Personal Support Worker

As the health care system in Canada evolves, the demand for Personal Support workers is increasing in long term care facilities, retirement homes, home care settings and hospitals.

The Personal Support Worker program prepares graduates to provide care and assistance to clients of any age who have defined health care needs including help with their activities of daily living. Through theory classes and experiential learning opportunities, including simulation and clinical placements, the student will learn to make a difference in clients' lives by alleviating loneliness, providing empathy, ensuring comfort, encouraging independence, and promoting self-respect in all health care settings.

As part of the program, students will also complete The Fundamental of Hospice Palliative Care Certificate and the Gentle Persuasive Approaches Certificate.

See Course List

Admission Requirements

O.S.S.D. or equivalent with:

Grade 12 English C or U

The admissions process is competitive and meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Lambton College reserves the right to alter information including admission requirements and to cancel at any time a program or course; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary to meet current competencies or changes in the job market; to change the pathways third-party certification bodies; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications or registrations or over-acceptance of offers of admission. In the event Lambton College exercises such a right, Lambton College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to Lambton College.

English Language Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency by submitting one of the following scores:

IELTS of 6.5
TOEFL iBT 79
Passed Lambton Institute of English placement test

Please Note: IELTS is the only proficiency score accepted by the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program. Additional country-specific requirements may also be applicable.

Meeting the minimum English requirements does not guarantee admission. Students with higher English proficiency scores will receive priority in the admission assessment process.

Technology Requirements

In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, it is mandatory to own a reliable laptop to complete tests and assignments.

Course List

COM-1113: Workplace Communications

This course focuses on skills required in any organization or position: writing business documents, responding to realistic scenarios, and speaking in an organized and vibrant manner. Students will practice professional communications skills by producing, revising, and editing short business documents and engaging in verbal interactions and presentations.

IPH-1001: Interprofessional Perspectives

As a new student to a health care profession this course introduces you to the workings of interprofessional teams. It allows learners to gain knowledge with and from students of various programs about several different health care professions. Concepts of teamwork, conflict resolution, the health care system and ethics will be presented through a unique interprofessional delivery model.

PSW-1003: Client Care Issues

This course is an introduction to the role of the Personal Support Worker, including professionalism and the scope of practice within the health care system. Elements of rights, responsibilities, and ethical and legal professional behaviour are examined.

PSW-1023: Ongoing Health Conditions I

This course introduces the student to the experience of living with ongoing health conditions. The role of the PSW is enhanced through gaining an appreciation for the client experiencing these conditions. Nutrition and infection control interventions provide a framework for enhancing the health of individuals with ongoing health conditions throughout the lifespan.

PSW-1043: Anatomy and Physiology

This course introduces the student to the human body and how it functions. The content is concentrated on cells, tissues, organs, and systems and how the systems work together for human survival. The study of the normal aging process of the systems is emphasized.

PSW-1013: Clinical Skills Theory

This course provides theoretical content instructions for clinical skills, followed by the four-hour clinical skills lab. In this course, the student will be able to describe important concepts needed to provide compassionate care in the clinical setting. The student will gain knowledge in safety considerations as they learn methods of assisting clients with positioning, activity, exercise, mobility, hygiene, and grooming, assisting with feeding, elimination, medications, and household management. Students will learn about the role and responsibility of the PSW in observing, reporting, and documenting care as per their employer policy. Students will gain the theoretical knowledge needed to take a temperature, radial pulse, respiratory count, oxygen saturation and an electronic blood pressure. Theoretical knowledge relating to household management will also be covered in this course. Infection control principles will be threaded through all areas of material covered.

PSWC-1014: Clinical Skills Lab

This course will consist of four hours of practical experience in a Lab practicum. The student will demonstrate concepts of compassionate, client centered care as they learn the skills that are needed to safely support individuals with their activities of daily living needs in a facility and or community setting. Students will master the skills to safely assist individuals with positioning, activity, exercise, mobility, hygiene, and grooming, assisting with feeding, elimination, medications, and household management. Students will learn to measure temperature, radial pulse, respiratory count, oxygen saturation and electronic blood pressure. Students will have the opportunity to utilize skills in the community simulation environment. Infection control measures will be threaded throughout each skill learned.

GED-XXX3: General Education Elective

PSW-2003: Palliative Care

This course is a study of the client and the role of the Personal Support Worker in palliative care. This course will provide the successful student with the Fundamentals of Palliative Care equivalency certificate. The Fundamentals of Palliative Care is an introductory education program based on foundational concepts from A Model to Guide Hospice Palliative Care: Based on the National Principles and Norms of Practice (Ferris et al., 2002). The course is offered with the permission of the Southwestern Ontario Hospice Palliative Care Education program to Lambton College PSW students. The goal is to provide learning opportunities for formal care providers and provide the best practices in end-of life care to persons and families in Ontario.

PSW-2023: Ongoing Health Conditions II

This course will introduce students to common conditions of mental illness, and cognitive impairment. The emphasis is placed on assisting clients with this conditions and the role of the PSW as a member of the interdisciplinary team. This course is delivered in hybrid format. It will be 2 hours in class and 1 hour online. Rationale This course prepares students to identify and implement strategies to care for clients living with mental illness, substance abuse and cognitive impairment.

PSW-2032: Career Development

This course provides the student with the opportunity to develop skills to obtain and maintain employment as a Personal Support Worker in a variety of clinical settings. This course provides students with an opportunity to develop skills, tools, and strategies needed to gain meaningful employment as a Personal Support Worker.

PSW-2053: Health and Development Across the Lifespan

This course is designed to introduce students to both physical and psychosocial aspects of growth and development from the time of conception through to late adulthood. The role of a Personal Support Worker at the different stages of human life will be discussed. Students will identify normal aspects of each stage so they may recognize any abnormalities that require reporting to their supervisor or registered staff to assure appropriate, timely care interventions. Common childhood illnesses, immunizations and developmental disorders will be reviewed. In addition, students will also be introduced to Maslow, Erickson, and Piaget's developmental theories with a focus on culturally sensitive, family-centred care, emotional support, and safety.

PSWC-2006: Clinical Practice

Students will obtain clinical experience in a long-term care home. Emphasis is placed on assisting clients to perform their activities of daily living and enhancement of quality of life. This experience is under the supervision of a clinical instructor. Gentle Persuasive Approaches workshop will be included in this course.

PSWC-3006: Pre-Graduate Clinical (five weeks)

PSWC 3006 is a clinical course that includes a preceptor experience. Preceptors are expert Personal Support Workers who are assigned to a student on a one-to-one basis to facilitate the student's transition into their new role as independent novice practitioners.

Program Maps

Students are required to follow their prescribed program map and are not allowed to take unscheduled breaks for any reason.

Current Students

Current students can view program maps from previous years on the mylambton website.

You will need to login with your C# and password in order to access your program map.

Employment Opportunities

Begin a rewarding career as a personal support worker in community health care, long-term care homes, retirement homes and hospitals in less than a year. As the industry continues to grow and the demand for personal support workers increases, you can feel confident about your job opportunities post-graduation. At this time, there is a high demand for personal support workers and opportunities for local jobs.