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Personal Support Worker Return of Service (PSW ROS)

To attract new Personal Support Workers to work in Long-Term Care homes and Home and Community Care agencies in greatest need across Ontario, this initiative provides a $5,000 incentive to recent PSW graduates in exchange for a six-month commitment to an eligible Long-Term Care or Home and Community Care employer.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for PSW ROS eligibility, an employer must:

  • Be a publicly-funded Long-Term Care home or Home and Community Care agency;
  • Confirm that funding will not replace any existing employee incentives currently offered by the organization; and
  • Offer full-time hours to an eligible PSW to deliver publicly funded personal support services exclusively.

To be eligible for the PSW ROS, a Personal Support Worker must:

  • Not have been employed as a PSW in Ontario in the six months prior to being hired;
  • Begin employment between February 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023; and
  • Commit to 6-months of employment at a full-time work schedule offered by approved employer.

Process

1. Employer Submits PSW ROS Employer Application Form - PDF:

  • Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis considering a number of factors, including health system priorities, geography, and local and regional health workforce capacity.
  • Submission of a completed application by an employer does not guarantee the employer approval or for the receipt of any potential funding from the Ministry of Health or Ontario Health in respect of PSW recruitment.

2. Employer Receives Application Approval:

  • The employer will be notified of the maximum number of PSWs eligible for PSW ROS funding.
  • The employer will receive support in adding the job posting to HFOJobs.ca.

3. Personal Support Worker Recruitment:

  • Interested Personal Support Workers search and apply for approved opportunities at HFOJobs.ca.
  • Employer recruits using their standard recruitment process.
  • Approved employer provides information about eligible PSW(s) via the online recruitment form (link provided upon approval).

4. Request for Funding and Return of Service Agreement:

  • The request for funding is subject to approval by Ontario Health. Employers will be notified by email once approved.
  • Ontario Health provides agreement that must be signed by both the employer and the eligible Personal Support Worker.
  • If the funding request meets all eligibility criteria, the agreement will be signed and executed by Ontario Health.

5. Funding will be disbursed to employers to subsequently be paid to each eligible PSW:

  • Grant funding of up to $5,000 will be provided for eligible PSWs hired by approved employers in return for a commitment to remain employed in their capacity as a PSW for 6 months.
  • Funding will be disbursed to employers to subsequently be paid to each eligible PSW in two instalments:
    • $2,000 after the completion of two (2) months, and
    • $3,000 after the completion of six (6) months.

How Do I Participate?

If you are an employer who is interested in participating, please complete the PSW ROS Employer Application Form - PDF and we will be in touch as soon as possible. Important Note: all employers must submit an Employer Application Form to participate in the 2022-23 PSW ROS, even if they were approved in a previous year.

If you are an eligible PSW or PSW student, visit HFOJobs.ca to see job opportunities from approved employers. Create a job alert to receive updates as new postings are added. Complete the PSW Expression of Interest Form if you would like to receive more information.

Contact

If you have any questions about this initiative, please send an email to info-hfo@ontariohealth.ca.