Personal Support Network of Ontario (PSNO) ends its first year on a high note
October 15, 2007 – Today hundreds of Personal Support Workers from across the province will attend the first annual conference of the Personal Support Network of Ontario (PSNO).
“This first year of operations for the Network has been an exciting one”, says Ms. Lori Payne, Director of PSNO. “The response from PSWs and their employers has been tremendous. It definitely demonstrates the need for support and recognition for these highly valuable professionals”.
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.
In celebration of the vital care PSWs provide, the PSNO in partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association will announce the creation of the Saint Elizabeth Health Care (SEHC) continuing education bursary for any PSW member of the network. Applications will be accepted in the fall of 2007 with the bursary officially awarded in the winter of 2008.
”At SEHC, we believe that ongoing learning is absolutely fundamental to the future of health care,” said Nancy Lefebre, senior vice president and chief clinical executive. “By investing in this annual bursary, valued at $2,000, we are providing wonderful opportunities for PSWs to further their education, with a specific focus on home and community care.”
”OCSA would like to see the delivery of high quality service in personal care in all service areas of health, including home and community support”, says Susan Thorning, OCSA CEO. “The Network is a big part of achieving this ambition”.
The time has come to recognize PSWs and support the important work they do each day. Every PSW should take pride in the critical role they play in Ontario’s health care system.
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 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.
The Personal Support Network of Ontario (PSNO) is a division of OCSA.
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Media contacts:
Lori Payne, Director, PSNO
416-256-3010 ext. 242
lori.payne@ocsa.on.ca
Madonna Gallo
905-968-6430
mgallo@saintelizabeth.com
