2.5 PSW Agency Preceptor Role

PSW Preceptor

A PSW who partners with a PSW student to facilitate, support, and evaluate the students Professional Practice Placement.  Incorporating the student’s learning goals, the Preceptor shares, provides resources, guides, and uses their knowledge, skills, and experience to enhance a PSW student’s practice, knowledge, and confidence in caring for clients. 

Role Expectations

• ✓ Build inclusive, empowering, and student-centred relationships.

• ✓ Engage in conversations to provide support, guidance, and feedback.

• ✓ Provide safety and trust by demonstrating a nonjudgmental and supportive approach.

• ✓ Be available, attentive, patient, committed, and present.

• ✓ Create a welcoming learning environment.

• ✓ Collaborate with the student to develop learning goals.

• ✓ Provide a responsible and ethical professional practice.

• ✓ Engage and provide assistance with the PSW student’s learning, experiences, communication, and skills.

• ✓ Review the Clinical Professional Practice Domains (Review Chapter 5.2) and Chapter 8.2 PSW Clinical Professional Practice Expectations and Requirements to ensure familiarity with student placement expectations.

• ✓ Review PSW Professional Practice Placement Evaluations and Forms.

• ✓ Communicate expectations, including the role of the PSW at the agency, in providing client care, documentation standards, and agency policies and procedures.

• ✓ Work in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative partnership with the student and the Fanshawe College Clinical Advisor.

• ✓ Provide thoughtful, reflective, and constructive feedback.

• ✓ Demonstrate knowledge and expertise as a Personal Support Worker, including role in the setting and skills.

• ✓ Connect and be present with the PSW student frequently, and communicate expectations for the Clinical Professional Practice Placement.

• ✓ Seek out professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge of the role of the PSW and to strengthen understanding of teaching and learning.

• ✓ Review this OER to gain an understanding of student Professional Practice Placement expectations and Domains of Practice required for graduation.

• ✓ Guide the student in completion of the Domains of Practice Competencies in the PSW Professional Practice Placement Curriculum.

• ✓ Review, evaluate, and complete all Clinical Professional Practice requirements and Evaluations of Domains for Practice Competencies in partnership with the PSW student’s Clinical Advisor.

• ✓ Be available to answer questions and teach/guide the PSW student in practice and skills.

• ✓ Bring forth clinical and instructional knowledge of providing client care.

• ✓ Provide an approachable and receptive demeanour to students’ learning needs and provide continuous support.

• ✓ Be a positive role model displaying caring attributes, and portraying an enthusiastic and passionate display of the PSW profession.

• ✓ Follow proper procedures when ill in accordance with the agency policy, if there is an agency outbreak, and notify the student and/or unit of the student’s shift to arrange for an alternate preceptor for the day (if able).