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PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERPROGRAM STUDENT MANUAL Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 1

Table of ContentsWelcome . .3Program OverviewProgram Description & Course Details . 4Grading & Challenge Exam . . 6Program GuidelinesStudent Success . 7Student Success Plan . 9Absenteeism on Quiz/Test/Exam 10Social NetworkingSocial Networking directive .11Technology use During Clinical Practice .12Lab, Clinical & PlacementConfidentiality Policy .13Requirements Policy .15Personal Appearance Policy .19Attendance Policy .21Clinical Evaluation 23Accident Insurance Coverage 25Program Manual Agreement .28Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 2

WelcomeWelcome to Confederation College and thank you for choosing our Personal Support Worker Program. Wehope your time in our program will be a pleasant and rewarding learning experience. You have chosen agreat, rewarding career!Please read through this program manual carefully. It provides you with all the important information to helpyou be prepared for and successful in our program. Learning is enhanced when the learner is motivated andhas an active role in the learning experience. Take the time to be aware of the following policies andguidelines on: confidentially, individual program courses, grading system, student success plans, field workand clinical practice, as well as lab and placement requirements.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 3

PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER CERTIFICATE PROGRAMPROGRAM DESCRIPTIONThe Personal Support Worker Program is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skill tomeet the expectations of this role. Based on the individual needs of each person that they support, thePersonal Support Worker (PSW) assists persons with the tasks of daily living, such as: home management,personal care, and family responsibilities, social and recreational activities. These services are provided inhomes and apartments in the community, in long-term care facilities, congregate housing settings, in theworkplace and in educational facilities. This program is intended to meet the Ministry of Health guidelinesestablished by its Long Term Care Division.PROGRAM COURSE HOURSHoursFirst Semester:CS007Persuasive WritingPW101Supportive Care Theory IPW102Professional GrowthPW128Helping RelationshipsPW130Assisting Clients Across the Lifespan IPW106PSW Practice I: LabPW107PSW Practice I: Clinical (Community)45454545451875Second Semester:PW201Supportive Care Theory IIPW230Assisting Clients Across the Lifespan IIPW206PSW Practice II: LabPW207PSW Practice II: Clinical (Long-Term Care)PW208PSW Clinical: Consolidation45453680160COURSE DESCRIPTIONSCS007 - College Writing EssentialsWith a focus on current issues, this course will help learners to express themselves clearly, correctly andpersuasively in written form. Learners will also engage in analytical reading and critical thinking throughassigned readings and discussions on a variety of topics. The course will also help learners to effectivelycompile and present research in essay form according to the APA style of documentation.PW101 - Supportive Care TheoryThis course is designed to provide the learner with information that will enable them to provide support tothe consumer/client in their role as Personal Support Worker. The learner will be introduced to the basicconcepts of care that guide their role as a member of an interprofessional team. This course will support theknowledge that is required during clinical and throughout the Personal Support Worker program.PW102 - Professional GrowthThis course will examine the concepts of legislation, consumer rights, and ethics of care in relation to therole and scope of practice for the Personal Support Worker. It will introduce the learner to different types ofhealth care agencies. It will also explore concepts of teaching and learning, as well as time and stressmanagement that will provide a base that will enhance their success. This course will support the knowledgethat is required during clinical and throughout the Personal Support Worker program.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 4

PW128 – Helping RelationshipsThis course introduces the learner to the concepts of establishing and maintaining helping relationships withclients and their families through a professional, therapeutic approach. It explores the knowledge and skillsrequired to effectively communicate in a variety of situations, understand and maintain professionalboundaries and become a respectful, caring member of the interprofessional health care team.PW130 – Assisting Clients Across the Lifespan IThis course begins to introduce the learner to the concepts of assisting clients across the lifespan, byexploring the general understanding of the structure and function of the human body. Understanding structureof the human body and how it relates to our functions lays a foundation for the learner to identify commondiseases and conditions that will help them to provide the care that each client needs. This course willsupport the knowledge that is required during clinical placements.PW106 - PSW Practice I: LabThis course will provide the learner with an opportunity to practice in a simulated placement setting,concepts and knowledge learned in the classroom. This course will consist of hands-on practice.PW107 - PSW Practice I: Community ClinicalThis course will provide the learner with an opportunity to apply in a supervised placement, knowledge andconcepts learned in the classroom and lab. This course will consist of: independent learning and clinicalexperience within a community setting.PW201 - Supportive Care Theory IIThis course is designed to provide the learner with information that will enable them to examine the role ofPersonal Support Worker when providing assistance to the consumer/client with health challenges. Thelearner will explore the concepts involved in providing optimal support and care. Topic areas examined willinclude care for the individual, assisting with the family, common medical disorders, mental healthconditions and issues, and death and dying.PW230 – Assisting Clients Across the Lifespan IIThis course continues to introduce the learner to the concepts of assisting clients across the lifespan, byexploring the general understanding of growth and development. Understanding the physical, cognitive,social, and personality domains of development lay a foundation for the learner to understand self and others,and provide care to meet the needs of people of all ages. This course will support the knowledge that isrequired during clinical placements.PW206 - PSW Practice II: LabThis course will provide the learner with an opportunity to practice in a simulated setting the concepts andknowledge learned in the classroom. The course will consist of hands-on laboratory practice in preparation ofclinical placement in a long-term care setting.PW207 – PSW Practice I: Long-Term Care ClinicalThis course will provide the learner with an opportunity to apply in a supervised placement, knowledge andconcepts learned in the classroom and lab. This supervised clinical experience will take place in a long-termcare facility.PW208 - Clinical: ConsolidationThis clinical experience provides the learner with an opportunity to integrate the knowledge and skillsacquired throughout the program under a preceptorship program in a long-term care facility.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 5

Please read the “Plagiarism and Cheating Policy” in the Charter of Students’ Rights andResponsibilities in the Confederation College Student Handbook.GRADING SYSTEMThe grading policy outlined below applies to the following core Personal Support Worker courses: PW101,PW102, PW 128, PW 130, PW201, and PW230Letter GradeABCFPW106, PW206PW107, PW207, PW208Percentage Attained80 - 100%70 - 79.9%60 - 69.9%less than 60%Credit (overall 60% or higher) /Fail (Overall 59% or lower)Credit (Satisfactory) /Non-Credit (Unsatisfactory)Through a recent program review, the PSW course outlines are currently being updated and as aresult, the grading system may be subject to change.Challenge ExamsWhen a student fails to achieve a passing grade in a core personal support worker course, the student’sperformance will be reviewed by the faculty and the manager.One upgrading opportunity in core personal support worker courses will be allowed per academic semester.This opportunity to write a challenge exam will be based on achievement of a minimum of 50% and goodattendance (as evidenced by the student having attended 80% of the course hours).The final grade for students who are allowed to upgrade will be 60% (C) if successful.Please note: because only one upgrading opportunity (challenge exam) is allowed per academic semester, astudent who fails two or more core courses in the semester will not be eligible to write a challenge exam andwill be asked to leave the program.College Email & BlackboardStudents are encouraged to check their college email and course Blackboard site on a daily basis.Instructors will be utilizing these methods of communication on a regular basisto disseminate important information.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 6

PROGRAM GUIDELINESStudent Success – Personal Support Worker Program A student is eligible for continuation within the Personal Support Worker Program when he/she hassuccessfully met the objectives of a specified portion of the program – this includes theory, laboratorytheory, laboratory practice and clinical course work. In order to progress to the next semester of the Personal Support Worker Program, students mustachieve a passing grade of 60% in the courses taken in the previous semester. As well, students aredirected to review Confederation College’s grading system policies, which also apply to continuation inthe Personal Support Worker Program. Students who are at risk for not meeting the learning outcomes for a particular theory course may begiven a Student Success Plan. Students are invited to meet with their Professor if they are havingdifficulty with a particular theory course. A student may be requested to withdraw from the Personal Support Worker Program if they have notmet the program requirements for a particular semester. Policies for the program are reviewed annually by the Chair, Coordinator and Professors. A student is eligible for graduation when he/she has successfully completed all the courses required ofthe program (communication course and core courses) If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibilityto register with the Student Success Centre and discuss your needs with your faculty early in thesemester. It is strongly recommended that students contact the Student Success Centre as early aspossible in order to ensure that accommodations can be put in place in a timely manner. Students must ensure they have met all program requirements, including general education andcommunication courses prior to graduation.Student Success Plan Policy(Learning Challenges and Non-Adherence to Program Policies)IntroductionThe following policy details how the Professor or Clinical Instructor will manage ongoing behaviours thatimpede success in either the laboratory practice and/or clinical practice settings.Verbal Discussion:The Clinical Instructor will meet with the student to verbalize their concerns with the student’sperformance, and offer strategies for success. A poor performance in the clinical setting is correlated withone or more learning outcomes (see each individual field and clinical course outline). The ClinicalInstructor initiates anecdotal notations.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 7

Student Success PlanIf the same learning challenge persists or the student demonstrates additional non-adherence to aprogram policy, the Clinical Instructor will initiate a Student Success Plan accompanied by a reasonablereview date. The Clinical Instructor will also initiate a referral for additional laboratory practice ifappropriate. The student will engage in the collaborative Student Success Plan process with theirClinical Instructor.Personal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 8

SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICESStudent Success PlanStudent Name:Professor Name:Program:Date:Behaviours Impeding SuccessStudent Comments Relating to the AboveStudent/Professor Collaborative PlanDate of Review:Outcome of Review:I recognize that the above behaviours may impede my success and that this plan is intended tosupport my ability to be successful.Student SignatureProfessor SignatureDateDateCopies for the following individuals: 1 Student; 2 Professor; 3 CoordinatorPersonal Support Worker Student BrochurePage 9

Absenteeism on Quiz/Test/Exam Days (Laboratory Theory/Practice and Clinical Practice)The following policy refers to all courses in the Personal Support Worker.1. On a quiz/test/exam day, you must be in class promptly at the scheduled class time.2. Students must leave all bags, cell phones, hats etc. at the front of the classroom during tests.3. Students arriving late for a quiz/test/exam will not be allowed to enter the classroom oncethe quiz/test/exam has begun. The student may write the quiz/test/exam at a later date at thediscretion of the course Professor.4. A student that completely missed the quiz/test/exam and did not notify the Professor prior tothe start time of the quiz/test/exam without a valid reason will be given a grade of zero.5. Students who are ill on a qu