| Support workers provide services to people who | | | | listed as a Facility-based workplace, a location must |
| need help with their daily needs. You will provide | | | | provide accommodations, health & support |
| these services in facilities and within the community. | | | | services. There are several different types of |
| Supervised by a nurse or other professional, you are | | | | facilities, including hospitals and long-term care |
| a vital part of a health care team. Legislation, | | | | (retirement) homes. Community-based workplaces |
| employer's policies, and the person's condition | | | | include locations within the community where health |
| influence how you function and how much supervision | | | | care and services are provided, but where overnight |
| you will need. Once you gain the required experience, | | | | are not necessary. The most common of these |
| you will find that you are able to adapt your care | | | | settings would be a person's home. |
| depending on the setting and situations that arise. | | | | Obtaining certification to become a Personal Support |
| Ultimately, the goal of the support work is to | | | | Worker can follow one of two paths. The first being |
| improve the individuals overall quality of life. Care | | | | a traditional educational institution such as a College or |
| needs to be provided in a kind, sensitivity, and | | | | University and the second being a specialized |
| understanding manner. While tending to the person's | | | | educational institution, such as a local learning center |
| physical needs, you can also help to relieve loneliness, | | | | (for example, a continuing educational center at a |
| provide comfort, encourage independence, and | | | | local high school). The government of each province |
| promote the person's self-image. Your service helps | | | | creates a course outline & standard that each |
| people in their homes remain independent. You should | | | | institution must adhere to. |
| always conduct yourself in a manner that let's the | | | | The wages that a Personal Support Worker can |
| individual know that you care for them and about | | | | expect to earn can differ from province to province, |
| them. You will make a positive difference in people's | | | | city to city, and from a unionized to a non-unionized |
| lives! | | | | workplace. CUPE (Canadian Union of Public |
| Now, let's take a look at where you'll be performing | | | | Employees) states that the average wage for a |
| your tasks as a personal support worker. There are | | | | Canadian unionized Support Worker is $14.65 and a |
| two accepted groupings of locations, the first being | | | | non-unionized worker averages $13.42 per hour. |
| facility-based and second, community based. To be | | | | |