Training Subsidy Scheme for Staff of Residential Care Homes (2024 - 27)

Introduction

To enhance the service quality of Residential Care Homes for the Elderly and Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities (RCHs), on a continuous basis, SWD had implemented a five-year scheme since March 2019 to provide full subsidies for home managers, health workers and care workers of all RCHs in the territory to enrol in QF- recognised training courses. All RCHs shall nominate their staff for enrolment in relevant courses with available quota. Once the trainees have been issued graduate certificates by the Training Institutes upon completion of the relevant courses, the RCHs concerned may apply to SWD for full reimbursement of the course fees already paid.

After assessing the effectiveness of the Scheme and considering the views of the sector, SWD had obtained additional resources and decided to extend the Scheme by 3 years (from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027) to subsidise more RCH staff to enrol in the related training courses.

Application for Organising Courses and Course Outline of Approved Courses

Training Institutes intending to offer the courses shall formulate the curriculum referenced to the respective “Specification of Competency Standards (SCS)” of elderly care industry under the Qualifications Framework (QF), and to obtain accreditation from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (except for courses provided by self-accrediting colleges / institutions) prior to making an application to SWD for approval. Existing approved courses by SWD do not require to re-apply for approval, only if the approval made by Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications has been invalid, or there is amendment made on the original course contents.

List of Training Institutes Offering Approved Courses and Information on Course to be offered (quarterly)

Information on course to be offered (quarterly) is provided by individual training institute and will be uploaded to the website of Social Welfare Department on the first Monday of March, June, September and December in each year. For course enrolment or further enquires on the course content, please contact the concerned training institute directly.

Course Enrolment and Application for Training Subsidy

The Scheme is designed for Home Managers, Health Workers and Care Workers currently working in RCHEs and RCHDs. Home operators shall nominate their staff for enrolment in relevant courses and pay the specified course fees. Should the trainees successfully complete the courses approved by SWD and are awarded graduate certificates under the Scheme, the home operators may apply to SWD for reimbursement of the paid course fees in full.

Besides, training allowance will be provided to the RCHEs and RCHDs concerned in order to maintain their operation through appropriate manpower deployment when their health workers and care workers attend the Advanced Training for Health Workers and Training for Care Workers, as well as to provide on-site training support and conduct on-the-job assessment for the trainees.

RCHs staffs should direct approach the training institute for enrolling in the approved courses under the Scheme and submit the application for reimbursement of course fees via the training institute.

Enquiry

Please contact Development Section, Licensing and Regulation Branch, SWD.