A new partnership between Conestoga and Algoma Manor, a long-term care home in Thessalon, Ontario, will help address the critical need for health-care professionals to serve the local community.
Beginning in January 2021, students in the Algoma District will have to opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge required to launch careers as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) through the completion of a 20-week PSW FAST-ONSITE program delivered online by Conestoga instructors, with clinical placements provided by local health-care organizations.
Costs for participants will be covered through funding provided by the Canada-Ontario Job Grant and administered through Algoma Manor.
“This is truly a unique opportunity to be able to receive a post-secondary education in a rural community and have it covered financially,” said Jennifer Fogal, Director of Resident and Nursing Services at Algoma Manor. “It is a wonderful example of how grant dollars can be used to the maximum in an integrated approach.”
This initiative will prepare 50 new PSW graduates to provide quality care and services to various long- term care homes, community support providers and hospitals in Algoma. They will complete the program in June 2021.
“With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health-care teams across the country are helping to provide each other with much-needed resources in order to maintain quality health-care services,” said Pamela Ficociello, Executive Director of Algoma Manor. “This program is an amazing example of this, and goes to showcase how in tough times the Algoma district’s health-care teams are dedicated to supporting one another in order to maintain ongoing quality care and health services to their communities.”
Algoma and communities across Ontario have experienced an ongoing shortage of qualified health-care workers, a situation which has become more acute since the onset of the pandemic. Partnerships such as the one between Algoma Manor and Conestoga are designed to help address critical care needs by increasing access to education and training.
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of Algoma Manor to bring health-care education and training to the local community,” said Dr. Veronique Boscart, Executive Dean of Conestoga’s School of Health and Life Sciences. “We look forward to working in partnership to address the region’s care needs through this innovative education initiative.
For more information on the PSW program at Conestoga College, contact PSWinfo@conestogac.on.ca
For more information on how to apply with Algoma, contact Jenny Daoust: jenny.daoust@algomamanor.com
Personal Support Workers provide supportive, person-centered care to individuals and families in a variety of care environments including long-term, community care and hospital settings. Conestoga's Personal Support Worker program prepares students to become preferred graduates for the profession, which truly makes a difference in the lives of others.