This presentation will highlight a case study of a unique program model—including collaborative partnerships, infrastructure supports, and systems and processes—behind the Ontario PSW Education Fund for Long-Term Care (“the Program”). This presentation will provide an overview of the framework and findings to implement and sustain training in Long-Term Care (LTC).

The Program was first launched in October 2017 by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Centres for Learning, Research and Innovation (CLRIs) in LTC in partnership with Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Its objective was to develop and enhance practical skills of the PSW workforce in Ontario LTC homes to deliver high-quality and safe care that meets resident needs. In its inaugural year, the Program provided training through Excellence in Resident-Centred Care (ERCC). ERCC emphasizes Ministry standards and the latest evidence to support care using a 12-module, person-centred, train-the-trainer approach.

Within 6 weeks of launching, the Program was oversubscribed. Over 165 LTC homes (one quarter of LTC homes) and 6,700 PSWs across Ontario will be trained. Preliminary evaluation results show a positive shift in PSWs’ capacity to manage change to better support resident experiences and quality outcomes, as well as improved confidence and self-care.

The success of the Program was largely due to its unique and collaborative framework of research to education to practice.

The Program’s infrastructure supports, systems, and processes played an important role in recruiting, training, and building capacity for sustainable practice change in LTC homes and for PSWs delivering care. A custom online application was built and used in conjunction with an online registration system and learning platform to facilitate a user-friendly and efficient process. This yielded a total of 31 training workshops with a wide geographic scope across the province, making training accessible with limited travel required, even in Northern and rural locations. Additionally, LTC homes and their PSWs were provided two years of access to ongoing, personalized training support to assist with administration and facilitation. Because of these supports, learning was made accessible to a wide range of learning needs, including those of deaf PSWs.

Through these success factors, the Program has helped to create a sustainable culture change that improves resident satisfaction and experience in Ontario LTC homes. Based on these findings, conference participants will leave this session with strategies on how to build and sustain successful training programs in Long-Term Care (LTC).