Personal Support Worker (PSW) Program
What: The PSW Program was developed due to the shortages of PSW Workers in our Simcoe Muskoka communities. This Program Pathway has been created to assist students in a Health and Wellness Specialist High Skills Major, who are interested in graduating from secondary school as a qualified Personal Support Worker.
Who: This program is open to students in Grades 11-12, adults under 21 years olds, as well as recent graduates. Please note: students are welcome to apply even if they are not currently in a Health and Wellness Specialist High Skills Major.
Cost: The 2024-2025 PSW courses are FREE. Students will be provided with scrubs (for placement) and all required books and materials for the program.
Incentives: Participants will be given up to $5,400 while completing clinical placement in long-term care or home/community care. Individuals who commit to 12-months in long-term care will be given $10,000, plus an additional $10,000 if working in a rural/remote northern location.
Students who begin the program but decide not to complete the qualification, can still earn the secondary credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Program Outline:
Offered as part of our Health and Wellness Specialist High Skills Major (students in school without Health and Wellness will be able to participate). Courses will be offered through the Brightspace remote learning platform at night and during the summer. Program teachers will connect with students in person as well through the course and placement visits.
Courses:
TPJ3C: Health Care Technology/Anatomy (open to everyone that wants to investigate the PSW Pathway)
TOJ4C: Child Development and Genealogy (PSW Specific Course)
TPJ4C: Health Care Clinical Skills (PSW Labs and Learning skills)
4-Credit Cooperative Education: (Long Term Care Home and/or other PSW Placement)
Certifications:
In addition to the courses, students will earn:
- CPR/Emergency First Aid
- AED
- GPA Alzheimer's
- Elder Abuse in-service
- Acquired Brain Injury in-service/certification
- Other qualifications may be added
Potential Schedules 2024-2025 School Year
PSW program run from September 2024 - June 2025, with the possibility of a placement in the summer. We want to be able to give students a pathway to become a qualified Personal Support Worker by the end of the program. This schedule may evolve based on student enrollment.
All credit packages will be delivered via Virtual Night School with some mandatory Face to Face sessions.
First course will be TPJ3O followed by TOJ4C and course three TPJ4C. Students will have the option of having coop placements during Semester 2.
Placements can be through Day School Coop or SHSM Night School.
How to Register: If you are interested in the PSW Program and would like to receive more information or register, please complete the online PSW Program Registration / of Interest Form Expression