Ontario government, Willis College, set up program to train 300 PSWs for long-term care homes

The Ontario government wants to train hundreds of personal support workers for positions in long-term care homes in the Ottawa area as part of a pilot scholarship program.

The government is providing $2.4 million to train up to 300 PSWs through the program that is being delivered in partnership with Willis College, it said in a statement on Thursday.

It will be offered at no cost to accepted applicants.

The move is part of the long-term care staffing plan that was released in December.

“Our ambitious staffing plan is part of our government's commitment to solving the long-standing and systemic challenges the long-term care sector has faced after decades of neglect and underfunding,” Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, ministers of long-term care, said. “By working closely with partners like Willis College, we will deliver on our promise to provide our loved ones with the quality of life they deserve. I want to congratulate those students who are beginning a rewarding career in long-term care.”

The program will pair four days of academic instructions with one day of volunteer experience at a long-term care home per week.

“By experiencing real-world situations prior to clinical placements, students will not only gain a stronger understanding of the long-term-care sector, but will also be better prepared to transition smoothly into the workforce upon graduation,” the announcement explained.

The program will be 30 weeks long.

The first cohort of 30 students start this month.