Intellectual disability educators worry about staff shortages

Many employees of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale say they fear for their health and that of users every time they go to work in residences with “intensive care” for intellectual disabilities. The major problem of staff shortage is pointed out.

The number of special educators at the Center for the Rehabilitation of Intellectual Disabilities (CRDI) in the Capital-National Region has decreased significantly in recent years.

In just one of the 22 assisted living (RAC) residences in the Quebec City area, eighteen employees have walked away in the past year. Urgent needs in this case as in others were met by “unskilled” labor.

“RACs are the intensive care units of an intellectual disability rehabilitation center,” explains Nicole Klich, president of the Union of Health and Social Services Professionals, Technicians and Technicians (SPTSSS) of the Capital-National Region. There are severe cases of autism spectrum disorders and behavioral disorders. Intervening with them requires a wealth of knowledge. »

Challenging task

According to the union, the significant presence of staff provided by employment agencies or other departments of the CIUSSS in these specialized institutions “affects the safety of qualified workers” who must supervise them in addition to performing their duties.

“I witnessed a colleague being violently pulled by the hair by a highly sensitive autistic person because an agency worker wanted to hug him for warmth. Not a day goes by that I don’t go to work without thinking about which state I will return to in the evening,” says Marys (fictitious name), a special educator who has worked with special RAC clients for 20 years.

Hard recruiting

In 2022, CIUSSS launched an ad hoc operation, calling on other departments of the organization to come in and “solve the problem”. It was supposed to last only a few months, but eventually had to be extended.

“I worked with tinsmiths, construction workers and French-speaking integration staff. It helps to have extra arms, but it increases the risk of accidents and the pressure on the shoulders of special educators,” says Marys.

The head of the union says he has had several discussions with the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale about working conditions at the RACs.

He feels that the government “seriously lacks recognition” of workers from this particular background, despite efforts to improve their sense of security.

“The Ministry of Health does not want to recognize the risk and complexity of working in assisted living facilities. Although they are not often presented, users are human beings with significant needs and are entitled to safe and quality services. »

Delay in arrival of reinforcements

CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale has made significant efforts in recent years to ease the work of technicians in Continuously Assisted Residences (RAC).

“We are aware of the needs of emergency workers and we are doing everything we can to address them, but we cannot force people to come to work. It takes us time and we do not want to rely on forced overtime,” says David Contin, RAC coordinator of CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.

He also affirms that it is very difficult to compete with the CIUSSS school environment in terms of working conditions and salaries.

Change of direction

Of all the departments of a rehabilitation center for the intellectually disabled, David Contin himself recognizes that assisted living is the most difficult client.

Rather than seeking new special educators, CIUSSS will focus on adding adjuncts to health and social services to “reduce the workload” of specialist staff.

“We determined that workers were doing a lot of value-added work like washing dishes, cooking and hygiene work,” said Mr. Contin underlines. By adding support and intervention agents, special educators can devote more time to intervention and rehabilitation. Everyone’s roles are clarified to provide efficient services. »