Personal Support Worker (PSWC) at Seneca College

About the Program

This one-year certificate program is designed to teach you how to effectively provide care and assistance to clients and families in order to live fulfilling lives in their communities and in institutions. As a student of this program, you will develop a broad range of abilities emphasizing value, true sensitivity and respect for the individuality of each client. You will also have the opportunity to participate in cross disciplinary and/or inter-professional learning opportunities with other members of the care and service team for example, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing and Social Service Workers.

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

• Personal care and hygiene assistance

• Household and family management

• Meal preparation 

• Medical assistance

• Palliative and restorative activities

Work Experience

Field Placement

As a student of this program, if you meet all the academic requirements, you will have the opportunity to participate in two field placements. Field placements are similar in length to an academic semester and typically involve full-time work hours that may be paid or unpaid.

The Personal Support Worker program will provide opportunities for experiential learning through the hands-on skills lab and 2 field placements (facility and community).

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options that you can explore:

• The community

• Retirement homes

• Long-term care homes 

• Hospital care settings