When people think about working in Aged Care, the first thing that comes to mind is being a PCA/AIN and for good reason. They are the frontline staff directly responsible with the delivery of quality person-centred care. These are the people who the clients/residents will interact with on a daily basis. So it’s natural that they come to mind first.
What sometimes gets overlooked, however, is how dynamic the Aged Care industry is and the variety of different career options that a PCA/AIN can grow into as they gain more experience and up-skill.
In this blog we will highlight 5 possible career options that you might have as a PCA/AIN should you want to advance in the Aged Care industry.
Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator
A vital part of the delivery of quality person-centred care is making sure that the residents of an Aged Care facility are able to participate in a variety of fulfilling and enjoyable activities. To ensure this, most facilities will employ a Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator.
Their primary focus is on the planning and implementation of activities that improve the quality of life of the residents. The challenge with this position comes with the responsibility of having to plan activities that are varied and cater to the physical, cultural, spiritual and social needs of each individual.
The Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinator usually requires a Certificate IV in Leisure and Lifestyle.
Enrolled Nurse
An Enrolled Nurse (or Division 2 Nurse) is a nurse that works under a Registered Nurse and is directly involved with the Care staff and residents to assist with the provision and coordination of quality care. Often an Enrolled Nurse will need to supervise and delegate tasks to the PCAs on the floor, and can often be the first port of call for any questions they might have regarding clinical matters. They will also assist in training and reviewing staff members.
In terms of their relationship with residents, they are responsible for the assessment of each individual’s care, ensuring that it meets the guidelines and standards set by the industry and the organisation for which they work for.
An EN can also obtain their medication competencies to become an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse. This extra training will allow the EN to administer certain medications.
Becoming an EN requires a Diploma of Nursing and a registration with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
Registered Nurse
A Registered Nurse (or Division 1 Nurse) is in charge of the provision and coordination of quality care for the residents of the Aged Care facility in tandem with the Clinical Manager. They work directly with Enrolled Nurses and PCAs, supervising them and ensuring that they are working as a team to provide the care services.
When it boils down to it, an RN’s role is differentiated to that of an EEN because of the higher level of skill base required and the requirement to make autonomous decisions. They are the people that the ENs will answer to, and they are authorised to administer more advanced care than ENs.
Becoming an RN requires a Bachelor of Nursing and a registration with AHPRA.
Clinical Manager
Within an Aged Care facility a Clinical Manger is a high ranking position in charge of all the clinical services within it. They oversee all the staff that provide care services to the resident as well as the administrative duties that come with it such as ACFI (Aged Care Funding Instrument) funding for residents and ensuring that the delivery of person-centred care complies with industry standards.
The Clinical Manager will often work with the Facility Manager to manage staff as well, including disciplinary and performance matters, and hiring.
A Clinical Manager is typically an experienced RN who has great knowledge and skills to deal with all of the tasks mentioned above.
Facility Manager
A Facility Manager is the most senior position in an Aged Care facility and is in charge of all the roles mentioned above. Their focus is on the facility as a whole and all of the activities going on within it, which includes care delivery, lifestyle programs, recruitment, staff management, customer service, resource management and administration. While each of these areas usually have their own dedicated staff members, the Facility Manager is accountable for the results and ensuring everyone is meeting their goals/business targets.
Facility Managers are generally very experienced within the Aged Care field and are often (but not always) a very experienced RN.
This should give you a good starting point to understand what each role is responsible for, and will hopefully give you an idea of where you might want to go within the Aged Care industry.