Backfill and Tuition Funding
The PSW Education Fund reduces the financial barriers that long-term care (LTC) homes face for team member professional development. The PSW Fund covers tuition costs for each program and provides reimbursement for backfill time team members spend in training. No tuition payment is ever required by the LTC home or the individual team member.
What is Backfill Pay?
The PSW Fund provides backfill pay directly to LTC Homes to ensure seamless operational coverage while team members attend training. This funding is intended to cover the cost of replacement staff, allowing team members to participate in workshops during their scheduled shifts without any loss of regular wages. Backfill payments are made via EFT and delivered directly to homes within approximately 60 days.
Eligibility
Backfill support is available for any team member employed by an LTC home in Ontario. However:
- Participants must be registered to receive backfill.
- Participants must be present and actively engaged for the majority of the session.
Backfill Rates and Breakdown
The PSW Fund reimburses the LTC home at a flat rate of $30 per hour per participant.
Below is the specific backfill funding breakdown by program. Please note that tuition is fully funded for all programs listed below.
| Training Program | Hours | Total Backfill Reimbursement (Per Participant) |
|---|---|---|
| Creating a Culture of Belonging: From Awareness to Action (CCB) | 4 hours | $120 |
| The Virtual Job Shadowing Package for New Hires in LTC * (LIPHA) | 6.5 hours | $195 |
| LIVING the Dementia Journey (LDJ) (Applies to both certified in-house trainers and team members) | 8 hours | $240 |
| One Day: Person-Centred Culture, Making a Difference Every Day | 8 hours | $240 |
| Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) Champion Coaching Program | 14 hours (7 sessions x 2 hours) | $420 ($60 per session attended) |
| The Working Mind Long-Term Care (TWM) | Leaders version – 7 hours Team Member version – 5 hours | Leader version – $210 Team Member version – $150 |
| Better Together Dementia Care (BTDC) | 8 hours | $240 |
*Note: Backfill support for the Virtual Job Shadowing Package is limited and provided on a first-come, first-served basis.