About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 1 Year Certificate
  • Delivery Location: Off-Campus
  • Code: 0949 P0949
  • Delivery Length: 1 Year
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Overview

Are you committed to positively impacting the quality of life of others?

As a Personal Support Worker, you are a skilled and compassionate healthcare provider who assists clients with physical and psychosocial challenges during all life stages.

Highlights
  • Earn the same 1 year diploma as NC's Personal Support Worker program, but delivered at Grandview Lodge in Dunnville.

  • 42 hours of hands-on experience in Grandview Lodge's student lab facility and 266 hours of clinical placement right at Grandview Lodge. Experience a true living classroom!

  • Graduate with 2 additional certificates:

    • Managing Food Safety certificate, offering unique culinary curriculum focused on food preparation; and
    • Gentle Persuasive Approach certificate focused on caring for individuals with dementia and other cognitive diseases.
  • Job opportunities in Dunnville upon successful completion of your program.

Career Opportunities
  • Acute-care hospital
  • Adult day program
  • Group home
  • Home-care agency
  • Hospice or palliative care service
  • Long-term care facility
  • Seniors' residence
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Courses

Important

Please be advised that the curriculum you have selected is for a past or future term. The remaining information on this website is reflective of the most recent intake term, unless stated otherwise.

Term one (2023 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
CLIN1112 Supportive Care 6
COMM1160 Communication in Healthcare I 3
HLTH1020 Introduction to Interprofessional Education and Practice 3
HLTH1155 Development and Health Promotion Across the Life Span 3
HLTH1160 Human Body Structure and Function 3
HLTH1305 Role of the Personal Support Worker 3
Term two (2023 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
HLTH1137 Community Support and Home Management 3
CLIN1079 Long Term Care Institutional Placement 4
HLTH1168 Cognitive Impairment and Mental Health 3
HLTH1304 Alterations in Body Structure and Function 3
HLTH1310 End of Life Care 2
PRAC1177 Personal Support Worker Consolidation 5
Learning Outcomes Term: 1231
  1. Work within the personal support worker role in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer’s job description, policies, procedures and guidelines.

  2. Act responsibly and be accountable for own actions while recognizing the boundaries of knowledge and skills within the personal support worker role that require collaboration with the clients, families, supervisors and/or other members of the interprofessional care/service team.

  3. Participate as a member of the interprofessional care/service team and maintain collaborative working relationships in the provision of supportive care in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings.

  4. Provide client-centred and client-directed care that is based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse client and family values, beliefs and needs, and which follows the direction of the plan of care/service plan.

  5. Establish and maintain helping relationships with clients and their families reflecting open communication, professional boundaries, employer’s policies and adhering to confidentiality and privacy legislation.

  6. 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.

  7. Promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others including the implementation of infection prevention and 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.

  8. Assist clients across the 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.

  9. Assist clients with medication in keeping with the direction of the plan of care/service plan and 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.

  10. Assist with household management tasks and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care/service plan and considering the preferences, comfort and safety of clients, families and significant others.

  11. Assist clients who are caring for dependent individuals considering client and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care/service plan.

  12. Identify and report situations of neglect, and potential, alleged or witnessed/actual incidents of abuse, and respond in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer’s policies and procedures.

  13. Assist in the provision of culturally relevant palliative and end-of- life care to clients experiencing life threatening illness and to their families and significant others, from diagnosis through death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients’ choices and the plan of care/service plan.

  14. Use identified approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviour in clients experiencing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges and/or responsive behaviours.

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Mathematics – any Grade 11 (C), (U), or (M), or equivalent
Recommended Courses and/or Skills:

These courses and skills may help you succeed academically in this program, but they are not required for admission.

  • Biology – Grade 11 (C) or (U) or Grade 12 (U)
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Program Requirements
Government Mandates

All students who participate in clinical placements are, without exception, required to meet the expectations mandated by the Ontario Hospitals Act and the Ontario Long Term Care Homes Act. These nonacademic requirements include: Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screen and the Confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS). Detailed requirements are below.

All requirements must be met and remain current for the student’s duration of the program subject to the Placement Agency’s requirements. If any documentation expires before the end of the term and the student’s last day of clinical placement, the student will not be able to register for that term’s clinical course or its co-requisites.

Criminal Record Check
  • A Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (CRC-VSS) which is less than 6 months old is required by the start of week 12 of Term 1.
  • Students with criminal charges or convictions will be severely limited in placement, clinical, and/or employment opportunities in this field.
  • Students will be required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) in order to be cleared for placement/clinical. Please note, in order to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS), students must be 18 years of age or older. If a student is not 18 years of age or older at the start of this program, they will experience delays in progression through the program.

  • The CRC-VSS must be provided to the Placement Agency on the first day of the clinical placement, or as required by the Placement Agency. Niagara College does not adjudicate the CRC, but merely facilitates the paper work. It is the Placement Agency that adjudicates the clearance.

Communicable Disease Surveillance
  • The confidential Communicable Disease Surveillance (CDS) Form must be completed and submitted to Student Health Services prior to the start of the program or prior to the term which includes field placement, co-op or clinical opportunities.
  • Please view the CDS Form and Checklist for health requirements at niagaracollege.ca/cdsform/.
  • This process must be maintained annually.
  • This process may take up to 10 weeks or more and requires a visit to your personal physician and/or a Public Health Department.
  • If the CDS process is not completed your placement, clinic or co-op opportunity will be denied.
First Aid and CPR
  • Current Standard First Aid certification and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) is required.
  • CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR/AED) Level BLS (Basic Life Support) / HCP (Health Care Provider) must be renewed annually.
  • All certifications must be met and remain current or placement/clinical will be denied and/or the student will be withdrawn from their current placement/clinical.
  • During the first week of Term 1, the Field Placement Coordinator will provide information regarding the First Aid and CPR requirement. Students are required to provide copies of their certification for Standard First Aid and CPR at Level HCP/BLS. (This program is designed for those with specific healthcare responsibilities).

Transportation
  • Students are responsible for their own transportation in order to complete program requirements which may not be readily accessible by public transportation.
  • Program requirements could include co-ops, placements, volunteer requirements, practical labs, field projects, assignments, clinicals, or any other off-campus visits required as part of the program’s curriculum.
Uniform
  • A student dress code is in effect for clinical courses.
Computer Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows-based desktop or laptop that meets or exceeds the following general requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop running on an updated Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 11 recommended).
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory (note that 16 GB memory is strongly recommended).
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone, and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities. A minimum download speed of 10 – 50 Mbps is recommended.

Niagara College may not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications as provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: We do not provide support for Chromebooks or Apple products. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

All costs associated with program requirements are the responsibility of the student.

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Availability

Note

This program is scheduled for a one-time delivery for the below term. No further offerings are currently planned. Apply now to secure your spot!

Domestic Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

International Applicants

Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.

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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Personal Support Worker (Dunnville) program below.

Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

The below is a tuition fees estimate ( what's this?) for the indicated start term. Tuition fees are set in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities fee guidelines.

Tuition information is currently unavailable.TIP: Fees for other terms may be available through the Advanced Tuition Tool.

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Sorry, international applications are not accepted for this program.

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