| dc.description.abstract | There are an estimated 90,000 personal support workers (PSWs) in Ontario providing assistance with daily activities for individuals in hospitals, long-term care
facilities, adult day programs and home care yet little is known about them. (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care [MOHLTC], 2011b). The goals of this thesis
are to better understand where the occupation of PSWs is in its development towards
becoming a profession; and what the challenges, opportunities, and prospects are towards
this realization.
The data collection for this case study is based a scoping review of peer review articles and grey literature to describe who these workers are, their education, where they
work and regulatory structures that govern their practice. The analytical framework used
to examine the professional progression of PSWs is based on the neo-Weberian theory of
professions. PSWs are unregulated frontline providers. Many PSWs are immigrants and
visible minority females older than 45 years whose first language is not English
(Aronson, Denton, & Zeytinoglu, 2004; Neysmith, Reitsma-Street, Collins, & Porter,
2004; Canadian Research Network for Care in the Community [CRNCC], 2009a).
Employment status varies with the majority working in long-term care institutions.
However a considerable number of PSWs work in home care. Education for PSWs is not
standardized and educational requirements vary by work setting as does wage levels.
Turnover is high in this occupation and there is no unifying organization representing
PSWs.
This study has brought to the foreground several challenges. PSWs do not meet
the neo-Weberian criteria of a profession due to lack of strong leadership, adequate education, autonomy and resources that can support the complexity of a professional body. PSWs who work in the community setting have little or no support from other providers responsible for delegating and directing their work, suffer increased job
insecurity and decreased pay and/or benefits. | en |
