The director of Hastings County Long Term Care Homes says it’s a great advantage having Loyalist College students working in the homes.
The Accelerated Personal Service Worker program started in the spring in partnership with Loyalist College.
Director Debbie Rollins told the Long Term Care Committee on Wednesday they have been fortunate in all three sessions of the students in Hastings Manor in Belleville.
Rollins says Centennial Manor in Bancroft will have placements in September as well.
“They’re working right along side of or team member during their placement and we get first hand opportunity to see how they work and how they blend in with our team and provides service to our residents.”
Rollins says some of the placements have ended with offers of employment for the students as well.
She noted Hastings Manor has had between 50 and 60 students rolling through the program.
A report to the committee indicated the program was developed in an effort to address the shortages of PSWs (personal support workers) in healthcare, especially in Long-Term Care. The provincial government will be funding a program for all students to have paid placement up to 300 hours. The first intakes for the program started in April, May and June of 2021, and Hastings Manor has received students for all three intakes. Centennial Manor has one student starting in July and another cohort beginning in September.
The students are paid $16.50 per hour and the homes will be reimbursed at $19.25 per hour. The Memorandum of Agreement was received in June from the College and was signed by the warden and clerk.
