On October 17, Carrefour Options+ (Sudbury), Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon's continuing education school, in partnership with Villa St-Gabriel Villa (Chelmsford) celebrated the launch of a full enrolment into its first Living Classroom for students registered into the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program.
During this the launch event, the ten students gathered at Villa St-Gabriel Villa to take part in a facilitated onsite orientation day led by Ms. Tanya anne Ball, Academic Placement and Partnership Coordinator at Villa St-Gabriel Villa. They also met their teacher, Ms. Anika Shea, as well as Ms. Jocelyne Leclair, Principal at Carrefour Options+, and Mr. Jhonel Morvan, CSC Nouvelon Superintendent of Education, before touring the long-term care home. Over the next few months, the students will complete their studies in a living classroom format which includes both theory in a classroom setting, as well as clinical hands-on learning experience directly onsite at Villa St-Gabriel Villa working towards obtaining their PSW certification.
Offered to students 18 years of age and older, this program will allow those interested in becoming a PSW to be trained in French to provide care to individuals and families in a variety of settings, including long-term care homes and community home care agencies. CSC Nouvelon is the second school board to offer this program in French in Ontario.
Students will benefit from theoretical and practical training in a laboratory for a total of 345 hours before undertaking three practical internships which represents 384 hours. This year, through a partnership with Villa St. Gabriel Villa (Chelmsford), practical elements of the program will be offered in this French-language designated long-term care home.
By gaining access to Villa St. Gabriel Villa's Living Classroom program, students will be able to take part in one of the first part-time PSW programs offered in Greater Sudbury. The Living Classroom program will accommodate learners who may have family or other workweek schedules, therefore offering the schedule of two afternoons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and two dayshifts on Saturdays and Sundays. It will be facilitated directly in the home in order to incorporate classroom and front-line learning experiences alongside professional clinical care staff.
"While Northern Ontario is experiencing a shortage in health care personnel, Carrefour Options+ and CSC Nouvelon are proud to work in partnership with Villa St-Gabriel Villa to offer this program that is so important for families in our area," explains Mr. Paul Henry, Director of Education and Secretary-Treasurer at CSC Nouvelon. "Since the launch of this program in 2022-2023, Carrefour Options+ provides training for PSWs in French, our graduates will be well equipped to work in several institutions and agencies in Greater Sudbury and elsewhere that are always looking for qualified bilingual staff.
The PSW program will provide caregivers with the essential knowledge, skills, techniques, and abilities associated with this job field. They will be able to help clients of all ages with daily activities, including personal care, home management, nutrition, and family responsibilities. The PSWs will thus be able to meet the unique needs of each person in their individual emotional, cognitive, spiritual, intellectual, social, cultural, and physical care goals.
This program will be offered once again during the 2024-2025 school year.
