Continuing education opportunity extended to Personal Support Workers

May 15, 2008 – The Personal Support Network of Ontario (PSNO) in partnership with Saint Elizabeth Health Care and the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA), are pleased to announce a special opportunity for personal support workers in the province of Ontario. Saint Elizabeth Health Care will be offering through PSNO, a $2,000 scholarship annually to assist a PSW pursuing career advancement in the home and community support field. 

“This scholarship is designed to assist one awardee each year who are dedicated to continuing education in the health care sector”, says Ms. Lori Payne, Director of PSNO. “Personal Support Workers are extremely skilled and deserve every opportunity to upgrade their current skills or advance into other heath care career paths”.

Personal Support Workers play a major role in our health care system. In Ontario over 90,000 of these women and men provide essential, personal care for patients and clients in their homes, communities, long term care facilities, supportive housing and hospitals. 

“Saint Elizabeth Health Care is dedicated to supporting ongoing learning for phenomenal talent within community health care”, says Nancy Lefebre, Senior Vice President Knowledge and Practice, Saint Elizabeth Health Care. “We are proud to be offering this opportunity to all Ontario PSWs, with the assistance of the Personal Support Network of Ontario.”

Additional information on the application process can be found at www.psno.ca. Applications must be received at the PSNO office no later than 5:00pm on June, 15th. Applications may be emailed to membership@psno.ca, faxed to 416-256-3021 or mailed to PSNO Scholarship Fund, 104-970 Lawrence Ave West, Toronto, ON M6A 3B6. Applicants will be notified after July 25th, 2008. If you have questions, please contact Sarah Blakely, Program Assistant, PSNO at 416-256-3010 x244.

The Personal Support Network of Ontario strives for a higher standard in the field of personal support and is dedicated to improving the overall wellbeing of the workforce, appropriate training for the role, solutions for recruitment and retention demands and access to products and services. Our vision is to build a strong, cooperative personal support service sector where providers, managers, trainers and employees are equal contributors to strengthening the profession.

Saint Elizabeth Health Care is a Canadian not-for-profit charitable organization that shares its talent and wisdom nationally and internationally through direct care and service, consultation, and education and e-learning to support the transformation of care for families, health organizations and communities. With nearly a century of experience and a dynamic talent team of 3,700, SEHC delivers three million home care visits annually and has been recognized as both one of the 50 Best Employers and Best Workplaces in Canada.

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For more information, contact:
Lori Payne, Director, PSNO
lori.payne@ocsa.on.ca
416-256-3010 Ext 242