Personal Support Worker (PSW) DE Certificate Program

The introductory module provides an overview of the scope of responsibilities of PSWs in a variety of settings. Students will learn about client-centred versus client-directed care; and emphasizing the individuality of the client and his/her relationship with family, friends and others. Key topics include work relationships, stress and time management, interpersonal skills and communications, including conflict resolution and problem-solving, and applicable legislation.

This module covers safety as it relates to both the client and the worker. One of the fundamental activities of the PSW is that of assisting the client with routine activities of living. Students will learn about risks of unsafe equipment or settings and appropriate actions to take when unsafe situations are identified. Topics include infection control methods, body mechanics, and transferring and lifting techniques using equipment to increase safety and reduce client anxiety.

This module will introduce the student to the basics of anatomy and physiology. Students will gain an understanding of human body systems in order to apply that knowledge in their daily work as a Personal Support Worker. These body systems are: the musculoskeletal, digestive, urinary, integumentary, reproductive, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine. Common disorders and age-related changes for each body system will also be covered.

PSW’s assist clients with all activities or routines of daily living. Students will learn how to care for the ill, disabled, injured and/or confused client. Frailness, dignity and levels of dependence will be considered. Personal hygiene, mobility considerations and involves personal safety, self-esteem and dignity. The foundation of this module is humanistic health care.

This module introduces students to the concepts of violence and abuse, including its possible signs,and the appropriate actions and legal requirements if abuse is suspected. Personal beliefs and attitudes about family violence and abuse are examined, as is the concept of worker abuse of the client and, abuse of the worker.

In this module students will learn to assist the client with their nutritional needs, household activities, and household management according to client preferences, comfort, and safety within employer guidelines as required. Nutritional needs include planning balanced nutritious menus, preparing shopping lists, shopping, safe handling of food, storage, and specific cooking techniques. Special dietary needs of infants, pregnant and nursing mothers, persons with specific conditions (diabetes, feeding tubes, etc.), as well as persons with specific cultural and religious preferences will be addressed. Students will have the opportunity to practice and demonstrate skills in a lab environment.

This module builds on the materials presented in the introductory module PSW Fundamentals. It

identifies the support to be provided and the significance of the support to the client, and of the need for the support. 

Students learn to understand family characteristics in terms of structure, functions, roles, lifestyles and relationships. The influence of cultural values, practices, religious beliefs as well as the effects of illness, stress, and disability on family relationships will be emphasized as central to the PSW’s ability to provide effective support. 

In this module students learn about hospice, palliative and end-of-life care, the integration of a palliative approach to care, ways of being, communication and practical strategies to provide psychosocial support and physical comfort care for both the person and their family. 

Within the PSW scope of practice, students learn about medication administration versus assistance. They gain basic knowledge of the drugs used in the treatment of common diseases and disorders including use, classification, effects, and routes of administration. 

This module introduces students to common psychiatric conditions such as affective disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse, cognitive impairment, and brain injury. 

Students are introduced to ongoing conditions and basic concepts of assistance, as well as the general effects on the person of common disabilities, conditions and diseases. Students will gain skill in the necessary techniques while focusing on the importance of providing support safely, effectively and comfortably. 

Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA®️) in Dementia Care is a multi-disciplinary education program designed for everyone who interacts with older adults in the workplace. Participants are guided to fully understand responsive behaviours to be able to respond effectively and appropriately in a workplace setting.

Please see AGE's website https://ageinc.ca/ for more information.  

Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. Students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant, and may receive offers of employment from the placement site. site. In this module, the students will spend time working in a community setting under the supervision of a preceptor provided by the host site.

Clinical placement provides students with an opportunity to practice their new skills in a work setting. While on placement, students gain experience in a wider range of PSW skills, become more self-confidant, and may receive offers of employment from the placement site. In this module, the students will spend time working in a facility setting for 100 hours under the supervision of their instructor and under a preceptor provided by the host site for an additional 100 hours.