Committees
Personal Support Worker
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The CESBA Personal Support Worker Committee monitors the provincial certification process for PSW training, aiming to maintain a program which remains current. |
Purpose
The committee was established to maintain and keep current the Ontario school board PSW program, and to monitor the provincial certification process for PSW training. The group meets at the CESBA Pre-Conference events to provide workshops and exchange best practices. Our goal is to identify changes needed for keeping up-to-date on the policies of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, as well as meeting the Ministry of Education credit requirements.
School Board PSW Program
The following is a list of school boards in Ontario who teach PSW through OSS curriculum and cooperative education guidelines. (grade 11 Health Care, Grade 12 Medical Technologies and Grade 12 Child Development and Gerontology)
At this point in time there are 21 School Boards in Ontario that are involved with CESBA and PSW training. At least 2 Boards are new to the program but most have been training for over 3 years and some as many as 8 years.
- Algoma DSB
- Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic DSB*
- CEPEO (French Board)*
- Dufferin Peel DSB
- Durham DSB*
- Durham Catholic DSB*
- Halton DSB
- Hasting Prince Edward DSB*
- Hamilton Wentworth Catholic DSB*
- Limestone DSB*
- Niagara DSB*
- Niagara Catholic DSB
- Ottawa Carlton DSB
- Ottawa Carlton Catholic DSB
- Renfrew DSB
- Simcoe County DSB
- Thames Valley DSB
- Toronto DSB
- Upper Canada DSB
- Waterloo Catholic DSB
- York DSB*
- York Catholic DSB
NOTE: If your Board is involved in PSW training and you wish to be listed please contact the CESBA office.
Activities
The CESBA PSW committee schedules at least two general meetings annually (Spring and Fall).
There is also a CORE Committee (9 boards identified with asterisk) involved in planning etc. which also meets at least twice annually prior to the general meetings.
Over the past year the PSW committee has recommended at least a 600 hour program for PSW Training, numerous enhancements to the curriculum. Some Boards have moved to as many as 850 hours over a full year.
Currently the PSW committee is looking at increasing the minimum to at least 700 hours due to the increased changes and demands in Long Term Care.
The employment rates for individuals trained as PSW by school boards
reflects a range from approximately 80% to 100% and it tends to fluctuate
from class to class and year to year. It is important to note that those
who are not employed after earning their certificate have chosen not to
be employed for various reasons. Some decide to go to RPN training, some
have other obstacles that prevent employment at the time, others have
decided not to pursue health care as a career while some use the training
for personal reasons (family care).
Each School Board from small to large is training from 40 to 500 learners
per year and many Boards still have waiting lists for people to get into
the program. Also we have found that there is a tremendous demand for
retraining people who are currently working in the LTC facilities who
have outdated credentials. Many Boards are working with the PSW Bridging
program in order to address this need, which was brought about by the
changes made through the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Most of
the Boards involved were encouraged by the LTC facilities to assist with
the upgrade in qualifications for current LTC employees.
Many of the adults served require a high school diploma because most employers insist on that qualification. School Boards are able to provide PSW certificates and High School diplomas simultaneously which proves to be a win, win for all.
School Boards are established in every corner of Ontario. Because of this fact they are able to reach and address the needs of adults from both the highly populated urban centres as well as the remote regions of Ontario.
School Board Continuing Education programs have proven to be very economical and therefore cost efficient for training adults.
Having a variety of providers allows the adult to choose the program that they feel, best meets their needs. Concerns they may have often times focus on, self esteem, abilities and accessibility from both a cost and transportation perspective.
The Boards feel that is important to be kept up to date on the recent changes in health care and as well wish to share any new approaches and ideas with each other.
CESBA provides a venue to communicate regularly with people from the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA is the group who develop the original curriculum in 1997) and the Ontario Long Term Care Association (OLTCA) as well as the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care through the 2 CESBA conferences held annually in the Spring and Fall.
It is through these bi-annual meetings that the school board PSW programs are continually improving the service that they provide.
Current Issues Under Review
- psw mandatory certification through the province
- who will be authorized to deliver the program if regulated
- updated curriculum regarding changes in LTC
- course enhancements
- contact with OCSA, OLTCA, MOH and LTC, MTCU, Min of Ed.
Committee Members
Co-Chair: Lynelle Hamilton (York Region DSB)
Karen Mayer (Algonquin & Lakeshore DSB)
Anne Cameron (Ottawa-Carleton DSB)
Heather Smith-Hudson (Thames Valley DSB)
