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A career as a personal support worker (PSW) offers the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives, but success in this role requires more than just a caring nature. From assisting with medical routines to building trusting relationships, personal support worker skills include a wide range of both technical and interpersonal abilities.

Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking to update your PSW skills for resume purposes, it’s important to understand which competencies employers are seeking. In this post, we’ll explore the top hard and soft skills every PSW needs, and how the right training can help you build both.

Hard Skills: The Technical Foundation of PSW Work

Hard skills are the practical, hands-on abilities PSWs need to perform their duties effectively. These are usually taught in a structured PSW course and honed during clinical placements.

Here are a few essential hard skills for PSWs:

1. Basic Medical Knowledge

PSWs need to monitor vital signs, understand common medical conditions, and recognize signs of distress or changes in a client’s condition. While they don’t provide medical diagnoses, they must report accurately and know when to escalate concerns to a nurse or physician.

2. Personal Care Assistance

From bathing and dressing to mobility and toileting, personal support worker skills revolve around daily care that supports client dignity and comfort. Proper lifting and transferring techniques are critical for safety, for both the PSW and the client.

3. Infection Control & Safety Procedures

In long-term care and home environments, understanding how to prevent the spread of illness is vital. PSWs must follow hygiene protocols, use personal protective equipment correctly, and maintain a clean and safe environment.

4. Nutrition and Meal Support

Meal prep, feeding assistance, and monitoring dietary intake are common PSW tasks. Understanding different dietary needs, especially for clients with conditions like diabetes or dysphagia, is a valuable part of the role.

These skills not only support quality care, but they also strengthen your PSW skills for a resume when applying for jobs in hospitals, long-term care facilities, or private homes.

Personal support worker skills revolve around daily care that supports client dignity

Soft Skills: The Heart of Personal Support Work

While hard skills can be taught, soft skills truly define great PSWs. These qualities help build trust, support emotional well-being, and foster compassionate, person-centered care.

1. Empathy and Compassion

Being able to understand and share in a client’s feelings is essential. Many clients may feel vulnerable, isolated, or anxious. A PSW’s ability to offer emotional support makes a meaningful difference every day.

2. Communication Skills

PSWs must communicate clearly and respectfully with clients, families, and healthcare teams. Listening attentively, using plain language, and documenting care accurately are all part of effective communication.

3. Patience and Flexibility

Clients’ needs can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. A good PSW can adapt to new challenges calmly and positively, especially when dealing with memory loss, limited mobility, or communication barriers.

4. Time Management and Organization

PSWs often care for multiple clients or juggle a variety of responsibilities. Being able to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently ensures nothing gets overlooked.

The PSW course program at ACA offers flexible hybrid training

Learn These Personal Support Worker Skills in ACA’s PSW Course

The Personal Support Worker (PSW) program at Algonquin Careers Academy offers flexible hybrid training designed to meet the growing demand for compassionate, well-trained healthcare professionals. Completed over 30 weeks, the program combines online academic learning with in-person labs and an eight-week clinical placement in both long-term care and community settings. 

Students learn essential skills such as personal care, mobility assistance, household management, and effective communication with clients and healthcare teams. With hands-on experience and instructor support built into the curriculum, graduates leave the program prepared to make a meaningful impact in nursing homes, hospitals, private residences, and other healthcare environments.

You’ll graduate with a complete understanding of personal support worker skills, ready to support your clients with professionalism and compassion.

Are you looking for a comprehensive PSW course?

Contact Algonquin Careers Academy for more information.