Frequently Asked Questions

We aim to respond to all staffing requests within 2–4 hours during business hours. For urgent and same-day requests, we maintain an on-call roster and will do our best to confirm placement as quickly as possible. Facilities with an established relationship with SFCS typically see faster turnaround due to our knowledge of your environment and preferences.

We place staff in a wide range of settings, including:

• Long-term care homes
• Retirement residences
• Hospitals and rehabilitation centres
• Group homes and developmental services organizations
• Schools and educational support programs
• Community agencies and day programs
• Private home settings for complex care clients

We work with each facility to understand their specific orientation and compliance requirements before placing staff. Where staff have not previously worked at your facility, we communicate your key policies and expectations in advance. For high-frequency or long-term engagements, we can arrange facility-specific orientation sessions to ensure SFCS staff are fully prepared before their first shift.

We issue invoices on a weekly or bi-weekly basis depending on the arrangement. All invoices are itemized by shift, role, and rate. We accept payment by EFT, cheque, and other standard methods. Rates are established in a service agreement prior to your first placement request. For volume accounts, we offer preferred rate structures. Contact our team to discuss your facility's needs and get a formal quote.

Reliability is a core part of our service promise. In the rare event of a no-show or late cancellation, we will immediately work to find a replacement and will notify your facility as early as possible. We track and address reliability concerns with individual staff — repeated no-shows result in removal from active placement status. You will never be billed for a shift that was not worked.

The easiest way to start is to submit a Care Request on our For Families page or call us at (905) 484-0470 / +1 (866) 242-3577. A coordinator will contact you within one business day for a brief needs assessment call — there is no obligation at this stage, just a friendly conversation about how we can help.

We involve families in the matching process and take your preferences seriously — including language, gender, experience with specific conditions, and scheduling preferences. While we cannot always guarantee a specific individual, we will not place someone you have not had a chance to meet and approve. If a placement isn't working, we will find an alternative without question or charge.

Depending on the role and the care plan, a support worker in the home may assist with: bathing, grooming, and dressing; meal preparation; medication reminders; mobility assistance; light household tasks; community outings and transportation; recreational activities and social engagement; skill-building exercises; and documentation of progress or changes in condition. All tasks are outlined in a personalized care plan developed with your family.

Yes. We accept funding from Ontario's Passport program for adults with developmental disabilities, ODSP direct funding, and Home and Community Care Support Services (formerly CCAC). We also accept private pay and some benefit plan coverage. During your intake call, our coordinator will discuss funding options available to your family and help you understand how to access them.

We offer both overnight support and emergency/urgent respite arrangements depending on staff availability. For emergency situations such as a sudden family illness or hospital discharge, contact us as soon as possible at (905) 484-0470 / +1 (866) 242-3577. We will do our best to arrange coverage promptly. For planned overnight or live-in care, we can set up a regular arrangement as part of your care plan.

We have ongoing recruitment for PSWs, DSWs, RPNs, behaviour technicians, community support workers, and overnight/live-in support workers across Ontario. Visit our Careers page for detailed role descriptions. If you do not see your specific title listed, apply anyway — we are always interested in hearing from qualified healthcare and social service professionals.

From application to first shift, most candidates are onboarded within 2–4 weeks, depending on how quickly documents and VSC are available. Our screening call typically happens within 2–3 business days of application. The interview, document verification, and reference checks can take 1–2 weeks. Paid orientation is scheduled after all checks are cleared.

Benefits eligibility depends on your employment classification and the number of hours worked. Full details are discussed during the onboarding process. We are committed to fair compensation that reflects the valuable work our team members do. Our recruitment team can answer specific questions about compensation during the screening call.

Yes, provided you have legal authorization to work in Canada (Canadian citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid work permit). If your credentials were obtained outside of Canada, you may need to have them assessed by the relevant regulatory body (e.g., CNO for nurses). Our recruitment team can help point you toward credential recognition resources for Ontario. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are proud to have a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve.

All new SFCS team members complete a paid orientation covering: SFCS policies and expectations; documentation and shift reporting requirements; PHIPA and privacy obligations; emergency and incident protocols; role-specific training modules relevant to your placement type. For some specialized roles (e.g., behaviour support), additional training modules are included. You will not be placed on a shift until your coordinator is confident you are prepared.