Ontario College Certificate in Personal Support Worker

St Lawrence College

This Ontario College Certificate program prepares students to provide personal care and support services to individuals and families. Responsibilities of the Personal Support Worker may include assisting with home management, facilitating social and recreational activities, and promoting health and well-being with clients of all ages of the lifespan.The program has been developed to meet the standards published by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. These standards reflect the increased pre-employment education and training required by Personal Support Worker graduates entering the increasingly diverse health and social care environment.Personal Support Workers are unregulated healthcare providers. They work as a member of the care and support team under the supervision of a regulated health professional or supervisor, or in the supported independent living environment, under the direction of the client.The student in the Personal Support Worker program earns a college certificate while learning about the importance of caring for self and others in a variety of settings including, a hospital lab, a home simulation lab, Long Term Care placement settings and Community agencies.The student has an opportunity to complete 4 different placements to ensure adequate experience before graduation. The SLC PSW Program has well over 400 hours of clinical placement. These placements allow the student to become "Career Ready" with a full scope of PSW practice skills.Other training certifications in the course include: Safe Food Handling, Gentle Persuasive Approach(dementia care), St. Peter's Safe Feeding, and Abuse Prevention these training are updated to meet the workforce's needs. The Personal Support Worker program certificate allows the graduate to apply to bridge programs if they wish to continue their studies in nursing.