Ottawa Valley (Pembroke)

Our Program

This one-year Ontario College Certificate program provides students with the knowledge and practical techniques to work as a personal care provider in a wide range of health care environments. Through a combination of theory, lab practice, and clinical/community experience, students are equipped with the skills to deliver individual care to clients of varying ages and to support their health care needs.



SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

• Enjoy the challenges of working with people of all ages and cultural backgrounds.
• Possess good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Like working with others as a member of a team.

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Your Career

Currently many institutions/agencies that employ personal support workers require the Food Handlers Certificate (six-hour course). The Pembroke Campus, in partnership with Public Health, offers students the opportunity to obtain this certificate during the course of study. It is important to note that although successful obtainment of this certificate is not a requirement to complete the program, employment opportunities may be limited for those without a Food Handlers Certificate.

Graduates may find employment as personal support workers functioning under the supervision of registered nursing personnel in retirement homes, and long-term care facilities and in community health agencies.

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Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with online learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Level: 01		Hours
ENL7777	Communications I Communication remains an essential skill sought by employers, regardless of discipline or field of study. Using a practical, vocation-oriented approach, students focus on meeting the requirements of effective communication. Through a combination of lectures, exercises, and independent learning, students practise writing, speaking, reading, listening, locating and documenting information, and using technology to communicate professionally. Students develop and strengthen communication skills that contribute to success in both educational and workplace environments.	45.0
HLT7100	Introduction to Care for the Personal Support Worker This course introduces students to the role and practice of the personal support worker (PSW). The PSW's primary focus is to assist their clients to perform their daily personal care activities. Through this course, students become familiar with the theoretical concepts of human needs (Roy Adaptation Model), the principles of the practical skills, as well as the necessary communication and interpersonal skills. This course also introduces students to anatomy and physiology in promoting a basic understanding of the normal body structure and function. Co-requisites: HLT7101 and HLT7102	146.0
HLT7101	Lab Skills for the Personal Support Worker I Within a simulated environment, the student practises the skills of infection control, body mechanics, positioning and mobilizing a client. The student also practises supportive activities of daily living, as well as the associated documentation activities. Co-requisites: HLT7100 and HLT7102	48.0
HLT7102	Clinical Placement I A supervised practical experience provides the student with an opportunity to apply the principles of personal care with the emphasis on the needs of individual clients. Co-requisites: HLT7100 and HLT7101	68.0
HLT7407	Overview of Dementia Care Normal aging versus dementia, including secondary influences, are discussed, along with a focus on assessment and diagnosis. The main emphasis of this course is on philosophy of care, i.e. providing a holistic model of care within the existing medical model. Appropriate physical and emotional environment, effects of disease on caregiver and client, the family unit, role of research on caregiving, importance of ongoing education to maintain competence, etc., are discussed.	24.0

Level: 02		Hours
HLT7103	Advanced Skills for the Personal Support Worker From the concepts developed in Level 01, students study the common health issues as they affect the individual and family across the lifespan. This course introduces students to the responsibilities surrounding assisting with the administration of medications. Students also study the concept of death and dying as part of the lifespan and the impact of life threatening illness on the persons and their families. Prerequisites: HLT7100 and HLT7101 and HLT7102 and HLT7407 Co-requisites: HLT7104 and HLT7105	142.0
HLT7104	Clinical Placement II A supervised practical experience provides the student with a clinical opportunity to organize care for clients, and skills learned in classroom theory and laboratory. Prerequisites: HLT7100 and HLT7101 and HLT7102 and HLT7407 Co-requisites: HLT7103 and HLT7105	72.0
HLT7105	Lab Skills for the Personal Support Worker II Within a simulated environment, the student practises the essential skills, such as vital signs, measurement of height and weight, elimination care, assisting with medications, isolation techniques, and care of a client with IV therapy and oxygen therapy. Prerequisites: HLT7100 and HLT7101 and HLT7102 and HLT7407 Co-requisites: HLT7103 and HLT7104	24.0
HLT7106	Consolidation Placement for the Personal Support Worker Students demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned throughout the program. Students complete a six hour Food Handlers course as part of the Pembroke Campus program offering. Prerequisites: HLT7103 and HLT7104 and HLT7105	80.0
PSY7603	Introduction to Psychology This course is designed to promote an understanding of the following important contemporary psychological concepts: the biological basis of behaviour, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning, memory, thought and language, development, motivation and emotion, personality, intelligence and assessment, health, stress and coping, psychological disorders, approaches to treatment and social psychology.	45.0

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Fees & Expenses

Approximate Program Costs

Tuition/Fees: $ 3,159
Books/Supplies: $ 800
Incidental Fees: $ 0
Total: $ 3,959



Tuition Fees listed are in effect for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Tuition Fees: $1,212.20 per term.

Information Technology fee: $62 per term. *

Student Activity/Sports Fee: $190.50 per term.

Student Centre Building fee: $17.50 per term.

Health Service Fee: $10 per term.

Health Plan Fee: $114.50 paid once annually. **

A $35 graduation fee is payable in the final term.

A $25 transcript fee is payable in the first term a student attends Algonquin College.

International Students pay all relevant Canadian fees plus an International Premium of $4,400 per term.

* Students paying the Information Technology fee are provided with a network account, an email address, and Internet access. For more information please visit our website at www.algonquincollege.com/its/services/it_fee.htm

** Students who have coverage with another plan can request a refund by supplying the Students' Association with documentation supporting the
request. This request will have to be made annually.

Books and supplies cost approximately $600 for the program duration and can be purchased in the campus bookstore. Uniforms and shoes cost approximately $200.
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Admission Requirements  2012/20132011/2012

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Application Information

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should contact their Guidance Office to apply. For all other applicants, applications are available online at ontariocolleges.ca. A $95 fee applies.

Applications for Fall Term, Winter Term and Spring Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants applying from out-of-country can obtain the
International Student Application Form at
https://xweb.algonquincollege.com/FormIE/index.aspx or by contacting the Registrar's Office.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar's Office
Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley
315 Pembroke Street East
Pembroke, ON K8A 3K2
Telephone: 613-735-4700 ext. 2708
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723

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Additional Information

This Full-time program is offered on the Pembroke, Perth and Woodroffe Campuses. While the learning outcomes at the Woodroffe, Perth and Pembroke Campuses are the same, the curriculum order and subject delivery are
reflective of local circumstances, which affect program delivery.

Students gain hands-on experience with health care facilities throughout Renfrew County. Travel costs and any incurred costs, including parking fees, are the responsibility of each student. Students participate in clinical placements that may require evenings, overnight and weekend shift work.
Note: Many of the agencies used for clinical experience are not within walking distance of the College. Students are required to provide their own
transportation to and from clinical placements. The final clinical placement may require attendance at weekend, evening or night clinical experiences.
The Food Handlers Certificate course is included as part of HLT7106 -
Consolidation Placement.

For more information, please contact Sheila Clarke, Program Coordinator, at 613-735-4700 ext. 2775 or clarkes@algonquincollege.com.

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