Second Cohort of BVI Care Certificate Programme
The Ministry of Health and Social Development has launched the second cohort of the BVI Care Certificate Programme with 22 participants, the ministry said in a government press release. Chief Nursing Officer Jascinth Hannibal emphasised the programme’s role in strengthening standards, consistency and compassion across health and social care services, and the ministry reiterated its commitment to improving outcomes for people who rely on care across the Territory.
The Ministry of Health and Social Development has officially launched the second cohort of the BVI Care Certificate Programme, with 22 participants enrolled, the government said in a press release and as confirmed by reporting and images from BVI News. Chief Nursing Officer Jascinth Hannibal told the ministry’s communications team that the training focuses on strengthening standards and consistency across health and social care services in the Virgin Islands. “The Care Certificate Programme equips our care workers with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to deliver safe, dignified, and person-centred care,” she said in the release.
Participants in this cohort come from a wide cross-section of care providers across the Territory, including staff from Rainbow Children’s Home, Senior Residential Services, Home Care Services, Virgin Gorda Care Home, the BVI Health Services Authority and several private social care organisations.
The ministry says mixing learners from different settings supports shared learning and collaboration while promoting standardised, high-quality care. The course trains and assesses participants against 16 core standards aligned with the internationally recognised 6Cs of Care: Care, Compassion, Competence, Communication, Courage and Commitment.
Training combines structured classroom instruction with workplace-based assessments so that learners can put knowledge into practice and demonstrate competency in the environments where they work. For residents who rely on care services — from children in residential settings to elderly or homebound individuals — officials say the initiative aims to improve safety, dignity and consistency in everyday support.
Hannibal emphasised that “every person receiving care deserves respect, understanding, and excellence, and this programme helps ensure our caregivers are prepared to deliver just that,” a message repeated in the ministry release. The ministry frames the Care Certificate as part of broader efforts to strengthen the health and social care system and improve outcomes for individuals and families across the Territory.
The second cohort builds on earlier training efforts and is intended to support staff development and the professionalisation of the local care workforce, offering clearer expectations and potential pathways for career progression. As the cohort progresses, the ministry and participating organisations will monitor outcomes and continue to promote opportunities for additional training and professional growth within the sector.
The ministry released details through Public Health Communications Specialist Natasha Lettsome-Humphrey; media or members of the public seeking more information were given contacts in the government release (nlettsome@gov.vg and BVIGovernment@dgagroup.com). BVI News covered the launch and published images from the event, confirming the number of enrollees and echoing the ministry’s focus on raising standards of care across public and private providers.
Officials say the programme will help create a more consistent, compassionate and competent care workforce across the Virgin Islands.
Primary source: BVI Government