A partnership between Sensenbrenner Hospital in Kapuskasing and College Boreal is helping to fill a need for compassionate care and personal support workers. Human Resources consultant Lori-Ann Duguay says the one-of-a-kind initiative hires a candidate and then sends them off to school reducing the program length from one year to three months.
“Not only do they do three days in class but they’re also able to achieve two days of actual on the job placement,” she said. “And even in those three days of placement, one of those is actually labs. That lab day will be spent at the hospital with a teacher onsite with them.”
Duguay says the program is a perfect fit for those who want to work in the medical field or want to go back to school but don’t want to risk their income.
“Provides kind a the best of both worlds,” she said. “It provides them a salary where they will be paid five days a week for the duration of the training so it takes away that level of risk and finally invest in themselves and take that leap right.”
Duguay thinks this unique program could not only be used just in this region but anywhere in province to help hospitals and other healthcare facilities deal with personal support worker shortages.
