The province is providing financial incentives for Personal Support Workers, who are desperately needed in long-term care homes and other community care agencies, through a program called Return Of Service Initiative (ROS).
This initiative provides a $5,000 incentive to recent PSW graduates in exchange for a six-month commitment to an eligible Long-Term Care or Home and Community Care employer.
The PSW must have successfully completed an Ontario PSW training program that meets the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities program standards, such as the program at St. Clair College; graduate from their training program on or after April 1, 2020; and, be willing to fulfill the full-time work schedule offered by the employer.
“This is an excellent opportunity for PSW graduates to find full time employment and receive a bonus which will essentially reimburse them for the costs of their education,” said Linda Watson, chair of St. Clair College’s School of Nursing.
Publicly funded long-term care homes or community care agencies are eligible to apply for the funding that will then be paid to the PSWs they hire.
Each employer will be required to recruit using their standard recruitment process, and priority will be given to PSWs not currently employed in a PSW role providing patient care.
Learn more about the PSW ROS at www.healthforceontario.ca/pswros. PSWs who have graduated from their Ontario PSW training program on or after April 1, 2020 are eligible to apply for approved job opportunities at www.HFOJobs.ca.