Personal Support Worker
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The NACC Personal Support Worker (PSW) program is based upon the Ontario Personal Support Worker Training Standard released in January 2022. The NACC program content, standards and guidelines, combined with the clinical component of the program, ensure that the graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Personal Support Worker.
The PSW program prepares graduates to provide supportive care to individuals, including clients experiencing cognitive impairment, physical disability, and mental health challenges across their lifespan by assisting them with their activities of daily living.
The NACC program was developed and maintained by a committee consisting of consultants, program design experts, subject-matter experts from both the Regulated College sector, employer groups and NACC staff.
Graduates will be able to:
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Provide safe and compassionate assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, mobility support, and transfers, while maintaining client dignity and independence.
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Support household and nutritional needs, including meal planning and preparation, safe food handling, hydration support, and basic home-management tasks.
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Deliver person-centred care that is responsive to clients’ physical, emotional, cognitive, cultural, and spiritual needs across a wide range of care settings.
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Apply foundational health and safety knowledge, including understanding body systems, infection control, universal precautions, safe lifting and positioning, and general risk-reduction practices.
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Observe, document, and report changes in client condition accurately and promptly to ensure continuity of care and appropriate intervention.
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Communicate effectively and work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary care team, demonstrating professionalism, ethical practice, confidentiality, and respect for boundaries.
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Provide specialized support in mental health, dementia care, and palliative or end-of-life settings, using appropriate techniques and compassionate approaches tailored to each client’s needs.
Graduates may find employment in a variety of care settings, including:
- Long-term care facilities
- Home care services giving care to clients living in their own homes in the community
- Supportive housing settings including senior’s apartments and retirement homes
- Group homes
- Hospitals
- Adult day programs
- Educational facilities
The range of services provided by PSWs depend upon the individual needs of each person they support and may include personal care such as dressing, personal hygiene, mobility, and other routine activities of living in accordance with the Regulated Health Professions Act. Home management such as shopping, light house cleaning and meal preparation, family responsibilities such as routine care giving to children and assisting with social and recreational activities might also be expected.
As front-line workers, PSWs must develop a broad range of abilities beyond dexterity skills. They must provide not only for the comfort, safety and well-being of their clients, but also demonstrate sensitivity and respect for those in their care. The attitude, abilities and approach of the PSW are critical to the well-being and health of the people they support. The PSW will develop a skill / knowledge level that includes basic care and social service training.
Total Program Hours: 700 hours
NACC Final Theory Examination:
The NACC final examination is an on-line examination that evaluates the theory component of the training and determines whether the candidate has the required level of knowledge to do the job safely and effectively. The external setting for the exam and marking provide unbiased and consistent evaluation of adherence to the NACC PSW Program standard. To schedule your final exam, please speak with your college representative.
All students write the NACC final theory examination after completion of both placements.
Our Curriculum Partners:
We are pleased to partner with the following organizations to enhance the quality and effectiveness of our NACC Personal Support Worker curriculum:
Life and Death Matters
lifeanddeathmatters.ca
Life and Death Matters has created the resources used to deliver Module 9 “Assisting the Dying Person” in the NACC Personal Support Worker Curriculum. These resources include the textbook and workbook, Integrating a Palliative Approach: Essentials for Personal Support Workers (2nd Edition) by Katherine Murray (Life and Death Matters), as well as a catalogue of internet-based resources, including presentations, podcasts, and videos. All materials help your students understand a palliative approach to care.
Advanced Gerontological Education (AGE Inc.)
ageinc.ca
NACC partners with AGE Inc. so that students can learn Gentle Persuasive Approaches (GPA) in Module 13 (“Gentle Persuasive Approaches in Dementia Care”) of the NACC Personal Support Worker Curriculum. GPA is a multi-disciplinary education program for everyone who interacts with older adults in the workplace.