Arguably one of the better outcomes from the global COVID-19 pandemic is that it has thrown a spotlight on the importance of the work done by carers and other healthcare workers – both in the community and in our public and private healthcare system.
For many, the Village is a place to grow careers. This isn’t something that’s widely recognised in our community so I feel it’s probably something we should talk about a little more.
Continuing professional development is something we take seriously here. Newly-qualified registered nurse Kerry Hodgkinson is proof that a career in community care can give you options. When she arrived in the Mid-North from England eight years ago the community carer landed a job at Kerikeri Retirement Village as a healthcare assistant in the Village’s care facility.
The Village’s training and development pathway saw Kerry develop her expertise in care-giving and dementia, and very quickly she was able to progress her career. But Kerry’s heart was set on nursing.
This was where the Village’s general manager at the time, Betty Petrie, stepped in. Knowing Kerry’s passion for nursing, and recognising her talent and her commitment to our region, Betty and the Village’s Board arranged to subsidise the cost of Kerry’s permanent residence application so she could enrol on the course that would qualify her as a registered nurse.
We then arranged for a new, flexible employment contract for Kerry so she could work and study at the same time.
Kerry completed her nursing qualification in December last year. She is now a registered nurse at a local hospital and loves both the contribution she can make to the community and the variety.
Kerry’s is just one story of how the Village is helping carers progress their careers. Clinical manager Kathy Renner is currently working with an enrolled nurse to progress her to registered nurse status.
When I talk about the opportunities that exist in caring, and at the Village, it’s not just in the areas of medicine and nursing. Caring comes in many guises. Our cleaning and laundry supervisor Michelle Ruatoto has worked in several roles, including in our kitchen. She now heads our team of six fabulous cleaners.
Our focus on career progression is all part of ensuring that we can attract the very best staff through our doors. Some of them will stay with us and some, like Kerry, will explore other avenues. But at the end of the day our district, and our communities, are all the better for their skills and their dedication.
And finally, listen up men! Where are you? We’d love to see more guys apply for the roles we advertise from time to time. We know men make great carers and we’d just love to see them take advantage of career opportunities here. In diversity, strength!
CAPTION: Newly-qualified registered nurse Kerry Hodgkinson is now working at a local hospital
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