Updates

Introduced on 1 December 2024, the Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority (HSCPOA) is an independent regulatory body accountable to the Ontario government under the Health and Supportive Care Providers Oversight Authority Act, 2021. HSCPOA includes a voluntary, free-to-register public registry for personal support workers (PSWs). This is Ontario’s third attempt to formalize a voluntary PSW registry; previous attempts in 2011 and 2018 were unsuccessful. Spurred by complaints about the care of vulnerable older adults during the pandemic, this new registry enforces a code of ethics and standards for PSW education and training to ensure accountability for safe, quality, and ethical care. Public information about registered PSWs, including training and complaints, creates transparency and accountability, and makes it efficient for employers to perform qualification checks. Although voluntary, critics argue that if employers or the province mandate registration, it could compromise the availability of PSWs in a system already facing significant shortages.