A new purpose-built facility will streamline the recruitment and training of home care workers entering the sector, as well as assist home care providers with their hiring and retention strategies.
As part of its delivery of the government-funded Home Care Workforce Support Program (HCWSP) in NSW and the ACT, non-profit organisation Settlement Services International (SSI) has opened the doors to its first Home Care Experience Centre. Located in Bankstown, Sydney, the new facility aims to help alleviate the skills shortages and high turnover rates impacting the care sector.
Iggy Pintado, Head of Home Care Workforce Support Program at SSI, said the Home Care Experience Centre was designed to make it easier for new talent to join the workforce and gain qualifications, as well as to help home care providers attract workers and improve employee retention.
“Our goal with the Experience Centre is to bridge any gaps and help fast track the recruitment process, which we know is fundamental to overcoming the workforce shortages in the sector,” said Mr Pintado.
“We are removing potential barriers that may hinder people’s ability to join the care workforce by providing a space that offers them in-person support. We get talent ready for employment, help them with everything from preparing their resumes to getting access to computers and internet, to applying for roles. We also conduct non-accredited courses and First Aid training.
“With this centre, we have added a physical touchpoint to each phase of our HCWSP to support participants throughout their career journey. We have also built this facility with home care providers in mind, as many of our partners have expressed to us the need for a hub where they can onboard new workers and facilitate skills development for both new and existing staff.”
Home care providers enrolled in the HCWSP can participate in the Experience Centre career forums, where they will be able to connect with talent in person. Other offerings will include peer groups, and mentoring and training sessions, with the aim to help upskill home care workers. The centre will also be available for bookings for home care providers to host their own recruitment, onboarding and training activities.
“High turnover is another widespread issue affecting the sector. The solution is to foster career development by upskilling support workers, so that they can unlock the range of growth opportunities available in home aged care,” said Mr Pintado.
The opening of the Home Care Experience Centre is SSI’s first stepping stone in a pipeline that includes a second location in ACT, a mobile unit and an online platform, which will become available in the coming months.
Services offered at the Home Care Experience Centre include:
A Technology Lab to support program participants with access to laptops connected to the internet to upload and submit documentation, complete online job applications and undertake e-learning training. At the Technology Lab, SSI’s team of Participant Services Delivery Officers offer Digital Literacy lessons for participants who might need one-on-one help to navigate online to fulfil training or employment requirements or learn how to use smart technology.
Accredited First-Aid training is available to program participants and Home Care Providers on request. The training is conducted by the SSI Registered Training Organisation, a nationally accredited provider of training in First Aid, Individual Support and Community Services.
Presentation and training area designed to host face-to-face sessions, including keynotes with guest speakers and career sessions for groups so that they can interact with professionals in the field and have their questions answered. This space is also available to Home Care Providers upon request to support them with their recruitment, onboarding and skills development work
Drop-in support for talent interested in learning more about the Home Care Workforce Support Program, as well as participants who are already in the program but are in need of some in-person assistance. Program participants can also request to talk with their Participant Services Delivery Officer or a specialist face-to-face, if required.
The Home Care Experience Centre is located in the Little Saigon Plaza Bankstown on Level 2/462 Chapel Rd, Bankstown NSW 2200. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
For more information, visit ssi.org.au/services/homecare/industry-partners#HC_Experience_Centre
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