LeadingAge Kansas is committed to share best practices of members with members about workforce issues. This article is the second in our monthly best practice series for workforce. We visit this month with Jalane White, Administrator at Pleasant View Home to talk about their Career Ladder Program. There is a lot of research in aging services about career ladders and lattices playing a part in employee retention. This is one example of how a member has incorporated the idea into their practices.
Pleasant View Home recognized many years ago that a skilled workforce, with an emphasis on multi-task workers would be a strong foundation for empowering staff in their person-centered home. From that, their Career Ladder program was launched about 9 years ago as the Career Advancement Program. As time went on, they had the opportunity to change the program into a Registered Apprentice Program, which was a big success for the student as well as the organization. Eventually the Registered Apprentice program was set aside due to costs and low participation levels and the Career Ladder was relaunched. The program recognizes that staff may be interested in growing either longitudinally or horizontally as they consider their career goals. \
Pleasant View Home supports the educational and skill development of their employees in the following ways:
- Certified nurse aide classes
- Certified medication aide classes
- On-line classes
- Employee scholarship program
- Nursing scholarships
- High School graduate scholarships (in medical field)
- Registered Apprentice program
- On-line Learning Academy
- GERTI
- ServSafe
- Association sponsored events
- In-house and offsite dementia care training
- In-house and offsite leadership training
- Participation in mentoring events
- Person-directed care training
Pleasant View Home ties financial incentives directly to the Advanced Dementia training, Managerial Level ServSafe training, and the AD/SSD classes. Employees seeking educational opportunities may fill out an application and the scholarship is approved by a select committee. Some scholarships carry requirements such as good attendance, longevity or other restrictions. The Career Ladder program is funded as a line item in Pleasant View Home’s budget line.
Employees are informed about the career ladder program during new employee orientation. Staff immediately recognize that Pleasant View Home values the worker who builds their skill levels. In fact, this work begins before hire as they promote this program during career fairs and to applicants of the organization.
When asked how the program has helped with recruiting and retaining staff, Jalane felt it would be hard to quantify as it is just one part of many things they do to empower and retain staff.
If you would like more information or to discuss their work in this area, you can contact Jalane White, Administrator.
