# Personal Support Worker Academic Year Credential Program Delivery Duration Length | | | |---|---| | Type | PDF | | Size | 175 KB | [Open original PDF →](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Personal-Support-Worker-2024.pdf) Referenced from: [Program Outlines Archive](/pages/registrar-academic-resources/program-outlines-archive/) ## Document text ## Personal Support Worker ## PROGRAM INFORMATION Academic Year Credential Program Delivery Duration Length 2024 - 2025 College Certificate Full - Time 1 Year 2 Semesters Program Codes H136 (PC) - Timmins Campus H138 (KL) - Kirkland Lake Campus H139 (HL) - Haileybury Campus ## DESCRIPTION In just one year, Northern's Personal Support Worker (PSW) program will have you out in the workforce, providing vital care and support that forms the backbone of community health and wellbeing. In a program that promotes awareness, sensitivity, and respect for clients' unique needs, you'll develop a therapeutic and helpful approach in assisting your clients. Personal support workers are unregulated healthcare providers who work under the supervision. As a vital member of the healthcare team, they follow clearly identified care plans and the established policies and procedures of their work agencies. Personal support workers provide personal care and assist with routine activities of daily living and household management. They are responsible for practicing professionally by creating, promoting, and maintaining safe and comfortable environments for clients, families, and others. They often have the most contact with clients and develop therapeutic relationships through trust, respect, and understanding. The attitude and approach of personal support workers, along with their practical skills, is beneficial to the health, comfort, and safety of their clients Recognizing the importance and value of the personal support worker role, Northern's program prepares students to develop a broad range of abilities and skills. In the classroom and our state-of-the-art practice labs, students learn and practice personal care skills, develop a solid code of ethics, refine their communication skills, and master the medical terminology needed on the job. This program was developed as part of Ontario's plan to support residents and connect them with the care needed at home and in their communities. After two semesters of classroom learning and clinical practice, students complete a placement in a long-term care facility or home care agency. Students will graduate with an Ontario College Certificate - their gateway to a rewarding career. ## Program Delivery Northern's Personal Support Worker program requires most courses to be taken in-person and on campus due to the nature of laboratory and clinical learning. Some part-time options are available and there are a number of courses that can be taken online, but students are required to attend in-person classes and placements to graduate from the program. Contact the program coordinator to help chose your best options and to plan your Program Outline | March 2024 Disclaimer: Information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Content of programs and courses are revised as needed and/or required. Program outlines and information are subject to changes and may be delivered in different or alternate ways then listed in this document. You are advised to always reach out to Northern College if you have questions related to content on the website or outline publications. ## Personal Support Worker courses. Note that online courses are not part of our full-time program but may provide transfer credits for course equivalencies. ## CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Following successful completion of their program, graduates may be employed in a variety of community and institutional agencies. Personal support workers care for clients who are stable and who have clearly identified needs that are not expected to change significantly. They work under supervision and as valuable members of care/service teams; provide personal care and home management services to clients who are experiencing physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural challenges. They can provide organized competent care for individual clients and for their assigned multi-client groups. Personal support workers may also work under the direction of the client. ## VOCATIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Work within the personal support worker role in various care settings in accordance with all applicable legislation, standards, employer job descriptions, policies, procedures and guidelines. 2. Practice professionally and be accountable for one's own actions by applying problem-solving, selfawareness, time management and critical thinking to the provision of care as a personal support worker, whether working independently or as a member of a team. 3. Practice as an engaged member of the interprofessional team to maintain collaborative working relationships for the provision of supportive, safe, and responsive client-centered care within care settings. 4. Provide person-centered care, based on ethical principles, sensitive to diverse personal and family values, beliefs, cultural practices and other needs, which follows the plan of care. 5. Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with clients and their families using effective communication skills to build a trusting, and respectful partnership, in accordance with professional boundaries, employer policies, confidentiality, and privacy legislation. 6. Identify information related to the client's health using observation, critical thinking and communication skills to record, report and document all relevant findings, within the roles and responsibilities of the personal support worker. 7. Create, promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others by including the implementation of current infection prevention and control measures, preparedness and best practices in pandemic planning, emergency and first aid procedures that are in alignment with the plan of care, employer policies, procedures, and all applicable legislation. 8. Assist clients across the lifespan with activities of daily living by applying fundamental knowledge of growth and development, psychological concepts, common alterations in functioning, health promotion, disease prevention, rehabilitation and restorative care, and holistic health care. 9. Assist the client with medication following the client's plan of care and if a delegated act, under the supervision of a regulated health professional or done by exception under the most accountable person and in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer policies. 10. Assist with household management services and instrumental activities of daily living in accordance with the plan of care and considering the preferences, comfort, safety and autonomy of clients, families and significant others. 11. Assist and support clients who are caregivers for dependent individuals, considering individual and family choices, professional boundaries and the direction of the plan of care. Program Outline | March 2024 Disclaimer: Information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Content of programs and courses are revised as needed and/or required. Program outlines and information are subject to changes and may be delivered in different or alternate ways then listed in this document. You are advised to always reach out to Northern College if you have questions related to content on the website or outline publications. ## Personal Support Worker 12. Identify, respond to and report potential, alleged, suspected or witnessed situations of abuse, and/or neglect, as required within the personal support workers' role and responsibilities, and as required by all applicable legislation, including the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 and the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007. 13. Assist with the provision of holistic health care and advocacy for culturally and spiritually sensitive palliative and end-of-life care to clients and to their families and significant others from diagnosis through to death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients' choices and the plan of care. 14. Provide client-centered care to individuals experiencing mental health challenges and illness(es), cognitive and intellectual impairments, and/or responsive behaviours by using supportive approaches and evidence-based practices to promote positive and safe behaviours in clients. ## PROGRAM COURSES The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the program. Programs at Northern College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. | Semester 1 | Semester 1 | Hours | | --- Source: [https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Personal-Support-Worker-2024.pdf](https://www.northerncollege.ca/uploads/2025/08/Personal-Support-Worker-2024.pdf)