Personal Support Worker Fast Track (PSW 6 months)

Introduces the Personal Support Worker role, person-centred care, professional responsibilities, ethics, boundaries, legislation, workplace expectations, and collaboration within the care team.

Develops safe-work practices related to infection prevention and control, body mechanics, transfers, positioning, mobility assistance, falls prevention, environmental hazards, and emergency awareness.

Introduces major body systems, normal function, age-related changes, and the observation and reporting skills used when supporting clients with changing health needs.

Covers respectful assistance with bathing, grooming, dressing, oral care, toileting, continence, skin care, and other personal routines while protecting dignity, privacy, comfort, and choice.

Builds awareness of abuse and neglect, risk factors, professional boundaries, indicators of concern, documentation, reporting responsibilities, and ways to support client safety.

Examines light household tasks, food safety, meal planning and preparation, dietary directions, hydration, feeding assistance, and support for a clean and comfortable living environment.

Connects care plans, restorative approaches, accurate documentation, community-based practice, observation, reporting, time management, and communication with clients, families, and the care team.

Explores growth and development across the lifespan, changing family roles, caregiver relationships, family-centred support, and respectful communication during health and life transitions.

Introduces comfort-focused and palliative support, end-of-life needs, grief and loss, cultural and spiritual considerations, family support, and the PSW role within the care plan.

Examines medication terminology, safe assistance within the PSW role, delegated tasks, documentation, observation, reporting, and the importance of following employer policy, training, and the client’s care plan.

Develops supportive approaches for clients living with dementia, mental-health conditions, cognitive changes, or acquired brain injuries, with attention to communication, behaviour, safety, and person-centred care.

Reviews common acute and chronic health conditions and builds skills in observation, comfort, individualized assistance, infection prevention, recognizing change, and reporting concerns to the appropriate care-team member.

Provides supervised practice in an approved care setting so students can integrate personal care, mobility, communication, documentation, safety, teamwork, and professional conduct under instructor or preceptor guidance.