PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER(PSW)

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PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER (PSW)

• OVERVIEW OF EDUCATION
• IN
• ONTARIO

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Ontario Provincial PSW Subcommittee

• Subcommittee of the Provincial Committee for
  Heads of Health Sciences
• Chair Laurie Poirier (Sault College)

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WHO IS THE PSW?

• Unregulated health care worker
• Backbone of community and facility services
• Often have the most contact with client/consumer
  develop close relationships

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HISTORY OF PSW PROGRAM

• Developed as part of Ontario Government plan to
  reform long term care and support services
• Intent - improved care for persons living at home
  and in long-term care facilities
• Curriculum a joint initiative of OCSA and Ontario
  Government 1997

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HISTORY (contd)

• Single training program
• Consolidates replaces training of
• Health Care Aide
• Home Support Worker
• Attendant Care Worker
• Respite Worker

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EDUCATION

• GOAL
• Assist student to develop a broad range of
  abilities beyond dexterity skills which
  emphasizes value of role and reflects true
  sensitivity and respect for the individuality of
  each consumer/client

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EDUCATION (contd)

• Two exit points
• Completion of first 7 modules Personal
  Attendant Worker
• Completion of all modules Personal Support
  Worker

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EDUCATION (contd)

• Mechanism for bridging to PSW
• Recognition of prior education e.g. HCA, HSW

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EDUCATION (contd)

• Framework - guidelines vs. standards
• Recommended minimum 500 hours
• Combination theory and practicum
• 14 modules

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EDUCATION

• All colleges provide programs in Ontario
• Varied approaches to delivery
• Full-time classroom
• Part-time classroom
• Distance education audio-conferencing
• E-learning
• On-the-job

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CHALLENGES

• Competing delivery agents e.g. Ministry of
  Education via secondary schools, private
  institutions
• Diminishing availability of practicum experiences
  (community and facility)
• Lack of education standard for employment re
  unregulated workers

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CHALLENGES

• Devaluation of the role
• Increasing expectation of delegation from the
  regulated health professional to the unregulated
  worker
• Destabilization of the home care service setting
  competitive bidding, contracting

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FUTURE DIRECTIONS

• Proposed change to two semesters
• Move to meet/incorporate vocational outcomes
  based on new charter
• Recognition of vocational standards vs.
  guidelines
• On hold pending further discussion

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FUTURE DIRECTIONS

• Proposed revision of curriculum to incorporate
  PIECES program
• Presented by OCSA and Ontario Alzheimers
  Strategy
• Initiative on hold pending further discussion