Students
Student Placement Program
As part of our efforts to be recognized as a centre of excellence and leaders in eldercare, Louis Brier Home & Hospital has been committed to fostering its relationships in the academic community. We have active partnerships with many universities and schools, including the University of British Columbia, Capilano University, Langara College, Vancouver Community College, CDI College, Sprott Shaw Community College, Cambria and many more. We are always looking for opportunities to collaborate with other institutions.
Students take their first steps on a learning journey in a classroom, but can only consolidate that learning when applied in the workforce. Our Student Placement Program provides students with the opportunity to practice and build their clinical, research and educational skills in an environment that provides the highest quality of care.
At Louis Brier Home & Hospital, we see the Student Placement Program as a great recruitment opportunity because we see our students as potential future employees. Since the program started, we have hired many care aides and nurses who completed their placements here, some of which now hold leadership positions within the organization.
Placement, Rotations and Observerships
Participating in a placement, rotation or internship allows students to explore their chosen field and gain hands-on experience while applying the theoretical knowledge they have gained in an academic setting. We are committed to providing a valuable learning and practical experience to students who want to develop their skills in a real healthcare setting.
We provide a vast range of educational placement experience across a variety of healthcare-related fields, including the following:
Nursing
Psychiatric Nursing
Health Care Aide
Music Therapy
Recreational Therapy
Social Work
Massage Therapy
Rehabilitation Assistant
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
In 2024, we welcomed over 400 students through the doors of Louis Brier Home & Hospital and the Weinberg Residence.
Every year, a lot of students obtain their clinical training at Louis Brier Home & Hospital, where they learn and develop their clinical skills.
Student placements are coordinated through the school’s Placement Coordinator. All requests for placements should be sent to our Administrative Assistant by sending an email to kball@louisbrier.com. We ask that you contact us early, at least two months before the start date, to allow enough processing time and avoid placement delays.
Our staff and Placement Coordinator are there to support you in your placement and you will have access to them if you have questions or concerns through your practicum. Louis Brier Home & Hospital has a strong education and training mandate to support professional development, which positively influences student learning.
Arranging Placement
First Day at Louis Brier
Your on-site orientation will take place on your first day. This will include a tour of the building and its amenities, obtaining your ID badge and all other required access and training.
Louis Brier Home & Hospital is located on the corner of West 41st Avenue and Oak Street and the Weinberg Residence is located on the west end of the Snider Campus at 5650 Osler Street.
Free parking is available for students in the underground car park of Louis Brier Home & Hospital. There is also free street parking on Osler Street.
Last Day at Louis Brier
At the end of your placement, we highly recommend that students complete our Student Placement Experience Survey. The survey can be completed through this link.
The Administrative Assistant will also check in with you midway through your placement to assess your satisfaction, address any concerns and identify opportunities for improvement. Louis Brier Home & Hospital values feedback from students about their educational experience as it helps us to evaluate and enhance the program for future students.
What Do Schools Say?
“Louis Brier has been hosting student placements from Langara College from our Bachelor of Science Nursing Program since 2016. As a member of our local community, Louis Brier has continued to support our student clinical placements in other programs, such as Nursing Practice in Canada and the Health Care Assistant Program that started in 2021. The staff at Louis Brier have been a pleasure to work with and our students have had positive experiences in their clinical practice placements working in various areas of residential care.”
“Your commitment to providing our students with a hands-on and enriching learning experience has greatly enhanced their education and prepared them for the challenges of the healthcare profession. The exposure and real-world insights gained through the partnership with Louis Brier have been instrumental in shaping the skills and competencies of our future healthcare professionals.”
“The support, guidance and opportunities I received during my time at Louis Brier were truly invaluable. Your dedication to creating a positive and conducive learning environment has played a significant role in contributing to my growth.”
“Your team’s support and encouragement have been crucial in establishing a positive and enriching learning atmosphere for Music Therapy students like me. The varied hands-on experiences and mentorship from your committed staff have been pivotal in my educational journey.”
Preceptorship Program
Preceptorship is a period to support newly qualified nurses to make the transition from student to develop their practice further. A preceptor is a qualified and experienced practitioner whose role is to support the new nurse.
In line with our goal to be recognized as a centre of excellence by providing creative and innovative services and developing relationships with academic institutions and our funding partners, Louis Brier Home & Hospital established a preceptorship and mentorship program, which launched its first Preceptor Foundational Workshop in January 2019.
The goal of the program is to help the preceptors develop competencies in teaching new staff or students as they prepare for becoming a professional and transition in their new role.
The preceptors are a significant resource in the organization to preceptor students, mentor new hires and coach existing staff. Preceptorship and mentoring are two ways of using role modelling to support the learning and professional growth.
As with any organization that begins to compete for diminishing resources, there is a need to explore and implement practices known to increase job satisfaction. Specifically, a preceptorship program has been found to benefit preceptees, preceptors and the organization.
If you are a student interested in doing your preceptorship at Louis Brier Home & Hospital, please get in touch with our Administrative Assistant by sending an email to kball@louisbrier.com. We ask that you contact us early, at least two months before the start date, to allow enough processing time and avoid placement delays.
Health Career Access Program (HCAP)
What is HCAP?
HCAP is a provincial program that provides a path for applicants with no health care experience to get hired and receive paid health care assistant training as part of their employment. HCAP is building bridges, from education to employment, by reducing the financial cost for program participants. This initiative also supports the increased need for additional staff in long-term care, assisted living and home and community care settings.
Role Descriptions
All successful program applicants must start as a health care support worker before advancing to a health care assistant position.
Health Care Support Worker (HCSW)
As an HCSW, you will work under the direction of a registered nurse or another regulated healthcare professional and perform a variety of non-direct and/or non-clinical healthcare support to clients and families in home settings in accordance with the established care plan and safety requirements.
Typical duties include:
Participating as an integral member of a health care delivery team
Establishing a caring relationship with clients, residents and families
Providing support and assistance with mealtime activities
Providing support and assistance in carrying out activities
Performing housekeeping duties
Greeting and directing visitors
Restocking supplies
Completing and maintaining relevant records
Health care support workers earn $22.32 an hour.
Health Care Assistant (HCA)
Health Care Assistants are members of the health care team who provides personal care in a variety of health care settings, including acute care hospitals, assisted living facilities, group homes, residential care and community care.
They are supervised by registered nurses or other regulated health care professionals and follow established care plans to provide personal care such as bathing, grooming, dressing, assisting with meals and oral hygiene.
Other duties include:
Helping in the delivery of nursing care, including taking temperature, pulse and respiration readings.
Documenting information on a patient’s chart.
Responding to call bells/alarms in hospital settings.
Observing and monitoring patient progress, symptoms and behavioural changes and reporting significant observations.
Utilizing mechanical aides (specialty beds, lifts, wheelchairs and stretchers) to transport patients.
Providing assistance with positioning, lifting and/or transferring patients using established lifting/safety techniques.
Maintaining a clean and safe environment for patients and staff.
On average, Health Care Assistants earn an annual provincial salary of $45,883.
What’s Next?
If HCAP sounds like a good fit for you, start your application today: https://hcapparticipants.gov.bc.ca/.
Following your expression of interest, your name and contact information will be shared with employers, including Louis Brier Home & Hospital, recruiting for Health Care Support Worker positions in your preferred region or community.