Aged Care Staff Receive Training RecognitionTwenty-seven staff presented with 'Upskilling' certificates By Latrobe City Council - 21st February 2002 - Back to News Twenty-seven staff who work in Latrobe City’s Aged and Disability Services Unit, were presented with their Upskilling certificates by Latrobe City’s Chief Executive Officer, Richard Hancock, on Wednesday 13 February.
Group Manager Community Services, Jeff Marjoram, said this was the first time that the Aged and Disability Unit had been involved in the program and there were 91 employees participating.
"Twenty-seven staff have moved rapidly through their period of training or have provided evidence of prior learning which qualifies them in their field. It’s a process that can take up to two-years," Mr Marjoram said.
"The Upskilling training and study, goes a long way towards improving productivity and quality assurance. The program builds team morale and encourages staff development, but the real beneficiaries are the clients who receive services from Latrobe City," Mr Marjoram said.
"While some of the certificates were presented to staff who work in the administration side of the Aged and Disability Services Unit, most were presented to staff who have hands-on roles with clients in the community.
"The Upskilling Certificate modules include aspects of home care, respite care and personal care. In the area of personal care, carers assist people with showering, dressing and grooming. Respite care offers carers of clients the opportunity of ‘time-out’ and social contact.
"A significant element of training is the occupational health and safety module, reducing the possibility of injury to carer and client. The home care service is based on every-day tasks such as lifting, but when undertaken as a profession on a day-to-day basis, it requires a professional approach to minimise risk.
"There is also training in observation to determine if a client might have additional care needs. Staff are taught to follow up and report should a client not be well, or fail to take their medication; and an integral part of the course is a proficiency in first aid," Mr Marjoram said.
"It is now compulsory for any person starting employment with the Aged and Disability Unit to take part in the Upskilling Program, unless they are already qualified, and it’s a credit to our existing staff that they have been eager to ensure their own skills equal or better contemporary ideals," Mr Marjoram added.
Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Brendan Jenkins, in congratulating the staff on their Upskilling, said many people in the community were not aware of the extent of Aged and Disability services delivered by Latrobe City.
"More than two-thousand clients are being helped and cared for by our staff each week, and are being provided with all kinds of assistance that adds an essence of care and quality to their day-to-day lives," Cr Jenkins said.
"Many of these clients need care on an ongoing basis, but there is also the provision of short-term care provided by City staff, such as support for aged people discharged from hospital, or providing short term respite for a client to enable a carer to take a break. These are important services for our community," Cr Jenkins said.
"While there is already a significant section of the local community currently being helped by Council in this way, the extent of Australia’s aging population will provide new challenges to be faced in the future. Having well qualified staff and an administration trained to meet tomorrow’s need for services, augers well for the Latrobe community in the future," Cr Jenkins added.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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