Health Care Support Worker Courses
The courses outlined below are only for students enrolled in programs in the Health Care Support Worker department.
Students wishing to complete the Health Care Support Worker Certificate Program will take HCSW 1101 to HCSW 1109 inclusive, + HCSW 1170 to HCSW 1200 inclusive.
Students wishing to complete the Health Care Assistant Certificate Program will take HCSW 1101 to HCSW 1109 inclusive.
Students wishing to complete the Community Mental Health Worker Citation Program will take all courses in Semester III.
Semester I
HCSW 1100 Health: Roles and Responsibilities (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the concepts of health and the components of a health-enhancing lifestyle. The course also provides students with an introduction to the role of the Health Care Support Worker. Participants are invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that may impact on their own health while at the same time developing the knowledge, attitudes and values required for competent practice as a Health Care Support Worker. Course content will focus on preparing worker for employment in Home Support, Residential Care, Assisted Living and Community Mental Health.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1110 + HCSW 1120 + HCSW 1130
Lecture: 60 hours
Offered: Not Offered
HCSW 1101 Concepts for Practice (3 credits)
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical framework for practice. Students will be introduced to the philosophical values and theoretical understandings that provide a foundation for competent practice as a HCA. The course focuses on concepts of caring and person-centred care; basic human needs and human development; family, culture and diversity as they relate to health and healing. Students will also be introduced to a problem-solving model that will be critical to their practice.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1102 Lifestyle and Introduction to Practice (3 credits)
This course introduces students to a holistic concept of health and the components of a health-enhancing lifestyle. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experience of health, recognizing challenges and resources that can impact lifestyle choices. Students will be introduced to a model that can be applied in other courses to understand the multi-faceted aspects of health and healing. Students will also be introduced to the role of the Health Care Assistant (HCA) within the British Columbia health care system. Students will be introduced to the healthcare team and the roles and function of the HCA within the team. Students will also have opportunities to develop self-reflective skills required for competent practice and will be introduced to effective job-finding approaches.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1103 Interpersonal Communications (3 credits)
This course focuses on the development of self-awareness, increased understanding of others and development of effective interpersonal communication skills that can be used in a variety of care-giving contexts. Students will be encouraged to become more aware of the impact of their own communication choices and patterns. They will have opportunity to develop and use communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, respect, and active listening skills. Students are also introduced to, and encouraged to explore, concepts of culture and diversity as they relate to interpersonal communications and care-giving interactions.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1104 Health Challenges 1 (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the normal structure and function of the human body and normal bodily changes associated with aging. Students will explore common challenges to health and healing in relation to each body system. Students will also be encouraged to explore person-centered practice as it relates to the common challenges to health.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1105
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1105 Applied Practice Experiences 1 (6 credits)
This practical course offers students the opportunity to acquire personal care and assistance skills within the parameters of the HCA role. The course is comprised of class and supervised laboratory experiences, as well as supervised practice experience in a multi-level or complex care setting. Through these experiences, students learn to integrate and apply the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes they have learned in all other courses in the program. Students are provided with opportunities to develop care-giver skills that maintain and promote the comfort, safety and independence of individuals in facility contexts.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104
Lecture: 30hrs/semester
Lecture/practice: 60 hrs/semester
Clinical experience: 33.75 hrs/semester
Semester II
HCSW 1106 Health Challenges 2 (3 credits)
This course builds on HCSW 1104: Health Challenges 1. In this course, students will continue to explore common health challenges and person-centered practice, especially in relation to chronic diseases and end-of-life care. Students will have the opportunity to consolidate learning from previous courses, and to consider further caring for clients in home and assisted living settings.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Corequisites: HCSW 1107 + HCSW 1108
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1107 Cognitive and Mental Health Challenges (3 credits)
This course builds on content from other courses to assist students to explore concepts and care-giving approaches that will allow them to work effectively with individuals experiencing cognitive or mental challenges. Emphasis is on recognizing behaviours and identifying person-centred intervention strategies.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Corequisites: HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1108
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1108 Applied Practice Experiences 2 (6.75 credits)
This practical course builds on the learning experiences in HCSW 1105: Applied Practice Experiences 1. Students have further opportunities to integrate theory from other courses, and to consolidate care-giving skills in the laboratory and clinical settings. In the laboratory, increase emphasis will be placed on home and community settings. For this second clinical experience, students will continue to practice and learn in multi-level or complex care facilities, providing an opportunity for students to gain expertise and confidence with the role of the HCA.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
Corequisites: HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107
Lab: 30 hrs/semester
Clinical experience: 118 hrs/semester
HCSW 1109 Applied Practice Experiences 3 (3.75 credits)
In this course students have the opportunity to consolidate their learning in Complex Care to gain further expertise and confidence with the role of the HCA within a continuing care facility. Students will also experience working with individuals with cognitive challenges in specialized dementia care units. As well, students will be provided with the opportunity to become familiar with the role of the HCA within a Home Support Agency and to gain abilities that will prepare them to assume the role of a Community Health Worker. The course experiences will also allow students to acquire familiarity with HCA practice in the Assisted Living setting.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105 + HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107 + HCSW 1108
Corequisites: None
Practicum:
Assisted Living/Home Support: 60 hrs/semester
Specialized Dementia Care: 60 hrs/semester
Lecture: 15 hrs/semester
HCSW 1110 Interpersonal Communications for Health Care Support Workers (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to the knowledge and skills necessary to communicate effectively with a variety of individuals and groups in care-giving situations. By focusing on self-awareness and an increased understanding of others, the course will help learners to explore the relationship between values and beliefs and effective interpersonal communication in a variety of care settings and it will help learners to develop and use effective communication techniques that demonstrate personal awareness, empathy, respect and active listening abilities.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1120 + HCSW 1130
Lecture: 60 hours
Offered: Not Offered
HCSW 1120 Concepts: Health and Healing (3.75 credits)
This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a theoretical framework for practice. Students will examine the significant philosophical beliefs and theoretical understandings underlying competent practice. The course will focus on the concepts and principles related to health and healing across the lifespan, as well as aspects of care-giving that promote individual health and healing.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110 + HCSW 1130
Lecture: 75 hours
Offered: Not Offered
HCSW 1130 Personal Care Skills I (6 credits)
This practical course focuses on the acquisition and application of care-giving skills aimed at maintaining and promoting comfort, safety and independence for individuals in a residential care facility, assisted living facility or home. Lab practice, selected supervised clinical experiences and community and home support field experiences will provide an opportunity for students to apply the caring philosophy and the knowledge and skills learned in all of the semester courses. This course is comprised of classroom, lab and clinical experiences running concurrently.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110 + HCSW 1120
Lecture/Demo: 24 hours
Laboratory: 48 hours
Clinical and field experience: 72 hours
Offered: Not Offered
HCSW 1140 Introduction to Cognitive Disorders and Mental Health (3 credits)
This course builds upon the content of the Interpersonal Communications for Health Care Support Workers and Concepts: Health and Healing courses and helps the learner to explore the concepts and approaches involved in assisting individuals experiencing changes in mental functioning and mental illness.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110 + HCSW + 1120 + HCSW 1130
Corequisites: HCSW 1150
Lecture: 60 hours
Offered: Not Offered
HCSW 1150 Personal Care Skills II (4.75 credits)
This practical course focuses on the acquisition and application of care-giving skills aimed at maintaining and promoting comfort, safety and independence for individuals in special care units and in a variety of community health care settings. Lab practice, selected supervised clinical experiences and community and home support field experiences will provide the opportunity to further advance the skills and knowledge acquired in semester I. This course is comprised of classroom, lab and clinical experiences running concurrently.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110 + HCSW 1120 + HCSW 1130
Corequisites: HCSW 1140
Lecture/Demo: 12 hours
Laboratory: 12 hours
Offered: Not Offered
Clinical and field experience: 90 hours
HCSW 1160 Advanced Clinical Practice in Home Support/Resident Care (6.25 credits)
This is a six week course which provides the student with an opportunity to work with a health care team in selected residential care homes, assisted living facilities, special care units and in home support agencies. Students apply and integrate knowledge and skills learned in all of the courses. They are provided with experience on two shifts and gradually assume the responsibilities expected of a graduate Home Support/Resident Care Attendant.
Prerequisites: Semester I of HCSW Program + HCSW 1140 + HCSW 1150
Corequisites: None
Clinical and field experience: 222 hours
Offered: Not Offered
Semester III
HCSW 1165 Concepts for Mental Health Practice I (3 credits)
This course will include the required components to prepare students for admission into the Community Mental Health Worker component of the program. It will provide students with the basic theoretical concepts related to changes in mental functioning, common physiological disorders seen in the mental health population, basic communication skills, and basic job search skills. It will also include a lab practice component that will provide opportunities to acquire and apply personal care-giving skills in an organized and safe manner.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Lecture/Practice: 60 hours
HCSW 1170 Concepts for Mental Health Practice II (3 credits)
This focus of this course will introduce the learner to the role of the Community Mental Health Worker (CMHW) in the delivery of mental health services. The Mental Health Act (MHA), ethical issues, and the history of mental illness will be discussed. In this course, there is a focus on the various concepts related to common mental health issues, including neurobiology, the DSM-IV-TR, various mental disorders, treatment modalities, and addictions. Assessment tools will also be discussed as well as intervention techniques.
Prerequisites:
HCSW 1165 or HCSW 1100 +
HCSW 1110 + HCSW 1120 +
HCSW 1130 + HCSW 1140 +
HCSW 1150 + HCSW 1160 or HCSW 1101 +
HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 +
HCSW 1105 + HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107 +
HCSW 1108 + HCSW 1109
Corequisites: HCSW 1180 + HCSW 1190 + HCSW 1195
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1180 Recovery in Mental Health (3 credits)
This course will focus on the concepts and principles of Recovery and Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR). Mission statements, philosophies, values, and beliefs of various agencies will be discussed. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs will be discussed in relation to the prioritization of needs. Principles of advocacy and the role of the CMHW and HCSW will be addressed. The role of the CMHW and HCSW in relation to goal planning and implementation are included.
Prerequisites:
HCSW 1165 or HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110 +
HCSW 1120 + HCSW 1130 + HCSW 1140 +
HCSW 1150 + HCSW 1160 or HCSW 1101
+ HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104
+ HCSW 1105 + HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107
+ HCSW 1108 + HCSW 1109
Corequisites: HCSW 1170 + HCSW 1190 + HCSW 1195
Lecture: 60 hours
HCSW 1190 Therapeutic Relationships in Mental Health (3.25 credits)
The focus of this course in the Health Care Support Worker Program is to prepare the student to develop advanced therapeutic relationships in the mental health field through the use of communication skills. Empathy, warmth, and respect will be taught as well as confrontation and immediacy. Communication labs with actors are used to develop these skills. Assessment/communication/interviewing skills will be discussed for various mental disorders. Conflict resolution, problem-solving, and leadership skills will be developed. Group therapy and stress management theories and techniques will be explored. The importance of self-awareness will be stressed throughout the course.
Prerequisites:
HCSW 1165 or HCSW 1100 + HCSW 1110
+ HCSW 1120 + HCSW 1130 + HCSW 1140
+ HCSW 1150 + HCSW 1160 or HCSW 1101
+ HCSW 1102 + HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104
+ HCSW 1105 + HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107
+ HCSW 1108 + HCSW 1109
Corequisites: HCSW 1170 + HCSW 1180+ HCSW 1195
Lecture/Practice: 65 hours
Lab.: 14 hours
HCSW 1195 Clinical Practice I for CMHWS (0.75 credits)
This course introduces students to the mental health clinical practice setting. Learning opportunities will encourage students to use all of the CMHW concepts and therapeutic communication skills they have learned thus far in the program to assist individuals with mental health issues to maximize their independence. Students will identify the resources available in the community and methods of accessing them. Emphasis will be on the role of the CMHW as a member of the community health team. The principles of Recovery using Psychosocial Rehabilitation will be the focus of this workplace practice.
Prerequisites:
HCSW 1165 or HCSW 1110 +HCSW 1120
+ HCSW 1130 + HCSW 1140 + HCSW 1150
+ HCSW 1160 or HCSW 1101 + HCSW 1102
+ HCSW 1103 + HCSW 1104 + HCSW 1105
+ HCSW 1106 + HCSW 1107 + HCSW 1108
+ HCSW 1109
Corequisites: HCSW 1170 + HCSW 1180 + HCSW 1190
Lecture/Practice: 25-30 hours of practicum per semester
HCSW 1200 Clinical Practice II for CMHW's (2.75 credits)
This course provides students with further experience in the mental health clinical practice setting. Learning opportunities will encourage students to use all of the CMHW concepts and therapeutic communication skills they have learned throughout the program to assist individuals with mental health issues to maximize their independence. Students will identify the resources available in the community and methods of accessing these. Emphasis will be on the role of the CMHW as a member of the community health team. The principles of Recovery using Psychosocial Rehabilitation will be the focus of this workplace practice.
Prerequisites: HCSW 1170 + HCSW 1180 + HCSW 1190 + HCSW 1195
Corequisites: None
Clinical Practice: 105-120 hours