The essential work of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) continues to be one of the most important in our society. With the growth in our aging population and challenges brought on by the pandemic, the demand to recruit and retain PSWs remains very high.

As such, the government of Ontario has recently announced increasing support for PSWs, Long Term Care, In-Home Care and Community agencies, with a new employment incentive. Together with Ontario Health, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care is launching a new Personal Support Worker Return of Service program. This program will provide a $5,000 incentive to PSWs who graduated on or after April 1,2020 and who commit to a six-month employment commitment in a Long-Term Care home or In-Home Care and Community Care agencies. This initiative is an example of the additional support this industry is receiving and will help encourage even more training, support, and retention of PSWs in Ontario.

Ontario Health is now accepting applications for eligibility from long-term and home care employers. The application deadline for employers is Monday October 5^, 2020. For more information about the program, eligibility criteria and funding disbursement process, please click here.