Vickers Distance Education offers a “Personal Support Worker” course approved by the Office of Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification, of the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, qualifying people for work in New Brunswick’s Special Care Homes, Adult Residential Facilities, Nursing Homes, Hospitals and Home Support Agencies.
The course consists of 5 Assignments, 5 Tests, 3 Workshops, 70 hours of paid on-the-job training and results in a “Personal Support Worker” certificate.
Who is Elizabeth Vickers?
Ms. Vickers’ educational background includes a Bachelor of Nursing, a Master’s of Business Administration and two certificates in Advanced and Diabetic Foot Care Management. As a Registered Nurse, she had 5 years experience in various clinical settings, when she started working in the Home Support Industry in 1992. In 1994, she started her first home care agency, and developed a Health Care Aide program to train her own workers.
Personal Support Worker (PSW) Course
The Vickers’ Health Care Aide for Special Care Homes course was recognized by the office of Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification, of the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, June 24th, 2021, “as an approved technical training program for the occupation of Personal Support Worker.” (Attachment 5, PETL approval of HCA Course, June 24th, 2021).
As the student completes each of 5 Study Modules, they do a verbal/visual test with Elizabeth Vickers through Messenger, Facetime, or WhatsApp internet services.
Compliance with supervision is ensured by having the student do a slow scan of the desk area and surrounding room, before the testing starts, and twice more during the testing.
Feedback is given to the student throughout the test, and they receive their mark at the end of the testing period.
A follow up email is sent to the student as well as the student’s employer, along with a copy of their Course Summary. The Course Summary is a document that is used to keep track of the student’s progress throughout the course and shows their test marks, workshop dates, first aid, and start and finish dates of the course.
The student will attend 3 Workshops; Lift & Transfer Techniques, Personal Care, and Alzheimers Disease, with the final aspect of the course being 70 hours on-the-job training which the employer will supervise.
The student should complete this course within 6 months of receiving the Study Modules.