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As a graduate of the Personal Support Worker program, you will provide support services to individuals and families in need of assistance. With this satisfying, people-focused career, you will be prepared to assist children, adults, and seniors with special needs or disabilities, and help them maximize their life experience. You can start the program in September or January or May.

This enhanced two-semester program is distinct from our Personal Support Worker program. It is delivered in partnership with St. Joseph’s at Fleming and embeds students directly into a real-world care environment. Using an interprofessional, collaborative model, called the Living Classroom, students, faculty, long-term care staff, residents, and families all learn and grow together.

This program provides comprehensive, hands-on learning that supports both student development and quality patient care. Key enhancements include:

• Hands-On Skill Practice with Patients:
  • course content emphasizes practicing and assessing skills on patients (instead of fellow students), creating a more patient-centered learning experience.
• Mentorship Framework:
  • Students are paired with experienced mentors from St. Joseph’s at Fleming to receive real-time support and guidance in clinical care.
• Case Studies and Reflective Practice:
  • Students analyze real-life care scenarios, fostering critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills.
• Resident-Centered Activities:
  • Learners lead engaging activities designed to enhance residents' well-being, while also developing individualized care approaches.
• Revised Course Sequencing:
  • Courses have been realigned to better meet patient care needs, helping students build foundational knowledge before
• Access to Electronic Health Records (EHR):
  • Students gain access to St. Joseph’s internal systems, including EHRs, policies, and procedures, to become familiar with clinical documentation and operations.

This unique program is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care and led by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) through the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (Ontario CLRI), with additional support from CESBA, the program offers a robust and immersive educational experience.