Vermont Aged Care is seeking experienced Nursing Assistants (NA) &  Personal Care Assistants(PCA) for positions at our expanding aged care facility in Vermont. That’s because our busy, family owned aged care facility has been providing respite, permanent, dementia specific and palliative care to our residents for over 3 decades. But now, we are expanding, so you’ll be joining an established team of committed professionals in a dynamically growing environment! Better still there’s no “nursing home” attitude at Vermont Aged Care, and no “nursing home bland food” on offer. That’s because we have a passion for the quality of life and happiness of each one of our elderly residents. Of course, NA/PCA staff are key to providing the best services possible so if you want to work with a dynamic, passionate team of dedicated carers then this job is for you!

Best of all, you’ll get to work closely with other great staff and our family. This means that you can make a real difference in the lives of our residents everyday. Plus, your input is valued and you have the power to make positive changes. Together, we can ensure our residents receive the best care possible. Furthermore, did you know that Vermont Aged Care is located in Vermont, near to Mitcham, Burwood, Ringwood, Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill, Wantirna, Blackburn and Box Hill? Better still, we are easily accessible by road and public transport. In fact, the 740 and 742 buses stop right out front of our door!

What’s more, those major additions and improvements to our facility in 2017 includes modernising all our facilities. Of course, this is set to the sides of the existing facility so no one is disrupted. Nonetheless, when completed in the coming weeks we will be able to provide the latest technologies and facilities to each of our residents and staff. Please see the full job details below.

Click here to go ahead and apply at the bottom of the page.

Who will I be accountable to? Who will give me the support I need?

You will be accountable to the Director of Nursing, who is charged with ensuring you have everything you need to enjoy your work at Vermont Aged Care. Better still, as a family run facility, you’ll have access to the decision makers on a daily basis. In fact, our family focussed community is just one of the things that sets us apart and makes working at Vermont Aged Care so special.

What does that mean for you? Well, you’ll have a direct input into the company’s direction every day. That’s why at Vermont Aged Care you’re a key part of the health services we provide.

Who will I be looking after and working with?

You will be providing care support to the Residents of Vermont Aged Care. These residents may be here for respite care, dementia support, long-term aged care or palliative care. That means that their needs will vary, making your work more interesting. Also, we strongly support cultural choices so you’ll be catering to a diverse range of residents. Finally, you will be working in a friendly team, at a family operated facility where management support is always on hand.

What qualifications do I need?

You must have Certificate II or III – Aged Care. In fact, due to the nature of the role, you must have this qualification to be considered for this post. 

Also, if you have previous experience specifically working with the aged, frail or those requiring special care that will be well regarded. Also, we are happy to discuss supporting your commitment to further education and training. That’s because ongoing learning is highly valued at Vermont. Why not work at Vermont Aged Care and and learn new, valuable skills too?

What is the salary you offer?

We pay as per the award based on your experience and qualifications. We may also support your ongoing training. Better still, if you want to discuss a career plan so we can all keep improving together just let us know. Ongoing learning is supported at Vermont Aged Care.

What are the work hours like?

Your roster will be agreed upon together with the Director of Nursing. In fact, at Vermont we try hard to find the right work/life balance for all our team members. That’s just one of the ways that we ensure a great working community at Vermont aged care. Read on to understand this role better.

Once you have read through this, if you feel this is the right job for you, simply apply at the bottom of the page.

What are the responsibilities & duties of my role?

Nursing assistants & Personal Care Assistants are responsible for helping to ensure the quality care our residents deserve. Further, it’s important to support the diverse cultural background of our residents. This is both to respect cultural preferences as well as ensuring residents maintain a mental state. You will help with:

• The delivery of skilled, individualised care of the highest possible standard, for all residents of Vermont Aged Care
• making sure our philosophy, objectives and policies are upheld at all times with due regard to resident and organisation needs
• Ensuring standards, as set down by the Department of Health and Ageing, are met at all times

Your duties include:

• The nutrition and hydration maintenance of every resident. This includes reporting any changes in a resident’s appetite to the Registered Nurse (RN) in charge
• Ensuring individual continence management programs are attended to at all times, assessed, evaluated and changed as necessary
• Ensuring pressure area care is provided according to a residents individual routine
• Ensuring mobility and dexterity is maintained for every resident by implementing physiotherapy plans when the physiotherapist is not available.
• Respecting any cultural instructions and ensuring they are continued for residents
• Ensuring residents are prepared in time for their individual activities and therapy plans stated on the allied health and diversional therapy program. You will find these listed at each nurses station
• Ensuring residents are prepared in time for outings as may be organised by the aged care or relatives and friends
• Ensuring complete and satisfactory care of a dying resident is attended to when necessary as per policy guidelines
• Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to the staff members level of expertise or ensuring capable staff are immediately alerted if the situation occurs
• Observing and reporting to the Unit Manager or RN-in-charge of any changes in a resident’s behaviour or condition
• Documenting any changes in a resident’s behaviour or condition as directed
• Assessing residents for care problem, to be included on the nursing care plan, and reporting these
• Implementing all care as listed on the nursing care plan
• Documenting on-going evaluations of nursing care plans and other relevant resident documentation as listed in the documentation policy, or as directed by the RN in charge or Director of Nursing (DON)

What other tasks are NA/PCA responsible for ensuring:

In the area of Teaching and Education, as well as Quality Systems involvement:

• Maintenance of aged care knowledge and skills in aged care by attending regular inservices and information sessions
• Information, journal articles etc. provided by the aged care are read and the information is incorporated in to work practices as required
• A continuing commitment to further education is promoted and followed
• Harmony and a team approach exists as a culture between staff
• Assistance in quality improvement exercises is provided to the Director of Nursing and Registered Nurses as required
  performing other such duties as they are capable of as requested by the Director of Nursing or Registered Nurse in charge

In the area of Safety:

• A safe working environment is maintained for staff at all times. This is promoted following the guidelines as set in the aged care’s policy manual (ie. correct minimal-no lifting procedures, faulty equipment is reported immediately…)
• A safe environment is maintained by staff for residents and visitors at all times (ie. adequate levels of lighting are available and corridors remain uncluttered…)
• Effective documentation of incidents as per accepted protocols occurs (eg. residents falling is completed when necessary…)
• Attendance at Occupational Health and Safety Meetings, or reading of minutes if unable to attend
• Remaining conversant with all emergency procedures, including Fire and Evacuation procedures

In the area of Communication:

• Effective communication between members of the interdisciplinary health team, residents and significant
  others of residents occurs
• Effective and professional participation in handovers of residents in their care for their particular shift to staff present for the next shift as required
• Effective documentation of incidents as per accepted protocols are performed eg. residents falling, accidents, skin tears, bruising

In the area of Professionalism:

• You will be confident in performing daily work practices without ongoing direction
• Innovations in work practices are recommended where the need arises
• Reporting to work on time, following the dress code guidelines as listed in the policy manual, accepting positive criticism, acting as a resource person and cooperating with other staff are important capabilities for this job
• Performing all work activities in accordance with award guidelines with regard to the legal responsibilities inherent in the position.

Tell me more about ongoing learning and my education?

We will support you in the maintenance of knowledge and skills in elder care. Further, on some of your shifts you will attend regular lecture sessions as provided by one of our staff of off-site specialists. Better still, off-site training and events may be provided to you as required. In fact, these are just some of the ways in which we ensure our continuing commitment to your further education is promoted. You will learn more if you are shortlisted for an interview.

What’s it like being a team member at Vermont?

We provide a happy, collaborative work environment for all staff. It’s part of the family operated community that makes us so special to work for. Further, as a community we can be very efficient in the allocation of work amongst staff to ensure a great work/life balance for you. Better yet, ongoing assistance in quality improvement exercises are provided by the Director of Nursing as required so you can focus on being a great nurse.

What about WH&S/OH&S & safe practices in the workplace?

A safe working environment is maintained for all staff at all times. We promote this through following the guidelines as set in the our policy manual. For example we teach correct lifting procedures, or how to handle faulty equipment and report it immediately for prompt repair. Some of our daily checks cover:

• A safe environment is maintained by staff for residents and visitors at all times i.e. adequate levels of lighting are available and corridors remain uncluttered
• Effective documentation of incidents as per accepted protocols occurs e.g. residents falling is completed when necessary
• Promotion of staff attendance at Occupational Health and Safety Meetings or reading of minutes if staff are unable to attend

As a key part of your role you will need to ensure you are:

• Adhering to occupational health and safety requirements as per policy of the home
• Familiar with the home’s emergency procedures as they pertain to her/his level of experience
• Promoting safety awareness in the workplace
• Reporting concerns and safety issues to your supervisor if you’re unable to correct the problem safely
• Reporting all incidents to the Director of Nursing (DON), or the Registered Nurse in charge if the DON not available

What should my communication skills be like?

As an important function in our daily routine, you will be working with general staff, highly trained medical staff, administrators, and of course residents with various medical conditions. For this reason we place a strong emphasis on your ability to communicate professionally and compassionately. We are looking for staff who:

• Demonstrate respect and sensitivity in all communications with and about residents
• Provide all relevant information to relieving registered nurses
• Ensure that resident information remains confidential and is only made available to those directly involved in the resident’s care
• Attend and actively participate in meetings that are organised for the ward, to discuss any issues related to the suitable management of resident care
• Ensures medical staffs are liaised with as necessary, coordinating regular visits from all Allied Health Professionals as necessary
• Ensures open channels of communication are maintained at all times between residents, relatives and staff regarding the care of residents
• Ensures complaints by residents are dealt with immediately by the sister-in-charge until a satisfactory solution has been found (and where this has not been possible, would advise the Director of Nursing for further action and achievement of a satisfactory solution)
• Ensures all legal documentation requirements are upheld at all times and promoted to all staff.

What about professionalism in the workplace?

As an NA/PCA, many of your work practices need to be performed without direction. You will be a key member of our community and we empower you to get things done for the benefit of our residents, families and staff. Some of the ways you help us achieve this might include:

• Promoting innovations in work practices where the need arises
• Reporting on time and following the dress code guidelines as listed in the policy manual
• Accepting positive criticism, acting as a resource person and cooperating with staff and community
• Ensuring suitable replacement staff are organised in the event that permanent staff are sick
• Performing all work activities in accordance with award guidelines (especially with regard to the resident care responsibilities inherent in the position of a NA/PCA.)

Is there anything else I need to know before applying?

Of course, with palliative care sensitivity and compassion are paramount. An important part of your role will be to ensure that the Director of Nursing is informed of the serious deterioration in any resident’s health. Then, you will provide the appropriate level of professional care and comfort to the residents, their family and visitors to ensure a peaceful and dignified death. Overall, you will assist our other nursing staff in the interpretation of the ethical and legal aspects of our nursing practices & resident care.

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