Supporting your team to upgrade aged care qualifications

It is said that any organisation can only be as good the people within it, and this certainly includes organisations in the aged care sector. A high-quality aged care facility needs well-trained employees who are committed to compassionate care and supporting the health and wellbeing of the elderly.

While many aged care workers are naturally caring and capable in their work, their qualifications and ongoing learning and professional development are crucial.

As well as seeking out new information continually pertaining to best practice in the sector, it’s vital that aged care employers support their teams to obtain relevant skills and knowledge, and reskill or upgrade aged care qualifications regularly. By doing this, aged care facilities are in the best possible position to offer the highest possible standard of care to ageing Australians.

Meeting Royal Commission aged care recommendations

The recent Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations are set to see to it that employers are ensuring their employees’ qualifications are up to date and meet the sector’s needs. Creating a culture of continual learning will help your facility uphold the recommendations and be a part of the overhaul of aged care in Australia.

The recommendations aim to advocate for the health, wellbeing and dignity of the elderly individuals who require aged care services. Mandating training means aged care workers and care facilities will have the skillsets and recent sector insights to provide excellent care.

Why upgrading aged care qualifications is a must

The world is constantly changing, with ongoing research and innovation lending itself to creating a better world. For the aged care sector, it’s so vital that every worker has access to the latest information around providing quality aged care.

First aid and CPR, documentation and care strategies — many facets of the aged care sector are always evolving. To maximise the delivery of quality care, aged care professionals need to have the latest appropriate training.

Reskilling your aged care team benefits everyone

From employees to employers, aged care recipients, their families and the sector more broadly, providing training opportunities to aged care teams has numerous benefits. These include:

Higher standard of care:

Aged care workers who are well-trained are capable of delivering the highest standard of care to the elderly. They also have the ability to complete a broader range of tasks. For example, some home care workers may also be known as domestic support workers and do not currently hold a Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care). Reskilling will allow them to do more, such as administering medication and first aid. In turn, this lifts the standard across your aged care facility, ensuring residents feel respected and cared for.

Improved job satisfaction:

When employees feel valued and supported, they are more likely to stay with your business. Supporting upgrading aged care qualifications means you end up with a workplace of highly skilled employees who are loyal to your organisation.

Increased workplace productivity:

Not only do highly skilled employees feel happier in the workplace and provide a higher standard of care, they are also more productive. The investment into training aged care workers pays off in many ways.

A reputable aged care facility:

With a strong workforce of well-trained aged care workers providing care that is second to none, your aged care organisation will thrive.

How to support upgrading aged care qualifications

When members of your aged care team are upgrading their knowledge and skillset, they may need support from you to do so. How can you be a supportive employer when your employees are refreshing their training? There are few things you can do to make this period simple for everyone:

Create an encouraging environment:

Employees who are keen on improving their skills and knowledge should be encouraged to do so. Encouragement can be suggesting courses to staff, providing career pathways via upskilling or even just chatting about employee goals to show that the support is there.

Be flexible where possible:

Your staff might need some extra time here or there to study or complete assignments while they are training. Where possible, be flexible with them to ensure they aren’t experiencing unnecessary stress. Remember, their upskilling is going to lift the standard for your aged care facility.

How we can help

At Selmar we are dedicated to supporting a world-class aged care sector for Australians. Although significant numbers of personal care workers and home care workers hold a Certificate III qualification or equivalent, the Royal Commission heard about inconsistency in the quality, delivery and duration of the courses leading to that qualification. Selmar courses are carefully and thoughtful designed to train individuals to be the best aged care worker they can be.

We work with aged care facilities to deliver upskilling opportunities to employees, support traineeships and even partner for practical work placements at your facility. Traineeships present an advantageous opportunity for employers to effectively train staff on the job in their prospective workplace environment. Plus, there are government incentives such as wage subsidies to support your business in taking on a trainee.

Our trainers have extensive experience in the aged care sector, so they have the insight required to deliver training the way it should be to work for everyone. We also place importance on the development of soft skills. These more personal qualities can have a positive impact on the way that individuals can offer support to those they work with — both those in their care and those they may be working alongside.

Enhance your aged care workforce and be a leader in the aged care sector

Contact the team at Selmar to talk about supporting your team to reskill or upskill their aged care qualifications.