOs, who are typically people with work experience as care providers or managers in a community care setting; or those with other professional experience within a health authority.
Curriculum was developed in partnership with British Columbia’s Ministry of Health and provincial health authorities as well as other industry partners.
As part of the agreement, NLC early childhood education and care and social services worker diploma graduates are eligible to receive advanced standing for a number of courses in JIBC’s certificate program. NLC graduates will also need to ensure that they meet all necessary academic requirements.
B.C. residents taking courses in the Advanced Specialty Certificate in Community Care Licensing may be eligible to receive financial support for enrollment in courses up to September 2016 that was announced earlier this year.
About Justice Institute of British Columbia
Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is Canada’s leading public safety educator. Our specialized programs lead to certificates, diplomas, bachelor’s degrees and graduate certificates in Policing, Investigations, Emergency Management, Firefighting, Paramedicine, Sheriffs, Corrections, Counselling, Leadership, Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Driver Training. JIBC also provides customized contract training to domestic and international governments, agencies and organizations. Our approach to education emphasizes applied learning and realistic simulations, delivered by instructors who are experienced practitioners. Our students’ work makes communities safer, and helps people in need, throughout B.C., across Canada and around the world.
Related Links
Advanced Specialty Certificate in Community Care Licensing
Community Care Licensing Officer Bursary
JIBC program helps protect society’s vulnerable
JIBC and Northern Lights College pledge greater collaboration