Category: Events

By Kristian Partington
Reprinted from Schlegel Villages News

Among many teachings Ron Schlegel offered his three sons as they grew to eventually lead the organization he founded, he taught them to trust in the power of partnerships, but also to be sure to choose any partner in life wisely.

Schlegel Villages president and CEO Jamie Schlegel shared this insight as he spoke at the opening of the new Living Classroom satellite training campus at The Village of Tansley Woods in Burlington, developed alongside Hamilton’s Mohawk College.

“My dad has always reminded me and encouraged me to choose your partners in life carefully and make sure that those partners are aligned from a values standpoint,” Jamie said. “I can say without hesitation that we found such a wonderful partner in Mohawk College, that is aligned with our values and aligned with our objective and vision for doing the training of healthcare workers in a different and innovative way.”

The development of engaged teams that are driven by the concept of relationship-centred care is one the most important priorities at Schlegel Villages, which is why it invests in the training of new caregivers through its in-house Living Classrooms. This new campus, located within Tansley Woods, is the fourth of these innovative classrooms Schlegel Villages has developed.

This model, Jamie explains, “allows students to learn right in the environment they’re ultimately going to work in and the neat part about this arrangement is it allows the residents and our existing team members to be part of the learning journey, and it creates such a rich and deep and relevant learning experience.”

The feedback from students who have graduated from previous Living Classroom cohorts over the years at Wentworth Heights, University Gates or Riverside Glen consistently point out the superiority of the immersive experience that this model offers future caregivers.

Kim Hulme is a Personal Care Aide working in the retirement neighbourhoods at Tansley Woods, and she is also training through Mohawk College to be a Personal Support Worker. She says her clinical placement next door in the Long-term Care neighbourhoods has been invaluable, and she believes the Living Classroom model will only enhance the experience for future students.

“The people that I’m working with are wonderful,” Kim says. “Everyone works as a team; I learn something new every day and I’m very well honoured to be part of this team.

“What a great opportunity and it’s just wonderful that the Living Classroom is here in Burlington.”

As Mohawk College’s Chief Operating Officer Paul Armstrong reflected on the partnership, which began with the college’s first Living Classroom at The Village of Wentworth Heights in 2019, he also spoke of shared values. “In any relationship, there’s just something in your gut that tells you it feels right,” he said. “Everything I’ve seen and every opportunity I’ve had to engage with (Schlegel leaders), it is really clear where your values and principles and priorities lie and it’s in the same place where they lie for me personally and where they lie for us as Mohawk College.”

The first students will begin their training in the fall of 2023 and will have every opportunity to work within Schlegel Villages once their education is complete.

Reprinted from Pembroke Today

A long-term care home in Pembroke is offering a tuition free PSW program. Linda Tracey, the CEO at Marianhill Long-Term Care and Community Services, says they are offering a five month accelerated program to train personal support workers (PSW).

Tracey says PSW professionals are in high demand and adds they are excited to be partnering with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario to offer the tuition free program.

Tracey says the accelerated PSW program will typically run Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 3:00pm with some variation during clinical placements. Applications must be submitted by January 13th, 2023 and Tracey says they have 25 to 30 spots available.

PSW Program Coordinators are available to support you throughout the registration process by answering any questions you may have about the program, application process and funding opportunities.

In addition to free tuition, graduates of the PSW program who commit to working at Marianhill are eligible to receive $2,000 after two months and $5,000 after six months of employment. Marianhill is also providing earn-as-you-learn employment opportunities and those interested are asked to submit a resume with a list of positions available online here.

Tracey says Marianhill is undergoing a multi-million dollar redevelopment project that will see the long-term care home grow from 131 to 160 beds.

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is excited to announce the expansion of the Personal Support Worker (PSW) training opportunity and a promising partnership in the Parry Sound region. The partnership with Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care are welcome news in an area where PSWs are in high demand.

NNDSB will provide PSW training on site at Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care in a living classroom environment. Participants in the program will do their theoretical learning in a classroom at Belvedere Heights, then be able to apply those skills on the floor of both long-term care homes, without having to wait for theory work to end before experiencing placement.

NNDSB hopes to help fill a growing demand for trained PSWs across the Near North region and to provide people 18 years of age and older with an exciting career path. NNDSB will work closely with community partners to establish a hands-on program, inclusive of placements, in partnered long-term care facilities.

A PSW looks after the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of someone who is not able to do so themselves, frequently in the elderly population. The main responsibilities of a PSW include ensuring the patient has healthy and nutritious meals, helping with daily tasks and working with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the best quality of care.

People who do not currently possess their Grade 12 are also eligible. This unique program allows NNDSB to support students in completing their OSSD in tandem with this program. If you are interested, you can request an educational assessment by contacting Trina Nelson in student services at Parry Sound High School, 705-773-7979 extension 8438.

NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles, who has been instrumental in seeking opportunities for the board to provide this innovative programming states, “NNDSB is thrilled to expand this opportunity to the Parry Sound region. The program contributes to an emergent and vital need for the Near North region. We are proud to offer a program that supports adults (18+) to find a rewarding career path in the health care industry and respond to a community need.”

Supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, the student costs of this specialty program will be subsidized. Successful students of this program will become fully qualified as PSWs. The PSW program can be only the beginning of a journey into many healthcare opportunities. PSWs are employed in many care sectors such as homecare and assisted living and in various care facilities.

NNDSB’s partners in this program, are “excited by this awesome opportunity,” says Belvedere Heights Home for the Aged Administrator Kami Johnson.

“Our homes in Parry Sound are incredibly fortunate to work with a partner like our local high school,” says Steve White, administrator of Lakeland Long-Term Care. “Kami and I believe the Near North District School Board is not only going to make a difference in the lives of adults learning a new career, but in the daily lives of our seniors and most vulnerable.”

NNDSB is in the process of hiring qualified instructors for North Bay and Parry Sound. Instructors will be RNs or NPs with experience working in this field. Please refer to www.nearnorthschools.ca and select Join Our Team in the top right corner for employment information. NNDSB is excited by the expansion and still aiming for the new year to begin both programs. Registration is planned for January with an expected start of February 2022.

Spaces are limited. Anyone interested should plan to attend one of the two following information sessions: Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. online or Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. online. (Meetings are hyperlinked.)

NNDSB Chair Jay Aspin says, “The partnership in Parry Sound and the expansion of this programming is exactly what we aimed for. The alignment with the Board goals of excellence in innovation and excellence in building relationships is clear. We are eager to work in partnership with Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care on a sustainable pipeline of PSW students choosing highly rewarding programming in Northern communities.”

NNDSB is seeking partnerships with local long-term care homes in all regions of the board to re-engage learners who are 18+ interested in training to become a PSW. Any long-term care home interested in partnering should contact Liana Blaskievich, NNDSB’s Officer Corporate Affairs at 705-472-8170 ext. 5056 or liana.blaskievich@nearnorthschools.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Join us for a Living Classroom webinar, part of AdvantAge Ontario’s Virtual Summer School. Visit the website for the full program and registration details.

Grow Your Own PSWs: Regional Adaptations of the Living Classroom in Long Term Care

Tuesday, August 11, 2020, 10:15 am-11:15 pm

• Learn about the benefits of the Living Classroom, a postsecondary partnership program for addressing PSW shortages, including its impact on PSW recruitment and retention.
• Explore evidence collected from use and regional adaptation of this model in different long-term care settings, and implementation strategies for successful program delivery from a range of stakeholder perspectives.
• Identify how to assess your organization’s readiness to start a Living Classroom.

Speakers

Scott Mitchell, Knowledge Broker, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging

Scott Mitchell is a Knowledge Broker at the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) hosted by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging in Waterloo. He is a co-founder and coordinating committee member of the Canadian Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Community of Practice.


Shelley Sheedy, Director, Long-Term Care, Bonnechere Manor, Renfrew and Miramichi Lodge, Pembroke

Shelley Sheedy is an experienced health care leader with a diverse range of acute care, community, education and long-term care experience. Within long-term care, Shelley has held progressive leadership positions including Resident Care Co-ordinator, Director of Care, Administrator and is currently the Director of Long-Term Care for both of the County of Renfrew’s Homes — Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge — with responsibility for 346 residents, over 500 staff, approximately 300 volunteers and a $32M budget. She also oversaw the redevelopment of the 166-bed Miramichi Lodge. Both Homes have achieved Accreditation Canada’s highest “Accreditation with Exemplary Standing” Award.

Shelley holds a Masters degree in Health Studies and a certificate in Healthcare Leadership from the Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa) and sits on a number of regional and provincial committees. She has published several articles including “A Call to Action — Dispelling the Myths and Reducing the Negative Factors Impacting Nursing Recruitment in LTC”; “Should Upper Tier Municipalities in Ontario Contribute to the Operations of a LTC Home?”; and “Improving the Image of Nursing in Ontario — What Can you Do?”

Shelley’s career passions include leading change with a continuous quality improvement focus on evidenced-based practices and implementing innovative human resource practices.

Heather Klein-Horsman, PSW and PN Program Coordinator, Algonquin College

Heather Klein-Horsman, RN, graduated from University of Ottawa in 2006 and continued on to complete her Critical Care Course through Algonquin College. She worked at the intensive care unit at the Ottawa Civic Hospital from 2006-2009. In 2009 she moved to the Renfrew Valley region and started in the ICU/ER department at the Pembroke Regional Hospital and part-time clinical teaching with Algonquin College Pembroke campus. She completed her Masters in Nursing through Charles Sturt University, was hired full time at Algonquin College in 2014 and now coordinates both PSW and PN programs (the PSW Living Classroom is in its second year) and teaches throughout the Nursing programs. Heather has a passion for teaching, leadership and change management and serves on multiple committees through the College and Provincial level.

Lori Crosson, Director of Continuing Education and E-Learning, Sault College

Lori is responsible for various PSW programming including online offerings, in-community offerings and in-facility offerings. She has been a member of the Sault College Continuing Education team for over 10 years and has experience in various models of flexible education.

Veronique M. Boscart, Lynn McCleary, Paul Stolee, Linda Sheiban Taucar, Jessica Wilhelm, Keia Johnson, Josie d’Avernas, Paul Brown & Marlene Raasok, Educational Gerontology, 46:8, 461-472
https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2020.1774842

Abstract

Nursing Assistants (NAs) are the largest workforce in nursing homes, but often lack adequate preparation for their role. The Living Classroom (LC) is an integrated learning approach, whereby a NA program is delivered in a nursing home (NH) in collaboration with a community college. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of the LC. Mixed methods were used to gather data from 48 NA students, 5 faculty, and 42 NH staff over 30 weeks. Students, faculty, and nursing home staff described the LC as a positive learning experience. Students’ gerontological knowledge increased over time (p = .0012). Students reported very positive relationships with program mentors and NH residents. The LC provides a unique approach to prepare NAs to work in nursing homes. This model could expand to other educational programs with a gerontology focus.

UPDATE (March 18): The AdvantAge Ontario conference has been cancelled due to COVID-19

Join us for a Living Classroom presentation on Friday, April 24, 11:15 am-12:15 pm, at Advancing Senior Care, AdvantAge Ontario’s annual general meeting and convention.

• Learn about the benefits of the Living Classroom, a postsecondary partnership program for addressing PSW shortages, including its impact on PSW recruitment and retention.
• Explore evidence collected from use and regional adaptation of this model in different long-term care settings, and implementation strategies for successful program delivery from a range of stakeholder perspectives.
• Identify how to assess your organization’s readiness to start a Living Classroom.

Speakers

Scott Mitchell, Knowledge Broker, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging

Scott Mitchell is a Knowledge Broker at the Ontario Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) hosted by the Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging in Waterloo. He is a co-founder and coordinating committee member of the Canadian Knowledge Transfer and Exchange Community of Practice.


Shelley Sheedy, Director, Long-Term Care, Bonnechere Manor, Renfrew and Miramichi Lodge, Pembroke

Shelley Sheedy is an experienced health care leader with a diverse range of acute care, community, education and long-term care experience. Within long-term care, Shelley has held progressive leadership positions including Resident Care Co-ordinator, Director of Care, Administrator and is currently the Director of Long-Term Care for both of the County of Renfrew’s Homes — Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge — with responsibility for 346 residents, over 500 staff, approximately 300 volunteers and a $32M budget. She also oversaw the redevelopment of the 166-bed Miramichi Lodge. Both Homes have achieved Accreditation Canada’s highest “Accreditation with Exemplary Standing” Award.

Shelley holds a Masters degree in Health Studies and a certificate in Healthcare Leadership from the Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa) and sits on a number of regional and provincial committees. She has published several articles including “A Call to Action — Dispelling the Myths and Reducing the Negative Factors Impacting Nursing Recruitment in LTC”; “Should Upper Tier Municipalities in Ontario Contribute to the Operations of a LTC Home?”; and “Improving the Image of Nursing in Ontario — What Can you Do?”

Shelley’s career passions include leading change with a continuous quality improvement focus on evidenced-based practices and implementing innovative human resource practices.

Heather Klein-Horsman, PSW and PN Program Coordinator, Algonquin College

Heather Klein-Horsman, RN, graduated from University of Ottawa in 2006 and continued on to complete her Critical Care Course through Algonquin College. She worked at the intensive care unit at the Ottawa Civic Hospital from 2006-2009. In 2009 she moved to the Renfrew Valley region and started in the ICU/ER department at the Pembroke Regional Hospital and part-time clinical teaching with Algonquin College Pembroke campus. She completed her Masters in Nursing through Charles Sturt University, was hired full time at Algonquin College in 2014 and now coordinates both PSW and PN programs (the PSW Living Classroom is in its second year) and teaches throughout the Nursing programs. Heather has a passion for teaching, leadership and change management and serves on multiple committees through the College and Provincial level.


Pamela Ficociello, Executive Director, Algoma Manor

Pamela Ficociello serves as a AFS Board President, GPA Certified Coach and is a part of the Sault College Business Advisory Committee, and LTC Regional Committee. She has over 10 years of experience in a long-term care setting and 6 years of experience working in the mental health field as a Clinician Care and Treatment Worker.


Lori Crosson, Director of Continuing Education and E-Learning, Sault College

Lori is responsible for various PSW programming including online offerings, in-community offerings and in-facility offerings. She has been a member of the Sault College Continuing Education team for over 10 years and has experience in various models of flexible education.

The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) will be presenting on the Living Classroom at the AdvantAge Region 7 meeting in Ottawa on Friday, November 8, 2019. This interactive presentation by the Ontario CLRI and invited guests will explore successful Living Classroom models in Ontario (including the Ottawa region), engage participants in a hands-on activity to assess their own readiness to start a Living Classroom, and discuss the impact on health human resource challenges in LTC. Information about other CLRI initiatives to address HHR issues will also be provided.

Location: Hillel Lodge, 10 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa
When: November 8, 2019, 8:00 am-3:00 pm
Cost: $20 (cash) per person

RSVP: Kelly Thompson, Kelly@hillel-ltc.com