Home Support Worker
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The NACC Home Support Worker Program is designed based on the NACC Personal Support Worker Program, which was developed in compliance with the Ontario Personal Support Worker Program Standard (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 Home Support Worker (HSW).
The HSW 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 the Regulated College sector, employer groups and NACC staff. It has been updated to support hybrid learning for colleges with a Learning Management System (LMS).
Home support workers provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and convalescent clients. Care is provided within the client’s residence, in which the home support worker may also reside. They are employed by home care and support agencies, private households, or may be self-employed. Housekeepers perform housekeeping and other home management duties in private households and other non-institutional, residential settings.
Graduates will be able to:
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Understand the role and responsibilities of a Home Support Worker, including professional standards, ethics, and client‑centred care principles.
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Provide supportive care across the lifespan for clients experiencing cognitive impairment, physical disability, mental health challenges, or age‑related changes.
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Assist safely with activities of daily living, including hygiene, dressing, mobility, positioning, and transfers.
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Support home management tasks, such as meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, and routine family care.
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Apply safe body mechanics and mobility techniques, including mechanical and physical lifts.
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Check, record, and report vital signs and observations accurately and promptly.
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Practice infection prevention, universal precautions, and environmental safety in all home and community settings.
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Provide emotional, social, and companionship support that promotes dignity, independence, and well‑being.
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Support clients in palliative and hospice care using a compassionate, person‑centred approach.
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Recognize and respond to common allergies, risks, and first aid considerations in the home.
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Assist with range-of-motion exercises and rehabilitative activities as directed by the care plan.
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Teach and reinforce basic life skills to help clients maintain independence.
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Document care activities and maintain required records with accuracy, confidentiality, and professionalism.
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Collaborate effectively with the healthcare team, communicating observations, concerns, and changes in client condition.
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Integrate theory with supervised practicum experience, building readiness for safe, independent work in home or community care environments.
Graduates may find employment in a variety of settings, including:
- Attendant for persons with disabilities – home care
- Family caregiver
- Home support worker
- Housekeeper
- Live-in caregiver – seniors
- Personal aide – home support
- Personal care attendant – home care
- Respite worker – home support
The range of services provided by an HSW is determined by the individual needs of each client and may include assistance with routine activities of living, including personal care, mobility, home management, meal preparation, family care, and assisting with social and recreational activities. Home management such as shopping, light house cleaning and meal preparation, family responsibilities such as routine caregiving to children and assisting with social and recreational activities, might also be expected.
Total Program Hours:
NACC Final Theory Examination:
The NACC final examination is an online 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.