The Ontario government announced, Feb. 24, 2021, that it will invest over $115 million dollars to provide training for up to 8,200 new personal support workers (PSWs) to fill high-demand jobs in the province’s health and long-term care sectors.
Joining forces with Colleges Ontario, all 24 publicly assisted colleges will offer this innovative, fully funded program beginning in April 2021. According to a press release from the Office of the Premier, the program is a part of the government’s Long-Term Care Staffing Plan, one of the largest PSW recruitment and training drives in the province’s history.
Collège Boréal, an innovative educational, cultural and community hub serving the Francophone population of Ontario, aims to produce a highly skilled bilingual workforce that is committed to supporting French-speaking communities and contributing to the economic, social and cultural vitality of the province and the country.
Collège Boréal is excited and ready to move forward with the newly accelerated training program for PSWs. The program, which begins April 5, 2021, will allow participants to graduate with full credentials within six months. There will be two additional intake dates at the College, May 10 and June 14, 2021. The program will begin accepting applications in early March and students’ tuition and other expenses will be covered.
The PSW accelerated program allows students to fulfil the program requirements more quickly by increasing the number of study hours per week.
Collège Boréal students will follow a hybrid model, which combines online Zoom learning with in-person practical experiences. Students in the program will complete courses online and participate in laboratory classes available at the college and in care settings.
To ensure their success, students also receive assistance from the learning support team and additional training in computer skills, time management and stress management.
Students in the accelerated program will also be available to volunteer at long-term care homes and other settings early in the program and available for paid work placements after three months.
At the end of six months, graduates will enter the workforce. While standard PSW programs typically take eight months to complete, all three Boréal intakes will be completed by Dec. 1, 2021.
For more information on Collège Boréal’s PSW accelerated training program, please visit their website or call 705-560-6673.