Personal Support Worker

 

Interested in providing practical support to individuals and families in need of your help? Looking to retrain and get on the road to a satisfying, people-focused career? You can start our Personal Support Worker program in September at our Peterborough and Lindsay campuses. The Personal Support Worker program at Fleming College gives you the training and credentials to provide support services for children, adults, and seniors with special needs or disabilities -- to help individuals, and their families, maximize their life experience.

 

Program Highlights

This two-semester program may particularly appeal to those re-entering the workforce. In total, you'll get 325 hours of relevant theory and 375 hours of real-life, clinical training. We have recently streamlined, updated and improved the Personal Support Worker program so that it is available full-time with a focus on:

• lab components throughout both semesters
• more hands-on, task-oriented skills and practice time
• course content related to long term care and to community care to diversify your experience
• innovative new lab facilities that simulate the work environment
• more theory related to practice

NOTE: The clinical placement agency may request that you submit a current police records check. Applicants who have been convicted of an offence under the crimial code for which they have not been pardoned may be denied the opportunity to enter clinical placement.

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Personal Support Worker is offered in a format that allows you to work while you study. The College ensures the program follows ministry guidelines, and as such, the program is widely recognized by agencies and related employers. There's a consistently high, over 90 per cent employment rate for graduates of this program -- you might be hired before you finish the course.

St. Joseph's at Fleming
St. Joseph's at Fleming is the first long-term care facility built on a college or university campus. This new, 200-bed home on our Peterborough campus sets the standard for compassionate care and innovation. Students from more than 20 programs participate in clinical field practice, applied research, and volunteer initiatives within or associated with the facility. St. Joseph's at Fleming also houses the college's Institute for Healthy Aging, which promotes learning and research about best practices in healthy aging, geriatric and long-term care, and creates opportunities for intergenerational programming.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

You've got to like working with and caring for people of all ages -- especially the elderly. The following personality traits and skills would also be helpful in your studies and eventual career:

• empathy
• concern for improving others' quality of life
• respect for cultural differences and family dynamics
• excellent interpersonal skills
• self-discipline
• good oral communication skills
• good physical health

Volunteer work experience of any kind is an asset, as is any previous experience caring for people of differing needs and abilities. Students would benefit by having basic computer skills including e-mail, word processing, file management and internet web browsing.

 

Career Opportunities

Choose from a variety of work settings:

• long-term care facilities
• group homes
• community agencies
• hospitals
• schools
• day care centres (children or adults)
• home care agencies

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

 OSSD with the majority of credits at the Workplace (E) level, including English. When Workplace (E) is the minimum course level for admission, (C) and (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission. 
Please note that only our campus in Peterborough offers both a September and a January start date.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

If you want to work with people to maximize their quality of life, you might also want to consider either the Practical Nursing or Occupational Therapist Assistant/Physiotherapist Assistant programs.

 

Health Requirements

Immunization Requirements

Proof of immunization, including a Two-Step Mantoux Test is compulsory prior to the start of semester one classes. Vaccination against Hepatitis B and influenza is also strongly recommended prior to the first clinical component of the program. (this is in addition to CPR/first aid and the police check). For more information, and to print the required immunization form, please see the Immunization Information page.

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Application and Interventions for PSW I	75.00
Clinical Preparation and Success Strategies for PSW	36.00
Concepts in Health Care	45.00
Interpersonal Skills	45.00
Introduction to College Communications	45.00
Non-Violent Crisis Intervention	7.00
PSW Clinical I	84.00
Semester 2
Applications and Interventions for PSW II	35.00
Client Care in the Community	35.00
Human Growth and Development	45.00
Introductory Computing	45.00
PSW Clinical IIA	84.00
PSW Clinical IIB	112.00

Semester 1

Application and Interventions for PSW I

Course Number: NRSG175

This course introduces the Personal Support Worker student to foundational concepts and principles fundamental to the provision of personal care to individuals requiring assistance in an institutional setting. Attitudes, knowledge and skills required to function ethically, safely and competently will be addressed in both the classroom and the laboratory. Fundamental personal care skills will be taught and practiced in the laboratory.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Clinical Preparation and Success Strategies for PSW

Course Number: NRSG177

This course is comprised of a number of workshops intended to prepare the PSW student for the first clinical placement. It will entail exploring issues that impact the care required of individuals in an institutional setting. It is also intended to support student learning and retention by preparing students for the academic demands of the personal support worker program through enhanced study skills, and test-taking strategies.

Units: 36.00
Hours: 36.00

Concepts in Health Care

Course Number: HLTH065

This introductory course provides an overview of major issues that impact the health care system both in Canada and abroad. Students will examine various federal and provincial legislative regulations and frameworks that health care professionals operate within. The roles of various healthcare providers will be compared and contrasted. Issues impacting all healthcare providers such as accountability, interdisciplinary team work, advocacy, documentation, and confidentiality will be examined. This course will provide a fundamental understanding of your selected healthcare profession, how it functions within the larger healthcare system.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Interpersonal Skills

Course Number: SOCI069

This course helps the learner to interact effectively with individuals and groups in the workplace by gaining an understanding of the variables that can influence the outcome of the interaction. Enhanced understanding of oneself, the challenges that rehabilitation clients face, and the therapeutic relationship are the cornerstones of this exploration.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introduction to College Communications

Course Number: COMM022

This introductory course develops communication skills that support studies at a post-secondary level. Students will demonstrate skills in revision: paragraph, summary, and composition writing: as well as research techniques.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

Course Number: NRSG151

The Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training program is a holistic behaviour management system based on the philosophy of providing the best care, welfare, safety and security for staff and those in their care, even during the most violent moments. This course focuses on preventing disruptive behaviour by communicating with individuals respectfully and with concern for their well-being. The program teaches physical interventions only as a last resort -- when an individual presents an imminent danger to self or others -- and all physical interventions taught are designed to be non-harmful, non-invasive, and to maintain the individual's dignity. Follow-up debriefing strategies are also key components of the course.This course not only teaches participants to respond effectively to the warning signs that someone is beginning to lose control, but also addresses how staff can deal with their own stress, anxieties and emotions when confronted with these challenging situations.

Units: 7.00
Hours: 7.00

PSW Clinical I

Course Number: NRSG176

This course is designed to give the PSW student the opportunity to apply selected personal care in a long-term care setting, utilizing theory, principles, and skills acquired in the classroom and lab. The student will demonstrate respect and support for individuals' desire to be healthy and independent while acknowledging individual choice and capabilities.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

Semester 2

Applications and Interventions for PSW II

Course Number: NRSG179

This course builds on the Applications & Interventions for PSW I course to further examine principles fundamental to the provision of personal care to individuals experiencing physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural challenges. Principles and adaptations fundamental to the provision of personal care to individuals living in long term care facilities will be examined. Ethical, safe, and competent care will continue to be examined in both the classroom and the laboratory. Laboratory skills will prepare the student to provide fundamental personal care and routine activities of daily living.

Units: 35.00
Hours: 35.00

Client Care in the Community

Course Number: NRSG180

This course builds on Applications and Interventions for PSW 1 & 11 to futher examine principles fundamental to the provision of personal care to individuals with a focus on living in the community. Adaptations required to deliver care in the home settings and provide home management services will be explored. A variety of care issues will be examined and discussed in a weekly seminar setting. Seminar discussions will prepare the student to provide fundamental personal care, routine activites of daily living and home management services.

Units: 35.00
Hours: 35.00

Human Growth and Development

Course Number: SOCI025

This course is designed to give the student a basic understanding of the normal patterns of growth and development at various stages within the life cycle from infancy through to old age. The major theories of development will be examined to enhance understanding of this field of study.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introductory Computing

Course Number: COMP345

Working in the Windows XP environment, this computer course introduces the student to computer basics (computer terminology, e-mail, Internet, file management) and the application and use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Through the extensive use of hands-on activities, students will gain sufficient knowledge and experience to make productive use of computers as a tool in both college and workplace environments.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

PSW Clinical IIA

Course Number: NRSG146

This course provides an opportunity to provide personal care and home management services in a clinical setting. Students will apply principles and skills learned in the classroom and lab to support care requirements identified in care/service plans. Opportunity will be provided to participate as a member of the care/service team and to collect and report relevant information to the supervisor or team leader. Compliance with care plans, policies and client requests will be demonstrated. The student will illustrate respect and support for the individual in the achievement of health and independence according to their own choices and capabilities.

Units: 84.00
Hours: 84.00

PSW Clinical IIB

Course Number: NRSG178

This 7-week Community clinical consolidation course is designed to give the student opportunity to apply knowledge of theory, principles and skills learned in the classroom and lab and to practice in the role of the personal support worker in the community. Students will have the opportunity to engage in independent practice with limited supervision. A mentor model will be utilized with an assigned faculty support member in contact with both the student and the mentor.

Units: 112.00
Hours: 112.00