|
Canadian Work
Opportunities The Right Fit is our Goal |
MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ... by Host Families What is a Live-in
Caregiver Program? Q. What is a Live-in Caregiver Program? A. The Live-in Caregiver Program exists to help meet the shortage of Canadian workers and permanent residents available for live-in care. Foreign workers may come to Canada to provide unsupervised care for children, elderly adults or persons with disabilities in private households. Q. What housework can I ask my Caregiver to do? A. Your Caregiver’s primary focus should be on providing childcare. She/he can provide you with other child-related light housekeeping. Your Caregiver can prepare meals, do the laundry for the children and shouldn't be expected to prepare family meals, do the family laundry on a regular basis or clean the entire house. Q. Who governs or regulates the Live-in Caregiver Program? A. The Canadian Government. Q. Who sponsors the Caregivers? A. The host family is the sponsor. Our agency will provide help and guidance for the duration of the process of bringing your Caregiver to Canada. Q. What makes Canadian Work Opportunities unique? A. Our commitment to provide both the host family and the Caregiver with the best service because a perfect fit is our goal. Our staff has over 4 years experience in exchange and work & travel programs and this gives us an advantage in recruiting the best Caregivers, offering best services to host families, and successfully matching families and Caregivers. We currently have 38 partners in 21 countries. Our service is more personalized and we have a wide selection of Caregivers to meet host family needs. Our service to host families includes:
We have a page designed to explain how we differentiate from other agencies and how a live-in Caregiver is different from a live-out one. Please access the page by clicking here. Q. How are host families selected? A. In order to be selected, prospective host families are first identified as potential clients, then screened to ensure their compliance with both Canadian Government and Canadian Work Opportunities standards, and finally matched with a Caregiver. Q. How are Caregivers recruited? A. We have access to various centers of influence where young people usually find information of such programs, they can browse our web site and we have a referral system. In order to be selected, Caregivers must pass a screening process that includes:
Q. What level of training do Caregivers receive before being placed with a host family? A. In order to be able to apply for the Program, Caregivers are required to:
Q. Do Caregivers have nursing or medical training? A. Generally, yes. In order to be able to apply, the Caregiver must have completed a training or have been employed in a field such as childcare, early childhood education, geriatric care, special education, pedriatic nursing, first aid, any health profession, to name just a few areas. We would eventually select those who are already first aid certified before coming to Canada. Q. I have a child with special needs. Can I apply to host a Caregiver with special needs experience? A. Definitely. Be sure to describe on your Host Family Application the specific needs your child has and also mention what qualifications or experience you would expect from your Caregiver. It may take longer to process your application, so please send it to us the earliest possible! Q. How does Canadian Work Opportunities successfully match a host family and a Caregiver? A. First, we personally interview both Host Families and applicants. Only the applicants that pass an interview with our office in Canada enter our matching system. Both our applicants and Host Families data are documented and processed through customized matching techniques that includes our matching software. Our staff would then personally review the output and select the best 4-5 possible matches. The CWO designated representative would finally meet with the Host families and provide them with selected Caregivers that best fit their requirements. If the family decides to review the files of one or more Caregivers, the next step is to provide the selected ones with detailed information about the families they have been matched with and about the work environment they would be experiencing upon prospective Host Family written consent. Thus our agency makes sure that both our host families and Caregivers have an unforgettable experience. Q. Can I request a Caregiver of a certain nationality? A. Yes and No. Our agency is recruiting worldwide. However our selection process is not discriminatory. Requirements like "I want the Caregiver to speak Swedish language fluently" is preferable to "I want a Swedish Caregiver", because the second one creates premises for discrimination. Other types of requests can be: "familiar with European/Australian Culture and traditions" or "ability to cook Chinese food". Be sure to include your preferences in your application and keep in mind that the more flexible you are in your requirements, the more Caregiver candidates you will have to select from. Q. What are the requirements host families need to meet in order to receive a Live-in Caregiver? A. According to the Canadian Government rules, Caregivers need to be provided the following:
Q. What are the costs a host family might have for receiving a Caregiver? A. The monthly cost can range between $750.00 and 1,350*; which includes fees paid to Canadian Work Opportunities and the direct costs associated with the Caregiver. However your costs are based on your direct negotiation with the Caregiver. *The amount above is just an estimate and its calculation is based on the number of hours the Caregiver works per month. Please check with us for your specific case before taking a decision. Q. What happens if problems occur between the host family and the Caregiver? A. Our agency will provide support which in most cases results in a solution to both the host family's and Caregiver's mutual satisfaction. The key to solving problems is through honest and open communication within a truly supportive framework. If the problem cannot be solved we will gladly provide you with another Caregiver. Due to our 60 days warranty policy we will replace your Caregiver for free during the first two months*. *Immigration and advertising costs apply Q. Can the arrangement be extended? A. According to Canadian Government regulations, Caregivers can stay with their host families for one year, after which they can be extended employment authorization for another year; our agency will help them with formalities. Q. We have three boys; is it possible to host a male Caregiver? A. Yes. We have experienced and qualified male Caregivers as well. Please be sure you indicate your preference on your Host Family Application form. You can e-mail us at: caregiver@aupair.ca |
