Personal Support Worker

Your Career

The Ontario government has committed to spending $107 million by 2011 toward hiring 2,500 more personal support workers in long-term care homes. In this caring career, students can also provide services to consumers and their families in their homes and institutions. Students may also have opportunities for work formerly associated with health-care aides, homemakers or home support workers, and home helpers.

Our Program

Students learn about assisting in daily living activities, personal care and hygiene, restorative/activation exercises, and home management activities, using new practice labs with the latest technology. Our program has language and technology courses designed specifically to assist students in acquiring preferred hiring status in the health-care field.

Work Placement

In semester one, the practicum is completed in a controlled lab environment for six hours per week. This practicum is fully supervised by one instructor per group of approximately ten students. In semester two, the practicum is completed two days a week at a variety of agencies and facilities. The practicum is divided into two rotations; seven weeks in a long-term care facility and seven weeks in a community agency. Hours and number of days vary depending on the type of facility and shifts assigned. Most range from six to eight hours per day. The student will begin placement the first week of January.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U). If English is not your first language refer to the English Language Proficiency Policy in this publication.
Three Grade 11 or Grade 12 C, U or M courses in addition to those listed above
Applicants who do not possess the required courses may complete admission testing to determine equivalencies. Invitation and booking of admission testing is done using the email address provided on the online application.

Note: Refer to the Selection Procedures for more information

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Additional Requirements

Students must be in good physical and mental condition and meet the same physical and immunization requirements as those for the staff employed by the agency/facility where the practicum is taking place
Complete immunization record including immunization against Hepatitis B
Completion of Standard First Aid for HCP and CPR-C for HCP certificate
Police Record Check: Students in programs or occupations involving direct contact with vulnerable persons are required to undergo a Police Record Check. Refer to the Admission Information section in this publication. Humber reserves the right to deny admission to this program based on an unpardoned criminal record that would be relevant to the academic or placement requirements of the program. The Police Record Check may have to be renewed every three to six months thereafter. For more information and application instructions regarding the Police Record Check, visit healthsciences.humber.ca/field-clinical-placement/prc.

Note: All of these requirements must be completed prior to the start of the program.

Fees

The 2009/2010 fee for two semesters was
- domestic $3,052.70
- international $11,730.

For further information, refer to Fees and Financial Assistance in this publication.

Financial Aid

Additional Costs

$700 - textbooks, supplies, Hepatitis B vaccine, First Aid, CPR, uniform. Cost varies for travel between Humber and the field placements.

Curriculum

Semester 1
COURSE Code	Course	Credits
COMM 100	Basic College Skills	4
PSW. 150	Fundamentals of Caregiving	2
PSW. 151	Applying Mobilities Techniques	2
PSW. 152	Providing Personal Care	2
PSW. 153	Concepts of Communication	2
PSW. 154	Human Development and Family Dynamics Across the Life Span	3
PSW. 156	PSW Practice 1	6

Semester 2
COURSE Code	Course	Credits
PSW. 250	Assisting with Medications	2
PSW. 251	Mental Health, Psychological Disorders and Dementia	2
PSW. 252	Assisting with Common Health Conditions	3
PSW. 253	Palliative Care	2
PSW. 254	Household Management and Safety	2
PSW. 255	Professional Transitions	2
PSW. 256	PSW. Practice 2	12

Application Program Code: 07741

Certificate