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Visiting Homemakers, Housekeepers and Related Occupations (6471)

Occupation targeted under the Workplace Apprenticeship Program

Please note that detailed information for each of the occupations under the Workplace Apprenticeship Program is only available in French.

Among the occupations currently in highest demand in All of Québec

Occupation with high worker turnover

The English text is currently unavailable. Please refer to the French text below.

Qualification and skills most often required

Le diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) en assistance à la personne à domicile peut être requis. Certains employeurs exigent seulement quelques années d’études secondaires. Une formation acquise en cours d’emploi ou dans des agences privées est parfois suffisante. Les formations en principes de déplacement sécuritaire des bénéficiaires (PDSB), en secourisme ou en réanimation cardiorespiratoire (RCR) sont souvent exigées par les employeurs. Des aptitudes pour le service à la clientèle, la résistance au stress, la capacité d’adaptation, l’autonomie, le sens des responsabilités, l’empathie, la courtoisie, la capacité d’écoute, la patience, le respect et la discrétion sont des qualités recherchées. Une attestation d’absence d’antécédents judiciaires, délivrée par un service de police, est une condition d’embauche dans le réseau de la santé. Le permis de conduire et l’accès à une voiture peuvent être exigés.

Reason for labor demand

Le vieillissement de la population et le développement des services de maintien à domicile favorisent la demande dans cette profession. Le roulement de la main-d’œuvre augmente les possibilités d’emploi.

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Job titles

  • attendant for persons with a visual impairment - home care
  • attendant for persons with disabilities - home care
  • client care attendant - home care
  • View all job titles

Nature of work

Visiting homemakers provide ongoing or short-term home support services for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption. They are employed by government, non-profit and home care agencies, or are self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households, embassies and other residential establishments. Companions provide elderly and convalescent clients with companionship and personal care in residential settings. They are employed by home care agencies or may be self-employed. Foster parents care for children or family members in their homes under the direction of a foster parent agency.

Fields of interest

  • Counseling, helping others
  • Providing others with care and assistance

Main duties

  • Visiting homemakers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Care for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption
  • - Administer bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing
  • - Plan and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients
  • - Demonstrate infant care to new parents
  • - May perform routine health-related duties such as changing non-sterile dressings, administering medications and collecting specimens under the general direction of home care agency supervisor or nurse
  • - May perform routine housekeeping duties such as laundry, washing dishes and making beds.
  • Housekeepers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Perform housekeeping and other home management duties under general direction of employer
  • - Plan and prepare meals independently or with employer, and may serve meals
  • - May care for children.
  • Companions perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Provide elderly and convalescent clients with companionship and personal care in client's home under general direction of home care agency supervisor or family members
  • - Aid clients with ambulation, bathing and other aspects of personal hygiene.
  • Foster parents perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Care for foster children, usually on an emergency or temporary basis, as family members under general direction of foster parent agency
  • - Consult foster parent agency supervisors for advice and when problems arise
  • - Administer therapeutic programs for foster children, as directed by foster agency social workers.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • * Child-care or home management experience may be required.
  • * Visiting homemakers may require college or other courses in home support.
  • * First aid certification may be required.

Skill type

  • Sales and service

Skill level

  • Intermediate

More information

  • * There is mobility among the occupations in this group.

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