A chance to learn for free — that’s what’s being offered to those enrolling in the Upper Grand District School Board’s (UGDSB) 2022 personal support worker (PSW) program.
The program, run through the board’s Continuing Education department, is being offered tuition-free with opportunities for paid work placements, said a news release.
“This pandemic has touched everyone in profound ways and the need for this kind-hearted, caring profession is great,” UGDSB Continuing Education principal Julie Bodiam said in the release. “Personal support workers make a significant difference in the lives of the people they work with. If the field of health care is something you are interested in, then I encourage you to come to an information session and see if becoming a PSW is right for you.”
The program runs from September to June, and covers a variety of subjects, including anatomy, physiology, mobility, safety, hygiene, abuse, household management, care planning, cognition, mental health, managing ongoing conditions, assisting with medications, palliative care, interpersonal skills, career education. It is led by instructors who hold Ontario teaching and professional nursing qualifications.
Participants earn numerous certifications, including CPR and First Aid, and they can also earn credits toward an Ontario Secondary School Diploma while completing the program.
“Personal support workers are vital to our communities and health-care system,” Upper Grand board chair Linda Busuttil said in the release. “The UGDSB’s PSW Program provides training that responds to a labor market skills shortage need, provides students with a robust program, and allows participants to engage in meaningful and paid work while making connections to support organizations in our communities.”
Info sessions on the program are set to take place at Tytler Center for Continuing Education, 131 Ontario St., on May 27 from 3 to 4 pm, and May 30 from 6 to 7 pm
For more information on the program or to register to attend an info session, visit pswcareer.ca.
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