Personal Support Worker | St. Clair College
Program Code: K933
Status: Open
Apply Online:
30 weeks (2 semesters) - Ontario College Certificate
Starts: September, January

Emergency Alternate Delivery Plan:
Winter 2024 Emergency Alternate Delivery

Contact:
Windsor
Zita Zinn-Shamisa
519-972-2727 ext. 5976
Chatham
Nancy Davis
519-354-9714 ext. 3403

Program Overview

The Personal Support Worker program prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, safe and supportive care to individuals across their lifespan including clients experiencing cognitive impairment, physical disability, age and mental health challenges. Students will develop assessment and communications skills in order to identify and document pertinent information about their client’s health status. Students will learn to provide client-centred and client-directed care based on ethical principles, sensitivity to diverse client and family values, beliefs and needs, and follow the direction of the care plan.

Program Highlights

  • Clinical placements in Windsor-Essex and surrounding areas include:

    • Long-term -Care Facilities
    • Community Care Facilities
    • Hospital Facilities
  • Practical hands-on training in:
    • Well-equipped simulation labs
    • Simulated Apartments

Career Opportunities

There are excellent employment opportunities in Long-Term Care Facilities (Nursing Homes, Government Agencies), Community Care Facilities (Community Living, Palliative Care) and Hospital Facilities (Complex Care).

Some opportunities also exist in the non-profit sector including the Alzheimer Society. There is also the potential for employment in retail homecare services.

Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of courses at the College (C), University (U), University/College (M) or Open (O) level qualify for admission to this program.

Mature students - See Admission Procedures for details.

    Courses

    The curriculum below is for incoming students:

    Semester 1
    Code Title Credits
    PSW164
    Professionalism & Crosscultural Communication
    4
    PSW117
    Anatomy & Physiology For The Personal Support Worker
    3
    PSW168
    Pathophysiology For The Personal Support Worker
    3
    PSW159
    Skills Management & Safety Promotion
    4
    PSW114
    Practicum I
    11

    *PSW114 - Practicum 1 - Lab / Practicum 1 - Clinical (S/U)

    Semester 2
    Code Title Credits
    PSW208
    Mental Health & Dementia, Studies
    2
    PSW209
    Family Studies & Community Care
    2
    PSW201
    Restorative & Pallative Care
    2
    PSW214
    Practicum II - Clinical
    9
    PSW216
    Preceptorship In Long Term Care
    8
    PSW218
    Preceptorship In Community
    6
    PSW204
    Pharmacology For The Personal Support Worker
    2
    PSW206
    Career Development
    1

    Synergy Placement Notice to Students

    Pre-Placement Requirements

    St. Clair College has partnered with Synergy Gateway Inc to provide you access to Verified - a platform that is used by students at other post-secondary institutions across Ontario for the purpose of digitally collecting placement requirements related to placement(s). Synergy Gateway Inc will provide support and clearance to help with your required documentation. You will be required to complete an Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) Review through the Verified platform in order to receive clearance to begin your clinical placement. You will be provided access to "Verified" via a secure username and password. You will use Verified to:

    • Upload your pre-placement requirements documentation for review.
    • Book your Electronic Requirements Verification (ERV) service (this is a service that reviews the documents you have uploaded and provides you a status as to your eligibility to begin placements).
    • Track your ongoing requirements compliance.

    Each student will receive log-in credentials to access Verified that will be sent to your St. Clair College email account. Please check your inbox, spam and junk mail folders for an email from the "Synergy Help Desk". You will be required to create a new password upon logging in. Be sure to view the video user guides and student guidebook to learn how to use the Verified platform.

    Any associated fees for Synergy Gateway Inc to complete the pre-placement requirements are the sole responsibility of the students.

    It is mandatory that students complete their ERV service through Verified to be eligible for your upcoming clinical placement.

    Once your account has been set up with Verified, inquiries can be directed to Synergy Gateway Inc at www.Synergyhelps.com. You will need to submit a Help Desk ticket. Their Help Desk hours are Monday to Friday: 10 am - 3 pm, excluding holidays.

    ** Please note: If you are an International student completing a placement, you will require a valid COOP Work Permit.


    Requirements

    (Please refer to your Synergy communications for full details)


    This is to make you aware that, although a COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend St. Clair College, most of our placement sites are requiring students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to be eligible to attend. Students who are not fully vaccinated cannot be provided with a placement for their program and, therefore, will not be able to complete their programs. Please be advised that COVID-19 booster shots and/or other requirements may become mandatory for placement, however, they are not currently required.

    • Student placements are assigned. Student personal requests for placement cannot be accommodated.

      • Windsor students may be placed anywhere in Windsor and Essex county
      • Chatham students may be placed anywhere in Chatham and Kent county
    • Students are responsible for their own travel and costs to placements
    • Students are responsible for the cost of scrub uniforms/footwear and equipment (such as a stethoscope, a watch with a second hand) and other incidentals as required
    • Placement schedules may include shifts on days, afternoons, weekends and holidays throughout the program based on placement need and agency availability

    Your Investment

    The standard tuition and compulsory fees for the current academic year:

    2023-2024 Tuition Fees  

    For programs with Experiential Learning (Work Placement/Internship): Costs for accommodation, if needed, travel and related expenses is at the student's own expense. It is recommended for most programs, that students have access to a laptop or desktop computer while away from home during experiential learning periods.

    Textbooks and other materials are in addition to Tuition Fees. Textbook prices may be found through the Bookstore website.

    Please be aware that tuition and compulsory fees are subject to adjustment each year. The College reserves the right to change, amend or alter fees as necessary without notice or prejudice.

    Smart Start Information

    Program Physical Demands Analysis

    Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

    Personal Support Worker (Ontario College Certificate)  (MTCU Code 41469)

    The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

    1. Work within the personal support worker role in various care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation, standards, employer job descriptions, policies, procedures and guidelines.
    2. Practice professionally, and be accountable for one's own actions by applying problem-solving, self-awareness, time management and critical thinking to the provision of care as a personal support worker, whether working independently or as a member of a team.
    3. Practice as an engaged member of the interprofessional team to maintain collaborative working relationships for the provision of supportive, safe, responsive and competent client-centred care within care settings.
    4. Provide person-centred care, based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse personal and family values, beliefs, cultural practices and other needs, which follows the plan of care.
    5. Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients and their families using effective communication skills to build a genuine, trusting, and respectful partnership, in accordance with professional boundaries, employer policies, confidentiality, and privacy legislation.
    6. Identify relevant client information within the roles and responsibilities of the personal support worker using observation, critical thinking, and effective communication skills to report and document findings.
    7. Create, promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others by implementing current infection prevention and control measures, emergency and first aid procedures, and best practices in pandemic planning that are in keeping with the plan of care, all applicable legislation, and employer policies and procedures.
    8. Assist clients across the lifespan with activities of daily living by applying fundamental knowledge of growth and development, psychological concepts, common alterations in functioning, health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation and restorative care, and holistic health care.
    9. Assist the client with medication following the client's plan of care, and if a delegated act, under the supervision of a regulated health professional or done by exception under the most accountable person and in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer policies.
    10. Assist with household management services and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care and considering the preferences, comfort, safety and autonomy of clients, families and significant others.
    11. Assist and support clients who are caregivers, considering individual and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care.
    12. Identify, respond to and report potential, alleged, suspected or witnessed situations of abuse, and/or neglect, as required by all applicable legislation, including the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007, and as required within the employers' job description for the personal support workers.
    13. Assist with the provision of holistic health care and advocacy for culturally safe and spiritually sensitive palliative and end-of-life care to clients and to their families and significant others from diagnosis through to death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients’ choices and the plan of care.
    14. Provide client-centered and client-directed care to individuals experiencing various mental health illness and challenges, cognitive and intellectual impairments, and/or responsive behaviours by using supportive approaches and evidence-based practices to promote positive and safe behaviours in clients.

    Additional Information