Personal Support Worker (PSW) program
Begin your journey in the healthcare sector by enrolling in our comprehensive Personal Support Worker (PSW) program. In a span of less than 6 months, you’ll gain vital skills to assist the elderly and individuals requiring care. Our program provide adaptable learning solutions that are ideal for those aiming to pursue a career in healthcare.
About the (PSW) Personal Support Worker Certification Program
Accelerated programs build to get you employed Ministry Approved Programs accepted across Hands-on-Training for Real-world readiness Supportive Learning Environment.
Our Personal Support Worker (PSW) program empowers students with contemporary healthcare concepts, techniques, and cutting-edge best practices.
From mastering medication administration to honing infection control skills, and from mastering care planning to conducting thorough client assessments, we equip you to seize a wide array of healthcare career opportunities. Our overarching goal is to nurture empathy, compassion, and respect, ensuring that our graduates leave a meaningful and affirmative impact on the lives they care for.
The NACC Personal Support Worker (PSW) DE 2022 program prepares graduates to provide supportive care to individuals across the lifespan including clients experiencing cognitive and intellectual impairments, physical and mental health challenges, and illnesses, by assisting them with their activities of daily living. Graduates may find employment in a variety of care settings including community care agencies/organizations, retirement homes, private homes, residential care homes, long-term care homes and hospital care settings.
As valuable members of the interprofessional team, PSW graduates develop effective working relationships with team members and participate in the delivery, reporting and documentation of care as directed by the plan of care. They use subjective client observations and objective personal support worker observations, and communication skills to identify and document relevant information pertaining to clients’ status and report findings to members of the interprofessional team and/or responsible person.
What PSW Do?
Personal Support Workers (PSW) assist with the tasks of daily living and may work in various settings including long-term care facilities, home care settings, retirement homes, supportive housing, group homes, adult day programs, hospitals, and educational facilities.
The range of services provided by a PSW is determined by the individual needs of each person* and may include assistance with routine activities of living including personal care, mobility, home management, meal preparation, family care, and assisting with social and recreational activities.
As front-line workers, Personal Support Workers must develop a broad range of abilities beyond dexterity skills. They must provide not only for the comfort, safety, and well-being of their clients, but also demonstrate sensitivity and respect for those in their care. The attitude, abilities, and approach of the PSW are critical to the well-being and health of the people they support.
Total Program Length:
700 Hours + CPR & First Aid
In-School Theory & Practice (includes testing):
400
Clinical Placement (Facility): 200 | Clinical Placement (Community): 100
TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS:
700
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Modules for the NACC PSW DE 2022 Program
Module 1 – PSW Foundations
The introductory module provides an overview of the scope of responsibilities of PSWs in a variety of settings. Students will learn about client-centred versus client-directed care; and emphasizing the individuality of the client and his/her relationship with family, friends, and others. Key topics include work relationships, stress and time management, interpersonal skills, and communications, including conflict resolution and problem solving, and applicable legislation.
Module 2 – Safety and Mobility
The second module covers safety as it relates to both the client and the worker. One of the fundamental activities of the PSW is that of assisting the client with routine activities of living. Students will learn about risks of unsafe equipment or settings and appropriate actions to take when unsafe situations are identified. Topics include infection control methods, body mechanics, and transferring and lifting techniques using equipment to increase safety and reduce client anxiety.
Module 3 – Body Systems
This module will introduce the student to the basics of anatomy and physiology. Students will gain an understanding of human body systems in order to apply that knowledge in their daily work as a Personal Support Worker. These body systems are: the musculoskeletal, digestive, urinary, integumentary, reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine. Common disorders and age-related changes for each body system will also be covered.
Module 4 – Assisting with Personal Hygiene
PSW’s assist clients with all activities or routines of daily living. Students will learn how to care for the ill, disabled, injured and/or confused client. Frailness, dignity and levels of dependence will be considered. Personal hygiene includes oral care, perineal care, bathing, grooming, dressing, bed making, shaving, hair care, and skin care. It includes mobility considerations and involves personal safety, self-esteem and dignity. The foundation of this module is humanistic health care.
Module 5 – Abuse and Neglect
This module introduces students to the concepts of violence and abuse, including its possible signs, and the appropriate actions and legal requirements if abuse is suspected. Personal beliefs and attitudes about family violence and abuse are examined, as is the concept of worker abuse of the client and, abuse of the worker. PSW will learn to recognize both indicators and causes, and the requirements of legislation, employer policy, and provisions of the service contract or support plan.
Module 6 – Household Management, Nutrition and Hydration
Students will learn to assist the client with their nutritional needs, household activities, and household management according to client preferences, comfort and safety within employer guidelines as required. Nutritional needs include planning balanced menus, preparing shopping lists and shopping, safe handling of food, and storage and specific cooking techniques. The special dietary needs of certain clients and their cultural and religious preferences will all be addressed.
Module 7 – Care Planning / Restorative Care / Documentation / Working in the Community
This module identifies the support provided through the care plan or service contract to the client to relearn or regain routine abilities. They will understand its significance, and the rights of the client as a receiver of support and the purpose, methods, and persons involved in its creation. Student will also be introduced to working in the community health care environment, providing support to patients and families in communities, conducted in accordance with employer guidelines.
Module 8 – Assisting the Family, Growth and Development
Students learn to understand family characteristics in terms of structure, functions, roles, lifestyles and relationships. The influence of cultural values, practices, religious beliefs as well as the effects of illness, stress, and disability on family relationships will be emphasized as central to the PSW’s ability to provide effective support. This module also explores the stages of growth and development throughout the life cycle and the role of the PSW in providing respite to families.
Module 9 – Assisting the Dying Person
In this module students learn about hospice, palliative and end-of-life care, the integration of a palliative approach to care, ways of being, communication and practical strategies to provide psychosocial support and physical comfort care for both the person and their family. This module addresses provincial palliative care competencies (2018-2020) including competencies for caring for First Nation, Inuit, Metis and urban Indigenous peoples.
Module 10 – Assisting with Medications
Within the PSW scope of practice, students learn about medication administration versus assistance. They gain basic knowledge of the drugs used in the treatment of common diseases and disorders including use, classification, effects, and routes of administration. They identify purposes, required instruction, and cautions; and the importance of observation for both desired and undesired outcomes, as well as the procedures to be followed in the event of a concern or problem with medications.
Module 11 – Cognitive and Mental Health Issues and Brain Injuries
This module introduces students to common psychiatric conditions such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, cognitive impairment, and brain injury. The possibility of multiple conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and depression will be discussed along with the role of the family caregiver and the importance of observation, documentation, and reporting in order to recognize changes in behaviour that can be related to psychiatric conditions or an increased risk of suicide.
Module 12 – Health Conditions
Students are introduced to ongoing conditions and basic concepts of assistance, as well as the general effects on the person of common disabilities, conditions and diseases. Students will gain skill in the necessary techniques while focusing on the importance of providing support safely, effectively and comfortably. Concepts of maintenance, rehabilitation and restoration are discussed, as is the importance of the support team in providing assistance and training of these additional skills.
Module 13 – Gentle Persuasive Approaches in Dementia Care
Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) is a multi-disciplinary education program designed for everyone who interacts with older adults in the workplace. Participants are guided to fully understand responsive behaviours in order to be able to respond effectively and appropriately in a workplace setting.
Module 14 – Clinical Placement (Facility)
Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. Students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant, and may receive offers of employment from the placement site. They spend time working in a facility setting for 100 hours under the supervision of their instructor and under a preceptor provided by the host site for 100 hours. The instructor will be available by phone and email during the placement.
Module 15 – Clinical Placement (Community)
Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. While on placement, students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant, and may receive offers of employment from the placement site. In this module the students will spend time working in a community setting under the supervision of a preceptor provided by the host site. The instructor will be available by phone and email at all times.
ASSOCIATED NATIONAL OCCUPATION CLASSIFICATION (NOC) CODES
After pursuing Personal Support Worker, you are eligible for positions falling under the following NOC Codes
NOC – 44101 – Home support workers, housekeepers and related occupations– Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client’s residence, in which the home support worker may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or they may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.
Common Job Titles which you can apply for include – Attendant for persons with disabilities – home care, family caregiver, home support worker, housekeeper, live-in caregiver – seniors, personal aide – home support, personal care attendant – home care, respite worker – home support.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Duties of a Personal Support Worker range from providing care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence or family disruption; administering bedside and personal care to clients such as aid in ambulation, bathing, personal hygiene, and dressing and undressing; planning and prepare meals and special diets, and feed or assist in feeding clients. The duties performed by the housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties under general direction of employer; plan and prepare meals independently or with employer and may serve meals; may care for children.
Career Outlook After PSW
Equipped with our NACC PSW certification course , you’ll be well-prepared to embark on a fulfilling career as a Personal Support Worker across both public and private sectors. Our comprehensive training ensures your readiness for diverse roles in hospitals, long term care facilities, retirement homes, community health agencies, and home care services. Your opportunities for employment will span a range of dynamic settings within the healthcare industry.
Key Learning Elements of the Personal Support Worker Program:
- Person-Cantered Care: Focus on tailoring care to individual needs
- Health and Well-being: Learn to promote and maintain overall health
- Activities of Daily Living (ADL): Master assisting with daily tasks
- Communication and Interpersonal skills: Enhance effective interaction
- Safety and Emergency Response: Acquire skills for critical situations
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Gain insights into compassionate care
- Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity: Embrace diverse perspectives
- Documentation and Record keeping: Learn accurate data management
- Professionalism and Ethics: Understand ethical conduct
- Continual Learning and Growth: Cultivate a path of ongoing improvement
government investment
This NACC Personal Support Worker 2022 certificate program provides you an entryway into the growing Canadian healthcare industry, which is experiencing unprecedented government investment including:
- up to $5,400 stipend while you complete your placement
- up to $10,000 incentive if you commit to working in a long-term care home or with a home and community care service provider for 12 months
- an additional $10,000 if home or provider is in a rural, remote, or northern location
The PSW certificate program is designed to teach you how to effectively provide care and assistance to clients and families in order to live fulfilling lives in their communities and in institutions. As a student of this program, you will develop a broad range of abilities emphasizing value, sensitivity and respect for the individuality of each client. You will also have the opportunity to participate in cross disciplinary and/or inter-professional learning opportunities with other members of the care and service team such as a Practical Nurse, Registered Nurse or Social Service Workers. You will play a vital role in providing care and companionship for individuals and families during periods of incapacitation, convalescence, or family disruption.
Enroll Today
Take the first step towards a rewarding career as a personal support worker. Join the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at the Toronto Academy of Education and make a positive impact on the lives.
For more information or to apply, please contact us at
info@torontoacademy.ca
or
call 905-565-1091
