A Career in Home Care. Q&A with Trea Henty-Smith – Office Manager at St Louis Home Care Adelaide
Trea is the Office Manager at St Louis Home Care. Having worked in aged care for more than 20 years, she shares her career development, experiences and the personal satisfaction she has found working in home care.
Q: What skills do you need for a career in home care?
The basic qualities that you need are passion and empathy for the elderly and a genuine desire to provide care for people who need your help. The rest you can work on from there. People interested in a care career will often start in a domestic support role and then they will do their studies in care while they are getting work experience in the industry.
Q: What courses are there to study in aged care?
There is a Certificate III or IV in Aged Care that you can complete at various educational institutions, which is required to become a home care worker. There are also plenty of free courses and we have our finger on the pulse for education that will help upskill our staff so we are regularly sending out information about courses on offer to our staff so that they keep up to date.
For example, we recently had several staff complete a MOOC online training course on “Understanding Dementia” and there were some important learnings here that helped our staff further develop their skills with residents and clients experiencing dementia.
Q: What career opportunities are there in aged care?
My own career development in home care and aged care may be a good example of some of the things that can develop for people. I used to work in insurance and wanted a change to work that had more meaning and purpose. So I chose to move into aged care as a care worker. I started in a community care role while I completed my Certificate III.
From this I went into care coordination and furthered my studies with a Diploma of Management. Following this I became a care coordinator and then office manager here at St Louis. I have now been happily employed in aged care for over 20 years and I love this industry and how we help people.
Q: What are the rewarding aspects of working in aged care?
Definitely making a positive difference in people’s lives. Seeing an elderly person being part of the community and staying independent in their own home is so rewarding for all of us. When we share stories within the St Louis team of people who are well and happy at home through our support, we get such a buzz from this and it resonates throughout the entire St Louis team. It is a thrill for everybody to see that person remain independent in their older years.
Q: Why would people want to work for St Louis Home Care?
At my very first interview with St Louis, I immediately felt their family and community values. I came from a larger organisation and St Louis was smaller and more personal. Our motto “Let our family take care of yours” exudes throughout the organisation. I love it here – staff, residents and clients are treated as part of the St Louis family, as individuals and with respect for each other.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Aged care is growing because the population is getting older and there are many more providers out there. Even though this is happening, St Louis are not losing site of their individual and personalised approach to people and their needs.
People are wanting to stay at home for as long as possible if not for the rest of their years. As a home care worker, you can really help people feel happy and independent as they age and for me this is what has made my career in home care so rewarding.
Call St Louis today on 1800 011 946 for a confidential conversation about a career in home care. Or if you are in need of home care for yourself or a loved one, we provide home care throughout metropolitan Adelaide and on the Fleurieu Peninsula in Victor Harbor.
