NACPSW

PO Box 175, Owen Sound,

Ontario Canada

Phone: 519-376-7396

Fax: 519-376-6772

Web site: www.nacpsw.org

e-mail: info@nacpsw.org

Consumer Awareness

History of Training Programs for Front Line Health Care Workers In Ontario

The Personal Support Worker (PSW) training program is a single program that consolidates and replaces the former Health Care Aide, Home Support Worker Levels I, II and III, Personal Attendant, and Respite Worker training programs in Ontario. The Government of Ontario approved the PSW program on April 28, 1997.

Since 1997, there have been many involved in the training of Personal Support Workers. Some training is of excellent quality. Unfortunately there  is much substandard training within legitimate  registered, non-registered and agencies. Training costs may vary from $200.00 to $5,000.00. The credibility of the training institution should be verified but this does not guarantee protection.. For quality training and affordable programs the student should pay somewhere from $3,000 to $5,000 and should have training of 1000 hours. Bridging program credentials must be evaluated before offering of a Bridging Program and those qualifying should be Home Makers Level 1,2, Health Care Aides, Nurses (out of country), and Caregivers. The price range for Bridging is $1,000.00-$1,500.00.

The Certified Caregiver/Personal Support Worker is a registered front line health care worker able to complete a prior learning assessment, write the National Board Exam, complete 620 hours of theory, and participate in 120 hours of supervised internship in a nursing home, hospital, and or retirement home. In addition there is a requirement for  260 hours of placement in nursing, retirement homes, hospital and community service. (Paid hours towards Unsupervised Placement requirements are acceptable).

CPSWs work in long-term care facilities, for providers of home care services giving care to clients living in their own homes in the community, in supportive housing settings, group homes and hospitals. CPSWs also provide services in adult day programs, educational facilities and many other settings. The CPSW, upon examination and submission of their transcripts, diploma, certificate, placement hours, records and board exams, may become a member of the National Association of Caregivers/Personal Support Workers.

The NACPSW is an Association for Certification of Caregivers and Personal Support Workers. The Board Exams and registration are National and if you are working in Ontario and wish to travel to B.C. for employment we assist our membership in the transfer of their credits, diplomas and certification.

 

PSW training is offered by Ontario Community Colleges, Registered Private Career Colleges, Adult Education divisions of some Boards of Education, and not-for-profit organizations. The Community Colleges provide diplomas if a program is two years or more and a certificate for any training under two years. For PSWs, the certificate does not constitute certification. It is a certificate of completion of 500/700 hours of training. There are many different levels of training for this worker and unfortunately it is consumer beware. In some cases not-for-profit organizations offer Personal Attendant as an employment incentive but this level of training does not qualify the candidate for Certification.

 

The National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) is an Association for Career Colleges, and is not an Association for either Certified Caregivers/Personal Support Workers or Personal Support Workers.

 

The National Association of Caregivers/Personal Support Workers is an Association for the CPSWs.

 

We offer National Board Exams for $50.00 and $100.00 one year membership fee. Renewal fees are $75.00 a year with ongoing training and educational credits, insurance packages, self-employment training, ongoing career and resume building and on-line training. All training costs are reduced for the membership by 50 per cent.

 

The CPSW training requires 1000 hours and/or a prior learning assessment and review for the National Board Exam. This may be accomplished through participating quality training centres of excellence, private vocational schools, not-for-profit agencies and community colleges certificates and directly through the NACPSW Association.

 

In order to maintain membership all CPSWs must have 40 hours of training each year with current CPR/First Aid validated. All CPSWs have a registration number and a record of transcript, diploma and certification.

Certification requirements are 1000 hours inclusive of 120 hours of Supervised Internship (6:1 ratio); 260 hours of placement 60/40 in Community or Institution (these may be paid hours of employment), and 620 hours of classroom theory

 

The Development of the Personal Support Worker Curriculum

Creative Career Systems was a stakeholder in the development of the PSW program, and prior to the development was in the delivery of Community Elder Care Worker curriculum. CCS hosted a pilot project for the development of this program in the interests of common standards, including the curriculum content and employment skills training passbook. The original curriculum was developed through a collaborative effort that included all stakeholders. A Training Resource Group with representation from employees in the system and their unions, consumers, students, employers and educators developed recommendations for provincial training standards, and a model curriculum for workers providing personal care and support services in long-term care facilities and in clients’ homes.

Creative Career Systems, in the course of delivery of training to the rural areas and out of country, produced testing, evaluation, standardized evaluation instruments, a prior learning assessment tool and guideline, a technical literacy test, and a student record of learning. This was offered through Creative Community Learning (CCLT) a non-profit organization dedicated to the delivery of standards of workplace learning.

 

The Certified Caregivers/Personal Support Workers provides a range of front line health care services in a variety of settings: long-term care facilities; in the community for home care providers; in adult day programs; supportive housing settings; group homes; hospitals; educational facilities; and many other settings.

 

PSW training is offered by Ontario Community Colleges, Registered Private Career Colleges, Adult Education divisions of some Boards of Education, and not-for-profit organizations. The Community Colleges provide diplomas if a program is two years or more and a certificate for any training under two years.

For PSWs, the certificate does not constitute certification. It is a certificate of completion of 300/700 hours of training. There are many different levels of training for this worker and unfortunately it is consumer beware. In some cases not-for-profit organizations offer Personal Attendant as an employment incentive but this level of training does not qualify the candidate for Certification and Registration with the NACPSW.