The Personal Support Worker program prepares people to work in a variety of community health care settings. Personal Support Workers work closely with people, helping them where they live. They are part of a health care team that includes nurses, physicians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and others. The support worker promotes and maintains physical, psychological, and social well-being.

Graduates may seek employment with home care services, elders’ homes, group homes, daycares working as an aide with special needs children, long term care units or under the supervision of the health centre staff providing support to the community.

Mature students with relevant work experience will be considered on an individual basis and may be required to complete a prior learning assessment process.

• Under supervision, assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for people and families in the community
• Safely apply the knowledge and skills from the program in the practical area
• Demonstrate organizational and time management skills
• Practise in a safe, ethical and legally responsible manner
• Integrate traditional knowledge in the care giving setting
• Obtain CPR certification for infants, children and adults
• Obtain Standard First Aid Certification

The program is designed to be flexible in its format. It may be offered full-time, part-time, using online courses, or in a modular format. The curriculum of the program is designed to be reflective of the program needs of the community. Each course has core curriculum, principles and theory that can accommodate the focus of the specific community needs.