Certificate in Personal Support Worker

at Fanshawe College - London Campus Canada

Skilled administrative support is vital to process business information accurately and to communicate effectively with fellow employees and the public. Five major areas of study are covered: oral and written communication skills, problem-solving skills, computer application skills, accounting ability and office procedures/production. As well, students are assisted in their improvement of "soft skills" such as listening, work ethic and team building.
Intermediate training in a variety of computer applications will be combined with understanding workplace behaviours and communication skills to prepare for a variety of entry-level office administration career opportunities. Utilizing these skills, students will be capable of producing documents and correspondence, presenting information, providing customer support, responding to routine inquiries, and supporting the management of a small organization or a department in a large organization.

This program blends theory with hands-on application of theoretical principles delivered through course work and field practicum.  Students in this program will develop their knowledge and professional skills in areas such as child development and best practices in early childhood; the early childhood educator's role and responsibilities; the importance of play in children's learning; family involvement and curriculum design and implementation.
When the student graduates they will have the knowledge and necessary skills to work with children, families and community in the context of early learning and development programs for children from birth to age twelve. The student will be prepared to work in a variety of settings, including child care centres, early learning and family centres, Best Start programs, before and after school programs and with school boards.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

• Design, implement and evaluate inclusive* and play-based* early learning curriculum* and programs that support children's* holistic development* and are responsive to individual children's* and groups of children's* observed abilities, interests and ideas.
• Establish and maintain inclusive* early learning environments* that support diverse*, equitable and accessible developmental and learning opportunities for all children* and their families*.
• Select and use a variety of screening tools, observation and documentation strategies to review, support and promote children's* learning across the continuum of early childhood development*.
• Establish and maintain responsive relationships* with individual children*, groups of children* and families*.
• Assess, develop and maintain safe, healthy and quality early learning environments* which meet the requirements of current legislation, agency policies and evidence-based practices* in early learning.
• Prepare and use professional written, verbal, nonverbal and electronic communications when working with children*, families*, colleagues, employers, and community partners.
• Identify, select and apply relevant legislation, regulations, College of Early Childhood Educators Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, policies and evidence-based practice* guidelines, and interpret their impact on a variety of early learning environments*.
• Apply a developing personal philosophy of early learning in accordance with ethical and professional standards* of early childhood education practice.
• Advocate* for quality early learning environments* and collaborate with members of the early learning team, families* and community partners to establish and promote such settings.
• Engage in reflective practice, develop learning goals and maintain an ongoing professional development plan in accordance with evidence-based practices* in early learning and related fields.

General Arts and Science is an open-enrollment, preparatory-studies program designed to provide opportunities for students to experience post-secondary studies in a supportive environment. Program participants are afforded the chance to develop a wide range of essential employability skills, benefit from extensive foundational Social Science and Humanities studies, upgrade their academic record, and focus on core and elective courses specific to their areas of interest. Students will also focus on professional writing and elective courses on culture, worldview, history, media and art.

Graduates of the One-Year Certificate program will be prepared to continue vocational studies at the college-level in a number of college programs. Students can also use the One-Year Certificate to apply to select Ontario universities.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Develop, through general knowledge gained in a wide range of subjects, in sight into both self and society.
• Develop flexibility and clarity of both thought and expression in order to develop communications competence to a level required by business and industry.
• Understand and utilize critical thinking processes and problem solving techniques.
• Examine and evaluate various aspects of our changing society to assist in developing a sense of personal and social responsibility as a citizen in society.
• Employ basic vocational, skills drawn from the areas of the Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences of Vocational Studies (Business, Technology).

Electronics and Embedded Systems Development is a two-year Ontario college graduate program designed to build on students' theoretical knowledge of electrical engineering and provides training on electrical technologies, embedded systems, and computer-aided design. Graduates will be prepared for the workforce after completing a capstone project where students have the opportunity to design, implement and manage real-world solutions.

The Marketing Management program will ensure your potential meets your management dreams. This one-year graduate certificate is designed for university and college graduates looking for a career in the marketing management sector. The mix of digital marketing courses offered will provide you with a competitive advantage in today's job market. Fanshawe is the only college to work with Google, the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization and WordTracker, which gives you unique opportunities to develop search engine marketing skills and conduct real search engine marketing campaigns on the Internet. You'll graduate with superior analytical, decision-making, and communication skills, and be ready for a successful career in sales, marketing research, advertising and promotion, event planning, direct marketing, digital marketing, marketing analytics, promotions management, brand management, public relations, and/or media sales.

In the program, you'll dig deep into marketing's role in driving value for business via both web-based and face-to-face strategies you will learn by being exposed to real life business issues. You'll be mentored to manage, develop and justifying marketing strategies, and presenting your creative ideas to your peers and to real business clients.

In-class students can also apply for the opportunity to further develop their marketing consulting skills, with the option of substituting two courses for the intensive community consultancy program, working with real business live clients.

The Pre-Health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees program provides students with the opportunity to study subject areas relevant to health career programs at Fanshawe College and to instill an appreciation of the professional roles, responsibilities and academic requirements of health care disciplines. The goal of the program is to prepare students for their chosen health career program.

Learning Outcomes 
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

• Examine biological concepts, processes and systems of the human body, including genetics and epigenetics, as well as the structure, function and properties of the molecules of life, cells, tissues and organ systems in relation to homeostasis, physical development and health.
• Examine concepts, processes and systems of chemistry, including atomic and molecular structure; quantities in chemical reactions; solutions and solubility; acids and bases; as well as organic chemistry and biochemistry in relation to health and the human body.
• Solve numeric problems and interpret data related to health sciences and other science-related fields using mathematical concepts, including algebra and probability, along with descriptive and inferential statistics.
• Use health sciences and other science-related language and terminology appropriately to communicate clearly, concisely, and correctly in written, spoken, and visual forms.
• Prepare a personal strategy and plan for academic, career and professional development in the health sciences or other science-related fields.
• Investigate health sciences and science-related questions, problems and evidence using the scientific method.
• Physics (Optional):
• Examine fundamental physics laws and concepts and their application to health sciences and other science-related fields.

In today’s increasingly digitally-connected and knowledge-based economy, communication skills are crucial for professional success across a wide array of sectors. Advanced Communication for Professionals is an Ontario College Graduate Certificate program that supports learners and professionals in further developing their written, verbal and interpersonal skills.  Canadian employers are increasingly emphasizing the importance of these skills for hiring and promotion; this program therefore cultivates excellence in workplace communication, interpersonal communication, writing and reports, and project development. Graduates will enjoy enhanced employability and advancement potential.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

• Make effective rhetorical decisions to create focused, well-structured documents and presentations that implement professional stylistic conventions.
• Analyze and successfully respond to the communication expectations of various professional audiences when creating professional documents and presentations.
• Employ effective leadership skills in professional environments to promote increased communication efficiency and improved workplace collaboration.
• Edit and adapt professional messages for multiple contexts and diverse media.
• Synthesize sector-related research to produce relevant, persuasive reports.
• Comply with intellectual property rights when synthesizing, citing, or repurposing others' work in professional documents and presentations.
• Produce visually effective documents and presentations.
• Facilitate positive and productive interpersonal communication in the workplace to build and maintain strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage a collaborative project to ensure that it meets all required parameters (e.g. scope, timelines, etc.).

Companies are increasingly challenged with how to collect and make sense of vast amounts of data in order to improve their competitive position. A critical role in the facilitation of software/system development for the purpose of collecting data will be played by the Technical Systems Analyst. This IT professional will interface with organizational areas to gather their business (data) requirements and translate them into functional systems design specifications that can be successfully implemented by IT teams. In order to fulfill this role, the candidate must have a solid foundation in IT supplemented by the critical skills to be developed in this program, including: application software development, business data analysis and modeling, customer engagement/communications management, business process and enterprise resource planning. A key part of this graduate program is the applied aspects of the curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to engage in the process of business analysis for information technology (IT) through case studies and industry-based projects.

Personal Support Worker is a two level program leading to an Ontario College Certificate.  Graduates, as entry-level unregulated workers, have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide personal care and home management services to clients in both community and institutional settings.

Personal Support Workers work with clients who are stable and who have clearly identified needs that are not expected to change significantly. They work under the supervision of care/service teams (which include nurses and other regulated or non-regulated care providers) as well as under the direction of the client.

Learning Outcomes:
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to

• Work within the personal support worker role in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings* in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's job description, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Act responsibly and be accountable for own actions while recognizing the boundaries of knowledge and skills within the personal support worker role that require collaboration with the clients, families, supervisors and/or other members of the interprofessional care/service team*.
• Participate as a member of the interprofessional care/service team* and maintain collaborative working relationships in the provision of supportive care* in community, retirement homes, long-term care homes and/or hospital care settings*.
• Provide client-centred* and client-directed* care that is based on ethical* principles, sensitive to diverse client and family values, beliefs and needs, and which follows the direction of the plan of care/service plan*.
• Establish and maintain helping relationships* with clients and their families reflecting open communication, professional* boundaries, employer's policies and adhering to confidentiality and privacy legislation.
• Identify relevant client information using basic assessment and communication skills and report and document findings in accordance with the requirements of employer policies and procedures and all applicable legislation.
• Promote and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for clients, their families, self and others including the implementation of infection prevention and control measures and emergency first aid procedures that are in keeping with the plan of care/service plan*, employer policies and procedures, and all applicable legislation.
• Assist clients across the lifespan with routine activities of daily living* by applying basic knowledge of growth and development, common alterations in functioning, disease prevention, health promotion and maintenance, rehabilitation and restorative care*.
• Assist clients with medication* in keeping with the direction of the plan of care/service plan* and under the direction and monitoring of a regulated health professional* or most accountable person* and in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's policies.
• Assist with household management tasks* and instrumental activities of daily living* in accordance with the plan of care/service plan* and considering the preferences, comfort and safety of clients, families and significant others.
• Assist clients who are caring for dependent individuals* considering client and family choices, professional* boundaries and the direction of the plan of care/service plan*.
• Identify and report situations of neglect, and potential, alleged or witnessed/actual incidents of abuse, and respond in accordance with all applicable legislation and employer's policies and procedures.
• Assist in the provision of culturally relevant* palliative and end-oflife care* to clients experiencing life threatening illness and to their families and significant others, from diagnosis through death and bereavement, and in accordance with clients' choices and the plan of care/service plan*.
• Use identified approaches and best practices to support positive and safe behaviour in clients experiencing cognitive impairment, mental health challenges and/or responsive behaviours*.

The program provides training in the skills required to perform a variety of technical functions involving the assessing and maintenance of fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Graduates will be able to respond to new and emerging situations which demand the application of basic principles of fire alarm inspection to the solution of problems which they may not have previously encountered. The combination of theory-based knowledge and workplace experience will serve to increase the level of competence within the overall industry.

Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to :

• Assess the functionality of fire alarm systems
• Assess and maintain life safety electronics
• Describe the fundamental operations of basic electrical systems
• Write technical reports to industry standards
• Assess a structure to determine if all relevant fire codes, legislation, and standards are met
• Describe basic fire extinguishing methods
• Describe the basic components of sprinkler systems
• Install, verify and test a variety of fire alarm systems
• Troubleshoot issues in a variety of fire alarm and sprinkler systems