Personal support workers are once again being offered free training to address the huge gap across the region.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is teaming up with five other organizations to offer the free PSW certificate training for qualified students.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, the Erie St. Clair LHIN said PSWs are essential in helping patients remain at home, assisting in delivering home and community care, and providing services in long-term care and retirement homes.
"The growing demand for PSW care is felt in all communities across the Erie St. Clair LHIN region, and this program is a way for students to obtain a PSW certificate at no cost to themselves," said Shannon Sasseville, director of communications and public affairs at the LHIN.
The LHIN added students will also be paid to attend the course for the first four weeks and there is an option to graduate as a Home Support Worker (HSW) in four weeks for those students who do not wish to take the full PSW course.
The course location varies and will move throughout the Chatham, Windsor, and Sarnia region. The next course will be offered in Chatham starting February 10, 2020. The program includes four weeks of paid Home Support Worker (HSW) training from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and five months of PSW training between Monday and Friday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The free course is made possible through the financial support of the following sponsoring organizations:
- - Bayshore HomeCare Solutions – Joanna Renaud, ESCHR@bayshore.ca
- - Lambton Elderly Outreach – Andrea VanHooft, 1-800-265-0203 ext. 222
- - March of Dimes Canada – Jeff Fieldus, 519-351-8464
- - Riverview Gardens – Mary Alice Searles, 519-352-4823
- - VON Canada – Margaret Moore, 519-352-5515 ext. 5530
SE Career College of Health and PSW programs are registered and approved by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.