Why Should You Consider Enrolling in a Personal Support Worker Program?

Personal support workers (PSWs) provide physical and psychological assistance to seniors and individuals with physical disabilities, chronic illnesses, and people recovering from acute illnesses. They help their clients with their activities of daily routine under the supervision of doctors and by following service/care plans and established policies and procedures. They work in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, community agencies, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, school systems, residential facilities, private duty and home care.

Although no education or skill is required to help people in need but it may help you become more effective and efficient. The responsibility of personal support workers is not limited to just assisting clients with their daily routine activities but also includes observing, documenting and reporting patients' behaviour, collecting samples for medical tests, and assisting with dietary planning. Therefore, formal personal support worker education provides you with the knowledge and skills required to perform your job more effectively.

Personal Support Worker Program in Toronto

A post-secondary personal support worker program typically runs for one year through two semesters. You build strong foundation in anatomy, mental health, communication with patients, development stages and alterations in health, personal support communication and supporting clients in palliative care. This is a short but intensive program that covers all aspects of patient care and service.

Although a number of colleges in Canada offer personal support worker courses but not all offer you hands-on experience, which is mandatory to seek employment in organized sector. Centennial College provides you with a 15-week extensive practical experience by allowing you to work with teams in different settings, including hospitals, community and long-term institutions.

In addition to this, the program is delivered by experienced faculty members. The certificate earned is recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, and clinical and community agencies. This means program reflects high quality when it comes to curriculum, field work, faculty and employment prospects.

Program Benefits

As a graduate of this program, you will demonstrate the ability to:

• Establish therapeutic relationships with clients
• Observe patient healthcare in an ongoing and timely manner
• Demonstrate effective verbal, non-verbal, oral and written communication
• Follow patient care plans and established policies and procedures
• Maintain a safe and clean environment for patients
• Report observations to healthcare professionals
• Meet home management care requirements for patients
• Plan and prepare meals, including special diets for patients
• Perform routine housekeeping activities

However, your specific work activities depend upon your employment and your qualifications and work experience.

Program Eligibility

In order to apply for this program, you will need:

Secondary school diploma certificate or equivalent, or mature student status

English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent. You will need to take college's English Skills

Assessment for admission, in case you don't meet this requirement.

After enrolling in this course and prior to field placement, you will also need to:

• Successfully complete a recognized course in standard first aid
• Obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
• Complete immunization requirements
• Complete a recognized course in CPR

Personal Support Worker Program Teaches Students to Offer Vital Services

To those whom they help, Personal Support Workers are an essential part of day-to-day life. That's because these professionals carry out tasks that, according to the Personal Support Worker Resource Centre, include:

• Following a care plan, observe and report any substantial findings and/or changes in patient/resident/client's behavior to the appropriate registered member of the healthcare team.
• Assisting with ambulation, positioning and transferring using mechanical lifts such as a Hoyer lift.
• Assisting or providing total personal care such as toileting, bathing and perineal care.
• Assisting with eating, dressing and grooming.
• Assisting nursing staff by answering call bells
• Performing sitter duty or patient watch for confused patients in clinical care settings.
• Reporting behavioral and clinical changes to a registered nurse, registered practical nurse, resource nurse or manager.
• Self-actualization by helping patient/resident/client to reach maximum potential.

At Centennial College's personal support worker program, students can learn to carry out all of these tasks in a confident and efficient manner through just two semesters of training that result in an Ontario College Certificate. It is worth noting the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings recognize the certificate.

Facilitated from Morningside Campus, Centennial College's most technological location, the program offers students education that is up-to-date and allows them to become comfortable with the latest equipment while learning. To ensure that students launch successful careers, the offering's curriculum includes information on the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. Specific courses include: Foundations for Personal Support, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care, Personal and Professional Growth and more. Experienced, caring and supportive instructors deliver these courses and lead small group-instruction in clinical and laboratory settings.

Each Personal Support Worker course is complemented by 15 weeks of extensive practical experience working with teams in hospitals long-term care institutions and in the community. During this time, students experience both the clinical and community sides of the industry to determine which one suits their career goals best. They work alongside professionals to apply what they learned on campus and gain a real world perspective from people who have been in the field for years. This experience enhances a students' resume but also ensures they are comfortable in the field prior to entering it.

Personal Support Worker Courses Balance Theory and Hands-on Application

Did you know that Canada is currently experiencing a shift in how non-institutional care is viewed? As such, there is actually a new emphasis on this form of care that has, in turn, created an increasing demand for trained Personal Support Workers (PSWs). There is a range of organizations that employ these professionals, including: hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, community agencies, private duty and homecare, and school systems (where they work with behaviourally and developmentally challenged children). These PSWs have a range of duties they may complete depending on their client, but there are common tasks. According to the Ontario Network for Internationally-trained Professionals, common duties for PSWs include: assisting with all activities of daily living including bathing, toileting, dressing, mobility and feeding; sorting and bagging all soiled linen; making and changing beds; cleaning and tidying resident rooms; supporting client's independence regarding medications; recognizing and reporting changes in a client's behaviour/condition; providing informal counselling, as needed; collaborating and reporting observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and documenting this information promptly; and more.

At Centennial College, those who wish to enter this vital field attend the Personal Support Worker program. This offering compresses the curriculum into two semesters worth of courses. The goal is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and assistance to individuals so that they may lead active and fulfilled lives in the community and institutions.

What sets this program apart from other similar programs is not just its length, which ensures speedy entry into the field. Each personal support worker course within the offering has elements of theoretical training as well as practical application and reflects the latest practices and policies in the field. For example, faculty members who are experienced, caring and supportive provide small group instruction in clinical and laboratory setting.

The offering's curriculum focuses on the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment as well as clients recovering from acute illnesses. Specific courses within this offering include: Foundations of Personal Support, Personal Support Communication, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, PSW Skills Laboratory, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more.

Students have the opportunity to test their knowledge and expand their professional network during their final semester of study. This is achieved through an intensive 15-week field placement. During this time, students get extensive practical experience working with teams in hospitals long-term care institutions and in the community.

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings recognize the certificate that students obtain once they successfully complete their training.

Personal Support Worker Courses in Canada

A personal support worker program prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist individuals with disabilities, cognitive impairment and chronic illnesses. The focus is on helping them develop a full range of skills, enabling them to provide home and health related services to elderly and people who are physically or mentally challenged.

The program prepares students to function efficiently in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, residential care facilities, long-term care institutions, community support agencies, chronic care facilities, schools, nursing homes, and private duty and homecare. It trains students to work with patients and provide them with care and support to help them lead active and fulfilled lives in the communities and institutions.

Program Details

A personal support worker education program combines classroom learning with hands-on laboratory and clinical and community practice. The students acquire knowledge in human anatomy and developmental stages and alterations in health. They are prepared to work with people in different settings and support them in palliative care.

As establishing communication with clients is an important part of their job, a strong emphasis is placed on helping them develop personal support communication skills. In addition, the program includes filed placements in both community and clinical settings, helping them gain hands-on experience, which is a necessary condition to seek employment after course completion. They learn to participate as a member of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings.

The program graduates are capable of supporting the client's personal and home management care requirements and preferences, assisting in promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients and their families and reporting observations to appropriate health care team members in a timely and ongoing manner.

Program Duration

A post-secondary personal support workers course typically runs for one year through two semesters. It includes classroom learning and training in real world settings. Students enrolling in this course spend 15 weeks working with teams in long-term care institutions, hospitals and in the community, in order to gain practical experience. The training reflects the latest policies and practices in the field.

Admission Requirements

In order to apply for a post-secondary PSW program, students will need to submit secondary school diploma or equivalent and scores of English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent.

After admission but before course completion, they will also need to obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening and complete immunization requirements, a recognized course in CPR and an acknowledged course in Standard First Aid. They will also need to attend mask fit testing by the college.

Is a personal support worker program recognized?

A number of colleges in Canada offer post-secondary personal support worker programs. Unfortunately, not all are recognized. Therefore, it's important to carefully choose your college. Centennial College's certification program in personal support worker is recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings. In addition, the college provides students with much required industry exposure through industry field placements, which enhances their career prospects.

Speedy Personal Support Worker Program Includes Real World Experience

When choosing a Personal Support Worker program, it is essential to note the amount of practical application you will enjoy during the course of the undertaking. That's because in a field as hands-on as this one, being fully comfortable is of the utmost importance. At Centennial College's two-semester offering, the emphasis is on teaching students the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses through practical learning.

To apply for this program, students are required to have already completed an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or have mature student status (19 years or older) as well as English Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent (minimum grade required) or take the Centennial College English Skills Assessment for Admission.

Because the offering is only two semesters in length, students experience a concentrated delivery format that focuses largely on courses that relate directly to the field. Among these courses are: Personal Support Communication, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care, PSW Skills Laboratory and more. Within these courses, students have the opportunity to practice the skills they learn through case studies, group work, presentations and more. Training reflects the latest practices and policies in the field. Further enhancing learning is the campus where the offering is housed. Morningside is recognized as Centennial College's most technologically advanced campus and includes healthcare labs that mock real world environments.

To take the benefits students receive from attending this offering a step further is 15 weeks of extensive practical experience during which students work with teams in hospitals long-term care institutions and in the community. It is worth noting that to partake in this learning opportunity, students must obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening; complete immunization requirements (immunization review form); successfully complete and annually renew a recognized course in CPR (HCP-Healthcare Provider level); successfully complete a recognized course in standard first aid; and attend mask fit testing provided by Centennial College.

After successfully completing every Personal Support Worker course in Toronto, students are prepared to support a range of clients in their homes, hospitals, residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies. Among the specific duties of Personal Support Workers are: following a care plan while reporting any substantial changes in the client’s behavior to the appropriate registered member of the healthcare team; assisting with ambulation, positioning and transferring using mechanical lifts; assisting or providing total personal care such as toileting, bathing and perineal care; assisting with eating, dressing and grooming; and performing sitter duty or patient watch for confused patients in clinical care settings.

Personal Support Workers Job Description Work Life and Educational Requirements

Personal support workers operate in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, residential facilities, long term care institutions, community support agencies and clients within their homes, assisting clients with activities of daily living. They are responsible for

• Following the patient care plan suggested by a licensed healthcare practitioner
• Observing and reporting any substantial or unusual findings in patient's behavior or physical condition
• Assisting in or providing total personal care to patients
• Helping clients ensure personal hygiene
• Performing routine household chores for clients
• Offering companionship to the clients
• Mobilizing disabled people and motivating them to help themselves
• Providing informal counselling to patients
• Giving them medicines on time as suggested by a physician or a registered health practitioner
• Listening to the concerns of patients and bringing positivity in their lives
• Promoting safety and providing emotional support
• Assisting with meal preparation
• Maintaining records and documents

The basic work activities of personal support workers are same everywhere; however, the scope of practice is governed by

• Type of setting they are employed with
• Specific requirements of a client
• Type of experience that they have
• Rules and regulations of the setting they work in
• Laws of a particular state or country

The job description of personal support professionals can be tailored to the specific needs of clients or the requirements at a healthcare facility.

Work Life of Personal Support Workers

Personal support workers may require working in shifts; however, their roles and responsibilities depend on the condition of people they attend to. They are also expected to travel to the homes of clients to assist them in their routine activities.

The job of personal support professionals can be very stressful and demanding, as they have to deal with people with diverse disabilities and medical conditions. The professionals should be emotionally balanced and soft spoken and should respect their clients, regardless of their condition. They are also expected to preserve the dignity, privacy and independence of the people they attend to.

Educational Requirements for Becoming a Personal Support Worker

In order to pursue career as a personal support worker in Toronto, you need to have undergone a formal training in this field. A post-secondary personal support worker course prepares you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide assistance and care to allow individuals to lead active and fulfilled lives in the community and institutions.

The program focuses on the full range of home and health related services required by clients with disabilities, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, people with cognitive impairment and also patients recovering from acute illnesses.

Centennial College's personal support worker program covers a wide range of subjects including anatomy, foundations of personal support, personal support communication, developmental stages and alterations in health, foundations of mental health, PSW skills laboratory, and supporting clients in palliative care, personal and professional growth, PSW clinical practice and PSW community practice.

The program combines classroom learning, participation as a member of the care services teams in community and institutional settings, and a supervised field placement in a real-world scenario.

Enrollment Guide

In order to apply for a personal support program, you will need:

• Secondary school diploma or equivalent
• English Grade 12 C or University or equivalent

After admission, you will need to:

• Obtain an annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening
• Complete immunization requirements
• Complete and annual renew a recognized course in CPR
• Complete a recognized course in Standard First Aid
• Attend mask fit testing

Personal Support Worker Program Provides Practical Application of Theory

If you are interested in leading a life of service through your career, you may want to consider attending Centennial College's Personal Support Worker program, which prepares students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and assistance to allow individuals to lead active and fulfilled lives in both the community and institutions.

Thanks to this training, graduates find employment under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse with clients who include elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. The Personal Support Work program grads work with clients in their homes, residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies, assisting with activities of daily living, according to a care plan. According to Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals, in the course of remaking the health care system in Canada, Personal Support Workers are reported to be in growing demand.

Among the day-to-day duties of Personal Support Worker program grads are responsibilities such as: acting within the personal support worker role, under supervision, and by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures; participating as member of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings; collaborating and reporting observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and documenting this information promptly; supporting the client's personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; demonstrating effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assisting in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others.

In order to prepare students for all of these tasks in just two semesters, the Personal Support Worker program is focused on the full range of home- and health-related services required by a variety of clients. As such, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings recognize the certificate that is earned by students.

Through training that reflects the latest practices and policies in the field, students learn about anatomy, foundations of personal support, developmental stages and alterations in health, personal support communication, foundations of mental health, supporting clients in palliative care and more. Students of the Personal Support Worker program also benefit from small group instruction in clinical and laboratory settings. To round out on-campus training, apply what they have learned in-school, network and absorb knowledge from practicing professionals, students spend more than half of the total program hours in a field placement. During this experience, they work with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings.

Those interested in attending the Personal Support Worker course in Toronto must have finished at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, they must have finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency.

Career Prospects for Personal Support Worker Courses

Personal support workers (PSWs) assist people in their day-to-day activities such as taking medicines, getting out of bed, ensuring personal hygiene, bathing and dressing, arranging social outings and recreational activities. Their duties may also include home management such as, shopping, cleaning and laundry and taking care of children. They are also expected to bring positivity in the lives of their patients by talking to them, listening to their concerns and reading them a book.

The precise job roles and responsibilities depend upon the organization or setting they work with. Typically they are employed with residential facilities, long term care institutions, community support agencies, nursing homes, chronic care facilities, hospitals, schools and in private settings such as clients within their homes.

Career Prospects for Personal Support Workers

The demand for personal support workers is anticipated almost double in the next decade. The reason for this is dramatic demographic shift - aging baby boomers generation. The shortage of PSWs in Canada is already being experienced. The coming years may widen the gap between their demand and availability.

Healthcare facilities are now keen in hiring qualified professionals who have undergone a formal education and hands-on-experience to improve their patient care services. The demand for trained professionals in personal support is more than ever with a new emphasis on non-institutional care.

Becoming a Personal Support Worker

Students having a keen interest in serving people and community may choose to become trained personal support workers. You can enroll in a personal support worker course if you want to make difference in the lives of countless people in need - especially seniors, physically and mentally challenged children and anyone suffering from serious illness.

A personal support worker program typically runs for one year and can be taken up by interested students after completing their secondary school education. The program aims to prepare you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care and assistance to people in need. You get to learn about complete home and health related services required by clients with disabilities, cognitive impairment, chronic illnesses and elderly people.

You are taught to assist these people in leading active and fulfilling lives. The course provides foundational knowledge on anatomy, personal support, communication, mental health and development stages and alterations in health in the first semester.

In the second semester, you are taught how to provide support to clients in palliative care. You also undergo extensive practical experience for 15 weeks working in hospitals or long term care institutions. You not only get to learn latest practices and policies in the field but also gain an understanding about how to work with people and assist them.

In order to enroll for the course, you need a secondary school diploma, English Grade 12 C or University, annual clear police check with vulnerable sector screening and completed immunization requirements.

The job of personal support workers is very challenging and may require attending 8-10 clients a day and travelling to their homes. Only those students who are genuinely interested in community service should go for it.

Personal Support Worker Program Offers Variety of Career Options

Did you know that according to the Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals, in the course of remaking the health care system in Canada, Personal Support Workers are reported to be in growing demand? If you’re interested in working under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse in a health care facility and home care settings then attending a Personal Support Worker program in Canada may be for you.

 

But what exactly do Personal Support Workers do? First and foremost, they work with a very wide range of clients who include: the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. They may work with these people in a variety of settings such as their homes, residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies, assisting with activities of daily living, under the supervision of professionals and according to a care plan. Depending on the setting, Personal Support Workers may perform any of the following tasks: support the client’s personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; collaborate and report observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and document this information promptly; demonstrate effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assist in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others; and more.

This Personal Support Worker program emphasizes the full range of home- and health-related services required by a variety of clients. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings, recognize the certificate students earn. In addition, the training reflects the latest practices and policies in the field. 

Leading small group instruction in clinical and laboratory settings are Personal Support Worker instructors who are experienced, caring and supportive. These instructors guide students through Personal Support Worker courses such as Anatomy, Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more. It should be noted, however, that students in the Personal Support Worker Program spend more than half of the total program hours in a field placement working with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. This field placement allows them to apply what they have learned in-school, network and absorb knowledge from practicing professionals. 

If you’re interested in applying for the Personal Support Worker Course, you must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, you are required to have finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency. For more information visit Centennial College.

Personal Support Worker Program Offers Vital Practical Experience

With a career such as that of a Personal Support Worker, which includes hands-on work with clients, the program one attends to earn a credential that will allow him to work in the field should have a practical focus. Centennial College’s Personal Support Worker program offers just that thanks to its courses and an extensive 15-week field experience.


As a result of the Personal Support Worker program, graduates are able to: act within the personal support worker role, under supervision, and by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures; participate as members of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings; collaborate and report observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and document this information promptly; support clients’ personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; demonstrate effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assist in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others.


Thanks to the range of skills students learn in the Personal Support Worker program, the certificate that is earned is recognized by The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as well as community agencies and clinical settings. The skills also see students adapt to a variety of settings, such as in the home, schools, community residential facilities, nursing homes or chronic care facilities.


But how do students go from novices to professionals by the time they graduate from the two semesters worth of Personal Support Worker courses? First and foremost, students of the offering will find that the focus is on the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. At the same time, courses strive to reflect the latest practices and policies in the field, and include: Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Foundations of Mental Health, Clients in Palliative Care and more.


Helping them to master these different Personal Support Worker program topics is Morningside Campus, which is Centennial College’s most technologically advanced location and boasts clinical and laboratory settings. Another way that students apply what they learn is through a Personal Support Worker program field placement during which they work with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. The 15-week placement makes up half of the total program hours.


Those wishing to apply to the Personal Support Worker program must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, applicants must have finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency.

Personal Support Worker Program Offers Rounded Education

When choosing a Personal Support Worker program, there are a few things to consider. First, the offering should have a hands-on approach, as this is a very interactive field. Secondly, it should be recognized by organizations that hire employees of this area. Thirdly, the Personal Support Worker program should cover topics that will allow its students to learn how to deal with a wide range of populations.

All of these aspects make up Centennial College’s one-year Personal Support Worker program, which results in an Ontario College Certificate and is recognized by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings. This recognition is thanks to the offering’s training, which gives students flexibility to adapt to a variety of settings such as homes, schools, community residential facilities, nursing homes or chronic care facilities.

To apply for the Personal Support Worker offering, students must possess at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, applicants must have finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency.

Students spend one intensive year in smaller-sized classes that guarantee more individualized attention. In these classes, they encounter a paced curriculum that ensures they master: acting within the personal support worker role by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures; participating as members of the care service teams; collaborating and reporting observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and document this information promptly; supporting clients’ personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; demonstrating effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assisting in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others.

But how exactly do students attain such a professional level and high knowledge level? First and foremost, the Personal Support Worker courses are a combination of hands-on and theory. Knowledgeable Personal Support Worker program instructors guide students through clinical and laboratory aspects in courses such as Anatomy, Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more. Secondly, the Personal Support Worker program has a strong practical emphasis that sees students spend more than half of the total program hours in a field placement working with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. The 15 weeks of extensive practical experience in field placement allows them to apply what they have learned in-school, network and absorb knowledge from practicing professionals.

Now is a great time to enter this field as the Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals predicts that with a new emphasis on non-institutional care, the demand for trained Personal Support Workers is increasing.

Personal Support Worker Program Takes One Year to Complete

Are you interested in attending a Personal Support Worker program that prepares you for the field through a focus on hands-on approach? If so, you may want to consider applying for Centennial College’s Personal Support Worker courses, which can be completed in a year and result in an Ontario College Certificate. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings, recognize this certificate. Interested parties are required to have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. In addition, applicants must have finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency.

Once accepted, Personal Support Worker program students study out of Morningside Campus, which is Centennial College's most technologically advanced location and offers other School of Community and Health Studies offerings. The Personal Support Worker courses themselves focus on the full range of home- and health-related services required by a variety of clients. The courses also reflect the latest practices and policies in the field. Knowledgeable Personal Support Worker program instructors guide students through clinical and laboratory aspects in courses such as Anatomy, Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more.

As previously mentioned, the Personal Support Worker program emphasizes hands-on practice. Because of this, students spend more than half of the total program hours in a field placement working with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. The 15 weeks of extensive practical experience in field placement allows them to apply what they have learned in-school, network and absorb knowledge from practicing professionals.

Thanks to its extensive training, Personal Support Worker program graduates have the flexibility to adapt to a variety of settings, such as in the home, schools, community residential facilities, nursing homes or chronic care facilities. Graduates of the Personal Support Worker program have demonstrated the ability to: act within the personal support worker role, under supervision, and by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures; participate as members of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings; collaborate and report observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and document this information promptly; support clients' personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; demonstrate effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assist in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others.

According to the Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals, in the course of remaking the health care system in Canada, Personal Support Workers are reported to be in growing demand. As such, personal support worker course graduates should be able to enter long-lasting careers.

Personal Support Worker Program Gets You into the Field Quickly

Do you have an interest in assisting individuals to lead active and fulfilled lives? Do you want to attend a college program that will take less than two years to complete? Have you completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older? In addition, have you finished the compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent and can prove English proficiency? If you answered ‘yes’ to all of these questions then Centennial College’s one-year Personal Support Worker program may be for you.

This offering emphasizes the full range of home- and health-related services required by a variety of clients. As such, graduates of the Personal Support Worker program are able to work with clients who include elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. The Personal Support Work program grads work with these people in their homes, residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies, assisting with activities of daily living, under the supervision of professionals and according to a care plan. More specifically, they act within the personal support worker role, under supervision, and by following care/service plans and established policies and procedures; participate as a member of the care service teams in both community and institutional settings; collaborate and report observations to appropriate health care team members in an ongoing, timely manner and document this information promptly; support the client’s personal and home management care requirements and preferences by following care service plans and established policies and procedures; demonstrate effective oral, written and nonverbal communication techniques; and assist in the promotion and maintenance of a safe and caring environment for clients, their families, self and others.

How exactly does the Personal Support Worker program work? First and foremost, it should be noted that the intensely-paced undertaking is led by an experienced group of faculty members. These instructors guide students through Personal Support Worker courses such as Anatomy, Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more.

However, students spend more than half of the total program hours in a field placement working with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. This field placement allows them to apply what they have learned in-school, network and absorb knowledge from practicing professionals.

Upon graduation, Personal Support Worker program graduates work under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse and may work in a health care facility and home care. According to Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals, in the course of remaking the health care system in Canada, Personal Support Workers are reported to be in growing demand.

Personal Support Worker Program Sees Students Enter the Field in Two Semesters

Graduates of Centennial College’s Personal Support Worker program are prepared to work with: clients within their homes, and residential facilities or long-term care institutions and community support agencies to assist clients with activities of daily living, under the supervision of professionals and according to a care plan. This variety of options gives students an advantage as they have more career choices and are comfortable in a range of environments.

Centennial College’s one-year Ontario College Certificate program prepares students to provide others the care and assistance they need to live active and fulfilled lives. The Personal Support Worker program focuses on the full range of home- and health-related services required by a variety of clients. To apply for the Personal Support Worker program, students must have completed at least an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. Also required is a compulsory English 12C or U credit or skills assessment, or equivalent. Lastly, English proficiency will be considered as part of the admission process.

Once students have been accepted, they will enter an intensely paced program during which they’ll spend more than half the total program hours working with teams in long-term care institutions, the community and at in-home settings. This field placement allows them to apply what they have learned in-school. However, on-campus training is just as important and is led by an experienced group of faculty members. Training in the Personal Support Worker program focuses on the full range of home and health related services required by the elderly, clients with disabilities, chronic illnesses, cognitive impairment and also clients recovering from acute illnesses. Specific Personal Support Worker courses include: Anatomy, Foundations of Personal Support, Developmental Stages & Alterations in Health, Personal Support Communication, Foundations of Mental Health, Supporting Clients in Palliative Care and more.

As a result of these Personal Support Worker courses, students graduate program with a skills that include: providing client-centered and client- directed care under supervision; making, collecting, and reporting to the supervisor relevant observations in an ongoing and timely manner and recording this information promptly; supporting the client’s personal care requirements by following care/service plans; communicating effectively and appropriately using oral, written, and nonverbal methods.

Upon graduation, Personal Support Worker program graduates work under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse and may work in a health care facility and home care. According to Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals, in the course of remaking the health care system in Canada, Personal Support Workers are reported to be in growing demand. In addition, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as community agencies and clinical settings recognize the certificate.