The Ministry of Long-Term Care funded positions for this program will be available this month (January 2025) for Personal Care Providers working in Long-Term Care (LTC). We will welcome all eligible applicants, as we confirm plans to have a representative cohort of LTC Personal Care Providers reflective of key characteristics including geography, facility size and type. Please check back later this week for registration and enrollment parameters.

The Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers is a self-paced, multifaceted program based on the best available evidence. It is designed to:

• Encourage an interprofessional, collaborative and person-centred approach to skin health and wound prevention
• Provide personal care providers with the knowledge, judgement and attitudes to identify those at risk for skin breakdown and respond appropriately to optimize skin health and prevent wounds
• Spark change in practice and in the health of individuals and communities

This educational program focuses on specific areas of personal care provider practice including:

• Monitoring the skin health of the individuals they care for

• Reporting observations to supervisors or health-care professionals and accurately documenting those observations

• Collaborating in follow-up care in accordance with workplace policies

This program has just been awarded micro-credential recognition by Nipissing University!

What does that mean?

A micro-credential in health care is a credential provided to designate you have a subset of knowledge and competencies in a specific area of clinical practice—in this case skin health and wound care. Upon successful completion of the Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers, Nipissing University will issue graduates a micro-credential in the form of a digital badge, which can be shared on social networks (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter) and in your digital portfolio and/or resume. It is a great way to let employers know about additional knowledge and skills you have learned.

The program is fully online and can be completed in      12-15 hours. Participants will be given four weeks to complete the program. Must be prepared to spend        3-4 hours per week to complete course content.

     11 highly interactive online modules

     1 live webinar featuring expert faculty

     3 discussion boards on skin health                                         and  wound prevention

     1 final exam to test knowledge

Personal Care Providers are eligible to register in this program.

As detailed in the National Occupational Standard (NOS) for Personal Care Providers developed by Colleges & Institutes Canada (CICan) in consultation and collaboration with sector stakeholders, “personal care providers work in a variety of care environments including home care, community, and healthcare settings. 

As valuable members of the healthcare team, they provide personal support and assistance with activities of daily living and other services for clients with varying degrees and types of illnesses and or disabilities across the lifespan. Using a person-centred approach, personal care providers work in partnership with the client and their health care team by holistically supporting the client’s physical, psychological, social, cognitive, cultural, and spiritual needs.

“Personal care providers enter the workforce with competencies that are transferable across care settings. Their hands-on skills and experience may vary depending on employment settings and client diversity. Ongoing training and education are important to maintain competence.”

As noted within the NOS “there are a variety (over 60+) of occupational titles which include, but are not limited to, personal support worker, health care aide, health care assistant, resident care worker, continuing care assistant, home support worker, personal care attendant, home and continuing care worker, residential care worker, home care assistants, special care home worker, and patient care worker.”

The Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers is an opportunity for personal care providers to enhance their knowledge in skin health and the prevention of common forms of skin damage, including skin tears, pressure injuries, moisture-associated skin damage, diabetic foot ulcers, leg ulcers and swelling, and thermal skin injuries.

This program encourages an interprofessional, collaborative and person-centred approach to care and focuses on early risk identification and prevention, which are key to ensuring the best possible outcomes for people at risk.     

Upon successful completion of the Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers, participants will receive:

• A joint Certificate of Completion from Wounds Canada and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, recognizing their dedication to learning and professional growth
• A digital micro-credential badge from Nipissing University 

The Skin Health Program for Personal Care Providers is delivered in partnership with the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO), our sincere thanks to them for their collaboration, and we gratefully acknowledge the support and funding for the development of this program by the Ontario Ministry of Health (MOH).