PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER(PSW) OVERVIEW OF EDUCATION IN ONTARIO

Ontario Provincial PSW Subcommittee  Subcommittee of the Provincial Committee for Heads of Health Sciences  Chair – Laurie Poirier (Sault College)

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

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

HISTORY (cont’d)  Single training program  Consolidates & replaces training of: Health Care Aide Home Support Worker Attendant Care Worker Respite Worker

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

EDUCATION (cont’d)  Two exit points: Completion of first 7 modules – Personal Attendant Worker Completion of all modules – Personal Support Worker

EDUCATION (cont’d)  Mechanism for bridging to PSW  Recognition of prior education e.g. HCA, HSW

EDUCATION (cont’d)  Framework - guidelines vs. standards  Recommended minimum 500 hours  Combination theory and practicum  14 modules

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

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

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

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

FUTURE DIRECTIONS  Proposed revision of curriculum to incorporate PIECES program  Presented by OCSA and Ontario Alzheimer’s Strategy  Initiative on hold pending further discussion