5.2 Review of the Domains of Practice Competencies
Clinical practice is a cornerstone of education and professional development for Personal Support Workers (PSWs). Domains of practice competencies are essential for Personal Support Workers (PSWs) because they provide a structured and standardized framework for evaluating the diverse skills required in the profession. These domains ensure that PSWs are assessed consistently across technical, interpersonal, and ethical dimensions, promoting a high standard of care. By clearly outlining expectations, they guide both learning and professional development, helping students understand where to focus their efforts. Additionally, these competencies align with regulatory and employer standards, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to meet the demands of real-world healthcare environments and deliver safe, client-centred care.
The clinical professional practice courses are very important for the PSW student for several reasons:
Confidence Building
Repeated exposure to clinical environments builds confidence in handling diverse client needs, emergencies, and ethical dilemmas.
Hands-On Skill Development
Clinical placements allow PSWs to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, helping them master essential skills like personal care, mobility assistance, and communication with clients and healthcare teams.
Professional Socialization
Students learn workplace norms, interprofessional collaboration, and the expectations of healthcare environments, building on what they have learned in classroom settings.
Critical Thinking and Adaptability
Clinical practice challenges PSWs to make decisions in dynamic situations, fostering problem-solving and adaptability—key traits in long-term and community care.
Feedback and Growth
Supervised practice provides opportunities for constructive feedback, allowing students to refine their techniques and professional behaviour.
In the Fanshawe College PSW program, the domains of practice are placed into five main categories:

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The five domains
- Domain #1: Demonstrates Professionalism in the PSW Role
- Domain #2: Provides Client-Centred/Client-Directed Care
- Domain #3: Makes Relevant Observations
- Domain #4: Communicates effectively and appropriately using oral, written and non-verbal methods
- Domain #5: Provides and maintains a safe and comfortable environment
Please review the HLTH 3054 Curriculum posted within the Fanshawe Online Learning Management System for a further description of each domain and the formal midterm and final evaluation documents.
Domain #1. Demonstrates professionalism in the PSW role
Appearance
- Practices good personal hygiene- consistently follows Fanshawe PSW Dress code (uniform, nametag, shoes, hair off the collar).
- Uniform, ironed, and complete.
- Cosmetics and jewelry as per the Fanshawe PSW Program manual’s dress code.
- Hair is clean and away from the face and off the collar.
- Breath and clothing free from food/beverage or cigarette odours- avoids strong scents such as perfume/cologne.
- Refrain from chewing gum at all times
Attitude
- Demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of care and communication.
- Is courteous at all times.
- Cooperates with other students, staff and instructors.
- Accepts constructive feedback.
- Refrain from discussing personal problems at work.
- Applies knowledge of basic coping skills to adapt to work-related change and stress.
- Exhibits willingness to work with care, demonstrates understanding of the roles and responsibilities differences between regulated health professionals and unregulated health care providers.
- Recognizes when tasks are too complex or require more time to be completed safely and requests assistance.
Behaviour
- Follows through on feedback – accepts responsibility for own actions – works within PSW role.
- Follows the policies and procedures of Fanshawe College and the agency.
- maintains client and workplace confidentiality, whether verbally, in writing, or electronically.
- Performs PSW role in an ethical manner.
- Performs client care in a reasonable and timely manner.
- Limit the use of cell phones as instructed and in an appropriate manner.
- Refrain from posting any references to clients, agency, assignments, or staff/ peers/ instructors on any social media applications.
- Refrain from taking photographs in any form, at any time.
- Uses problem-solving and critical thinking techniques in a professional manner while providing care.
Reliability
- Attendance (100%).
- Phone both the agency and the instructor appropriately to report any absences or lateness.
- Hand in assignments on time and in a satisfactory manner.
Domain #2. Provides client-centered/client-directed care
- Provides safe and competent care to clients by using basic knowledge appropriately.
- Uses basic problem-solving skills effectively when providing personal care.
- Uses time management skills effectively to organize own client assignments.
- Carries out assigned care in a caring manner, following the client’s care plan.
- Uses basic principles of hygiene and grooming correctly and safely when assisting clients.
- Positions, lifts, transfers, moves, and ambulates clients by using proper assistive equipment and supplies, and based on the client’s care plan.
- Provides care which respects the cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs of the client and their families.
- Demonstrates respect for decisions made by clients about health, safety, well-being and lifestyle.
- Demonstrates respect for client’s personal preferences, space and pace – establishes caring relationship with residents/clients – respects boundaries of resident/client relationships.
- Refrain from posting any references to clients, agency, assignments, or staff/ peers/ instructors on any social media applications.
- Uses proper problem-solving and critical thinking while providing client-centred care.
- Provides care following the client’s care plan and after completion of appropriate data collection.
- Seeks information about the assigned client in order to provide client-centred care at all times.
Domain #3. Makes relevant observations
- Acts within the PSW role when making observations about clients.
- Follows checklists, written guidelines and/or oral directions when observing clients.
- recognizes and reports changes in the client’s usual condition to the appropriate person.
- Seeks out information and guidance as required from the teacher when making observations.
- Applies basic knowledge when making observations.
- Identifies when contact precautions should be initiated and reported.
- Makes relevant observations and completes the Data Collection Tool correctly.
- Refrain from taking photographs in any form, at any time.
- Uses proper problem-solving and critical thinking when observing client behaviours.
Domain #4. Communicates effectively andl
appropriately using oral, written and non-verbal
methods
- Submits all written assignments on time.
- Demonstrates honesty and integrity in all aspects of communication.
- Uses basic principles of helping relationships when providing care.
- Uses a positive and caring attitude, empathy and respect and sensitivity to diversity when interacting with clients and families.
- Uses communication skills and language appropriate to the client’s needs and situation.
- Recognizes the influence that sensory difficulties and communication disorders have on the client’s ability to interact with their environment and provides care accordingly.
- Supports clients’ verbal and nonverbal communication.
- Ensures that all written communication is legible, written in ink, and without spelling and grammar errors.
- Speaks and writes clearly using correct terminology and abbreviations in all communication and assignments.
- Uses effective communication skills when reporting to staff and teachers.
- Reports to appropriate staff when leaving the unit for any reason and again upon return to the unit.
- Completes all client documentation accurately and promptly according to agency policy.
- Follows all written and oral directions accurately and promptly.
- Identifies when contact precautions should be initiated and reported.
- Follows both Fanshawe College and the clinical agency’s policies regarding all forms of communications.
- Limit the use of cell phones as instructed and in an appropriate manner.
- Refrain from posting any references to clients, agency, assignments, or staff/ peers/ instructors on any social media applications.
- Refrain from taking photographs in any form, at any time.
- Uses proper problem-solving and critical thinking techniques when communicating with a client who has communication difficulties.
Domain #5. Provides and maintains a safe and
comfortable environment
- Implement practices that provide personal safety and the safety of clients and others at all times.
- Use transfer techniques and mechanical lift according to both Fanshawe and agency policy at all times.
- Use proper self-protective equipment (PPE) when providing personal care. Identify when contact precautions should be initiated and reported.
- Know and comply with health and safety and the employer’s policies and procedures to ensure client and personal safety at all times.
- Recognize and report safety risks in the environment.
- Support clients’ right to a safe, non-abusive and non-threatening environment.
- Use safe feeding techniques that are specific to the client’s needs according to the care plan.
- Use body mechanics correctly and safely.
- Use standard precautions and infection control measures correctly.
- Uses proper problem-solving and critical thinking techniques in order to ensure the client’s safety and comfort.
Domain Information from Curriculum