Make a difference in the lives of others.

The one-year Personal Support Worker Ontario College Certificate program, delivered over 28 weeks, prepares you for an in-demand career in the healthcare field.

As a frontline care-provider, you develop the ability to engage with persons and families of various ages and health-related needs to promote healthy living. Learn how to assist clients with their daily personal care needs, such as nutrition, bathing, dressing, toileting, and household management.

You benefit from clinical field placements in healthcare settings, where you integrate theoretical principles into practice. As a valuable member of the healthcare team, you develop effective working relationships and participate in the delivery, reporting, and documentation of care to:

• provide safe, compassionate, person-centred care
• encourage independence
• enhance and maintain quality of life

After graduating, you may find employment as a Personal Support Worker in a variety of settings such as:

• retirement homes
• long-term care facilities
• home care agencies
• private homes
• hospitals

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Enjoy working with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Have effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Work effectively as a member of a team.
• Are comfortable using computers and other forms of technology.
• Possess strong time management and organizational skills.

Careers

Graduates may find employment as personal support workers functioning under the supervision of Registered Nurses and/or Registered Practical Nurses in retirement homes, long-term care facilities, community health agencies and acute-care settings.

Pathways

Please note: There may be more pathways available for this program than are listed here. Please use our Pathways search tool to see every option.

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.
15. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Application Information

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER
Program Code 6307X01FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Program Resources

This full-time program is offered through the Ottawa or Pembroke campus. While the learning outcomes at the campuses are the same, the curriculum order and subject delivery are reflective of the local circumstances which can affect program delivery.

Clinical Placement Eligibility:
Placement agencies require proof of immunization, police check, and other requirements. It may take eight (8) weeks or more to obtain this documentation. It is strongly recommended to initiate a Police Records Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), updates to immunization and immunization records, and CPR and First Aid certification before starting the program. It is the student`s responsibility to complete all eligibility requirements prior to placement. If you have not fulfilled all placement requirements by the required deadline there will be a delay in starting placement and your program progression could be negatively impacted:

Police Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC) Documentation:
To be eligible for placement, you must submit proof of a clear Police Records Check with a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC), which will be retained on your departmental file and used only for purposes related to your placement. If you register in the program without a clear VSC and as a result are unable to participate in placement, you will not be able to successfully progress in the program. A clear VSC is required at a minimum of every six months, and more often as required by the placement agencies.

Proof of Immunization:
Prior to placements you are required to submit proof of immunization and pre-placement health forms in order to comply with the legislation and regulations of the institutions which offer placement experiences. Required documentation includes a copy of immunization records and/or equivalent (bloodwork) that verifies proof of immunization to: hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, polio and pertussis and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, and includes a 2-step TB test.

Our health care partners may also mandate other vaccines, (e.g., COVID and/or influenzas vaccine) in order to attend placement.

For consideration of medical exemption related to immunizations and vaccines, documentation must be provided for review. Please note, if medically exempt from the flu vaccine, for example, facilities have the prerogative to require the flu vaccine in order to proceed with placement and can refuse students who do not have flu vaccine. Additionally, in the event of an influenza outbreak, learners must abide by the facility policies.

CPR and First Aid:
A current CPR Level C certificate and Standard First Aid is required prior to placement.

Other Clinical Requirements:
The Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) Workshop, Workplace Health and Safety Awareness (WHMIS), and mask fit-testing are mandatory requirements to proceed to placement. Your program will provide an opportunity to complete GPA, WHMIS, and mask-fit testing during the program.

Additional Notes:
Clinical placements receive large numbers of health science students and there may be times during your program of study that require you to attend weekend and evening clinical experiences.

Many placement agencies are not within walking distance of the college. Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from placement.