Personal Support Worker
How To Apply
Program Details
- Program Code9111
- SchoolSchool of Community and Health Studies
- CredentialOntario College Certificate
- Program TypePost-secondary program
- Program Length1 year/ 2 semesters
- LocationMorningside Campus
- Emailhealthstudies@centennialcollege.ca
- Telephone416-289-5000, ext. 58068
Program Availability
- Program Overview
- Courses
- Career Options and Education Pathways
- Admission Requirements
- How to Apply
- Tuition and Fees
- Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
- Advising
- Bridging for Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Program
The Personal Support Worker program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate care when assisting individuals with broad-spectrum conditions and health care needs. Your help will enable them to lead active and fulfilling lives in the community and institutions, both here and abroad.
The Personal Support Worker courses will focus on the full range of home and health-related services required by individuals with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, and chronic and acute illnesses. The skills and knowledge you receive will give you the flexibility to adapt to a variety of settings such as hospitals, homes, schools, community residential agencies, and long-term or chronic care facilities.
During your time in the Personal Support Worker program you will learn through a hands-on approach facilitated by hospital and community health care-experienced faculty members. Additionally, clinical and community setting learning opportunities will allow you to offer direct care to individuals. You will gain experience caring for persons across their lifespan and learn to effectively communicate and collaborate with members of an interprofessional health care team.
The training you receive can open doors through Centennial's Bridging for Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Program.
Program Overview
The Personal Support Worker program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to provide compassionate care when assisting individuals with broad-spectrum conditions and health care needs. Your help will enable them to lead active and fulfilling lives in the community and institutions, both here and abroad.
The Personal Support Worker courses will focus on the full range of home and health-related services required by individuals with physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, and chronic and acute illnesses. The skills and knowledge you receive will give you the flexibility to adapt to a variety of settings such as hospitals, homes, schools, community residential agencies, and long-term or chronic care facilities.
During your time in the Personal Support Worker program you will learn through a hands-on approach facilitated by hospital and community health care-experienced faculty members. Additionally, clinical and community setting learning opportunities will allow you to offer direct care to individuals. You will gain experience caring for persons across their lifespan and learn to effectively communicate and collaborate with members of an interprofessional health care team.
The training you receive can open doors through Centennial's Bridging for Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Program.
Courses
Career Options and Education Pathways
Program Highlights
- This Personal Support Worker program reflects the latest practices and policies in the field.
- You'll spend 14 weeks gaining extensive practical experience by working with teams in hospitals, long-term care institutions and the community. Many students have been offered employment in the agencies in which they completed their placements.
- With one instructor to each small group of clinical placement students, you'll have the support necessary to learn, grow and practice your newly acquired skills.
- Faculty members are experienced, caring and supportive.
- Community agencies and clinical settings recognize the certificate you'll earn.
In accordance with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (2022) program standards, once you complete the Personal Support Worker program, you'll have the ability to:
- Work within the personal support worker role and participate as a member of the interprofessional care/service team and maintain collaborative working relationships in the provision of supportive care in the community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation as well as your employer's job description, policies, procedures and guidelines;
- Act responsibly and be accountable for your actions while recognizing the boundaries of knowledge and skills within the personal support worker role that require collaboration with the individuals, families, supervisors and/or other members of the interprofessional care/service team;
- Provide person-centred and person-directed care that's based on ethical principles, sensitive to personal values and family values, beliefs and needs, and which follows the direction of the plan of care or service plan;
- Establish and maintain helping relationships with individuals and their families reflecting open communication, professional boundaries and employer's policies, and adhering to confidentiality and privacy legislation;
- Identify relevant client information using basic assessment and communication skills and report and document findings in accordance with the requirements of employer policies and procedures and all applicable legislation;
- Promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for individuals, their families, self and others, including the implementation of infection prevention, control measures and emergency first aid procedures that are in keeping with the plan of care/service plan, employer policies and procedures, and all applicable legislation;
- Assist individuals across their lifespan with routine activities of daily living by applying basic knowledge of growth and development, common alterations in functioning, disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance, rehabilitation and restorative care;
- Assist individuals with medication, keeping with the direction of the plan of care or service plan, under the direction and monitoring of a regulated health professional or most accountable person and in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's policies;
- Assist with household management tasks and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care or service plan, considering the preferences, comfort and safety of patients, clients, residents, families and significant others;
- Assist individuals who are caring for dependent individuals, considering client and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care or service plan;
- Identify and report situations of neglect, potential, alleged or witnessed/actual incidents of abuse, and respond in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's policies and procedures;
- Assist in the provision of culturally relevant palliative and end-of-life care to patients, clients and residents experiencing a life-threatening illness and to their families and significant others, from diagnosis through death and bereavement, in accordance with personal decisions and the plan of care/service plan;
- Use identified approaches and best practices to support positive strategies and safe responses for people experiencing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges and/or responsive behaviours.
Career Outlook
- Personal Support Worker
- Home Support Worker
- Home Health Care Worker
- Personal Care Attendant
Education Pathways
Graduates of this Personal Support Worker certificate program have the opportunity to apply their learning for credits toward further study. Listed below are programs from partnering institutions that are available for this program.
Please note that each each partner has minimum admission requirements to be met in order to qualify for transfer credits, which are assessed by the receiving partner institution.
| Partner Institution | Degree Program |
|---|---|
| Centennial College | Bridging to Practical Nursing (7997) - Admission |
| Nipissing University | Bachelor or Honours Bachelor of Arts (college to university program) |
Please visit our website at //centennial.adv-pub.moveonca.com/outgoing-home/ for more information on articulation agreements.
For pathways to other Ontario post-secondary institutions, please visit ONTransfer.
Areas of Employment
- Hospitals
- Long-term care facilities
- Residential facilities
- Retirement homes
- Community support agencies
- Private duty and home care
- School systems (with behaviourally challenged and developmentally delayed children)
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
- Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or mature student status (19 years or older)
- Grade 12 English (C or U), or equivalent (minimum grade required), or take the Centennial English Admission Test
Additional Requirements
Field Placement Requirements
After admission but prior to each program field placement, you are required to:
- Obtain a clear police check with vulnerable sector screening. Vulnerable Sector Screenings must be issued within six months of each placement start date. Any previous criminal record must be pardoned.
- Complete immunization requirements (immunization review form); a standard form is provided by the program coordinator
- Successfully complete and annually renew a recognized course in CPR (HCP-Healthcare Provider level)
- Successfully complete a recognized course in standard first aid
- Attend mask fit testing provided by Centennial College (shaving of portion of face may be required to meet safety standards)
How to Apply
1. Apply Online
Domestic student applicants must apply online through Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.
If you have previously attended a full time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.
Are you an International Student? Apply directly to Centennial College here.
If you are applying through the Second Career Strategy, please apply at the Employment Training Centre for Second Career (Progress Campus). Second Career Strategy is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Second Career Strategy.
2. Submit Documents
Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.
Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.
Applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS).
For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.
3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission
Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.
You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.
You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.
When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.
4. Pay Fees
Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.
You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.
5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)
Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.
Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April
Your web-registration will not open if:
- You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
- You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.
Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.
Tuition and Fees
Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2024.
| Student | Tuition (2 Semesters) | Ancillary Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian | $2,721.00 | $1,282.44 | $4,003.44 |
| International | $16,649.00 | $1,770.62 | $18,419.62 |
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Program Vocational Learning Outcomes
Synopsis of the vocational learning outcomes Personal Support Worker The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- 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.
- 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.
- Practice as an engaged member of the interprofessional team to maintain collaborative working relationships for the provision of supportive, safe, responsive, and competent client-centered care within care settings.
- Provide person-centered care, based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse personal and family values, beliefs, cultural practices, and other needs, which follows the plan of care.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist and support clients who are caregivers, considering individual and family choices, professional boundaries, and the direction of the plan of care.
- 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.
- 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.
- Provide client-centered and client-directed care to individuals experiencing various mental health illness and challenges, cognitive and intellectual impairments, and/or responsive behaviors by using supportive approaches and evidence-based practices to promote positive and safe behaviors in clients*.
Bridging for Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Program
- Personality TestSTARTMatch your personality to a career
- Career ExplorerLEARN MOREExplore your future career
Renzo Baniqued, Personal Support Worker, GraduateThe best part of this program was the clinical experience. The faculty here in the Personal Support Worker program ensured that we entered our placements with not only knowledge, but also pure confidence and faith within our own selves.
This clinical experience tested each student in multiple areas, such as time management, heath assessment, documenting, critical thinking, and communication skills. I successfully graduated with honors and got an acceptance to the Practical Nursing Program here at Centennial College. I’m currently in my third semester, and with no hesitation, I can honestly say, that taking the PSW program helped make me excel in the nursing program. I highly recommend the Personal Support Worker program to any students wanting to experience what It means to be a personal worker, or wanting to understand if the health care field is for them.
...