What is a UCP?

Unregulated care providers are important members of a care team that support children to live healthy and happy lives in home and community settings. UCPs may include nannies, neighbors, teachers, camp counsellors, personal support workers, babysitters, daycare staff, etc.

UCPs do not need a mandatory license to provide care in Ontario and do not have a legal scope of practice. This means a UCP’s range of responsibilities when caring for a child is determined by their employer or supervisor in partnership with the child’s primary guardian(s).

What is Just-In-Time Training (JITT)?

Just in Time Training (JITT) is customized education for individuals, including UCPs, caring for a child with medical complexity. It is intended to support learning and skill development aligned with a UCP’s expected responsibilities for the child. It is delivered by a Registered Nurse and/or Registered Respiratory Therapist.

After each JITT session, the UCP learner(s) and their supervisor or employer will receive a learner summary that summarizes what topics were reviewed and recommended next steps in their training.

How is it Planned?

Connected Care will request information about the care responsibilities the UCP is expected to perform. We will use this information to customize our JITT teaching plan. Contact Connectedcare.inquiries@sickkids.ca with your request based on the topics below:

• Feeding Tube Care
• Tracheostomy Care and Emergency Management
• Central Line Care and Emergency Management
• Airway Suctioning (Non-Tracheostomy)
• Oximeter
• Invasive and Non-Invasive Ventilation
• Heated High Flow
• Mechanical In-Exsufflation

Responsibility

• The UCP’s employer and/or child’s family caregiver are responsible for:
  • Confirming whether the child’s condition is appropriate for care by a UCP
  • Assigning (or when needed, delegating) the child’s care to the UCP
  • Assessing the UCP’s knowledge, skill and judgement
• The responsibility for providing education to UCPs is shared among the child’s primary guardian, the UCP’s employer and Connected Care @ SickKids.
• It is the responsibility of the UCP to assess their own skills/competence and seek additional education when needed.

	UCP	Child’s Primary Guardian	UCP’s Employer	Connected Care @ SickKids
Who assigns responsibilities for the child to the UCP?	No	Yes	Yes	No
Who confirms that the UCP is ready to safely care for the child?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Who is involved in teaching the UCP?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Strategies to Promote UCP Learning

• Make a UCP Learning account on our learning portal to access e-modules!
• AboutKidsHealth Tube Learning Hub
• AboutKidsHealth Trach/Vent Manual

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