The winter of 2013, I entered started with Community Living as a Personal Support Worker candidate from Sir Sandford Fleming College, Peterborough. After being hired that spring as a relief worker, I was required to complete a pharmacology course, which I did through Loyalist College. In my role as a relief worker, I gained experience in all areas of the program working days, evenings, overnights and weekends.
It was not long before a contract position as a support worker opened up and I worked contracts, mainly at the group home in Haliburton. I gained experience at other programs including Supported Independent Living and Community Participation.
I also accepted a contract for providing 1:1 supports. We filled our days with activities including work at a garden centre. A special day was a visit to a local ski hill. Our work and community involvement was approached with nothing but full-on enthusiasm.
A permanent full-time position eventually opened at the home, and I was delighted to become a Community Homes Assistant. I have come to know some truly inspirational people who receive support at Mountain. Each day I am greeted by energetic individuals who love nothing more than to join in on a virtual dance party, work on art projects or even do some baking to celebrate a special occasion. Every so often we plan a special activity. One of my favourite adventures was a hike in Algonquin park: the beauty of that shared experience will never be forgotten.
Committee work is another way staff can get involved in developing the vibrant culture at CLTH. For me this has been a most positive experience. For anyone who loves to interact with others, brainstorm ideas and generally have fun, voicing your ideas and concerns on a committee can be an outlet for your creative input. While working on the policy committee, I was happy to make the acquaintance of a new group of people – together we reviewed policies of the agency with an eye to adapting the best policies to support workplace needs. As a member of the Celebration Committee, I helped with planning special events for all staff. We hosted a three-community Christmas party, a family barbeque and trips to a Blue Jays game and the Thousand Islands. Memories of happy days with fellow staff forge closer ties between programs and three communities.
So, as you can see, CLTH has provided many opportunities to develop my skill set. Fostering independence in others and collaborating are my areas of strength. We promote self-sufficiency in our work and interactions in the community. A caring group of individuals interact with those who receive support. I strive to provide the best supports and services to people. Currently I use the agency database to track goals and accomplishments, lofty and modest. We as direct support workers help those receiving supports with choosing goals in recreation, education, employment and other areas of interest.
Finally, each day at Community Living Trent Highlands speaks to my interest in purposeful work. For anyone who wants to be part of a dynamic workplace, CLTH is the place to be. Our strong teams meet challenges together. Our collective attitude might be summed up as,” we can do it with the help of others.” I think I may have learned this in a high-ropes climbing experience, but hey, it applies to my life and work with CLTH.
Many committees and our board of directors do the work to make our agency thrive. One of my favourite committees, Positive Vibes, continues to keep our spirits high, as we keep our resolve to support others in the achievement of goals and dreams. Really, there is nothing better than being part of an agency that supports others in their quest for positive, life-enriching experiences.