E-mail This Page                       

| our vision | client care | community service | human resources | environment | leadership | management | support |

COMMUNITY SERVICES Building and sustaining meaningful partnerships in our community is a core value at Inglewood. One way the support services team puts this value into action is by offering students, who are enrolled in recognized programs, the opportunity to gain on-site work experience once they have completed their course work. In February, our support staff provided two practicum's for students in VCC’s Institutional Aide Program and the VSB’s Host Program. The students spend from two to four weeks in dietary, housekeeping and laundry services. They buddy up with our trained staff under the general supervision of our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and our Housekeeping/Laundry Supervisor, with on-site visits by their instructors. The days are long gone where people could just walk in off the street, pick up an apron or a mop and be able to perform support service work to a level that is safe, efficient and satisfies our clients' needs. Industry standards are higher, client expectations are higher, equipment is more complicated and the pace of work is faster. Among other things, staff of the '90s need to be qualified in: WHIMS – a system to inform staff about safely using hazardous chemicals in their workplace. Food Safe – a recognized food safety and sanitation program. Work Safe –using proper body mechanics and ergonomics to prevent workplace injuries. Diets – such as diabetic, gluten free, pureed, dysphasia. Equipment – using computerized laundry machines and coffee grinders. Cleaning juice machines. English – must be able to speak, write and read English at a minimum of Grade 10 level. Inglewood’s on-site work experience exposes students to three specialty geriatric areas – extended care, special care and intermediate care. Each area has unique challenges and different joys. For example, a housekeeper in the SCU needs to keep a watchful eye on her cleaning cart and might need to clean more messes, but can often be found hand in hand with her residents. Whereas a housekeeper in the Lodge might spend more time dusting all the knick-knacks in the rooms but often forms relationships with some of her residents. By providing students a variety of work experiences, they will be able to make more satisfying career choices. And if people enjoy and value what they do, it benefits everyone. Students also bring together the school and the facility, which provides the schools the opportunity to be current in their teachings of what is needed in our quickly changing health-care system. Inglewood aims to be the first choice in continuing care. In terms of staffing, we want to be the first choice of where students want to come to learn and the first choice of where people want to work. Thank you to all our staff for supporting this community service.  For program information, please contact: Vancouver Community College, Institutional Aide Program King Edward Campus, 1155 East Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V5N 5T9 Phone: (604) 871-7346     Fax (604) 871-7100 Vancouver School Board, HOST (Hospitality Opportunities for Staff Training) program Suite 103–2780 East Broadway, Vancouver, B.C., V5M 1Y8 Telephone: (604) 215-0837     Fax (604) 922-2709 Food Safe (Levels 1 and 2) – contact your local health department

© 1998-2008 Inglewood Care Centre. All rights reserved.

[disclaimer]

[webmaster]

[feedback]

[advertising policy]

[privacy]

[about us]

Revised: December 30, 2007 .