The courses have been offered by OMNI free of charge to anyone from any department interested in furthering their skills and training towards a management position. The courses are six days long with another week-long practicum to be completed at a long-term care home, other than the home where an employee currently works.

According to Burnbrae Administrator Mary Anne Greco, Leannee Baldini, an RPN, is looking to become a Nursing Administrative Services Manger (NASM). Depending on the home, NASMs can sometimes be used more for administrative duties, or for clinical duties, says Mary Ann. "Leannee's interest is on the clinical side," says Mary Anne.

Ruth Bline is a dietary aide and cook at Burnbrae with an interest in becoming a nutritional care manager or environmental services manager, says Mary Anne.

"Ruth also has a Loyalist college course in environmental services," says Mary Anne, which is why her interest also lies in the ESM areas.

And Karen Coulter, currently a PSW, is aspiring to be a life enrichment co-ordinator. She has also taken activation and gerontology courses at Loyalist, says Mary Anne, which has ignited her interest in the potential to be in life enrichment.

Mary Anne says she meets with all three staff members to discuss with them the terms of hire. "Basically, I let them know what I would be looking for if they were to apply for a management position," says Mary Anne.

Another aspect of the training, says the administrator, is that individuals are expected to identify and develop their own personal mission within the context of their jobs.

The courses have been offered by OMNI through an application process. Anyone can apply for the management training, even if they do not want to become a manager, says Mary Anne. "They may want it as a self-development tool."

Individuals needs to fill out an application and include a reference letter from their immediate manager and the administrator of the long-term care home. They also need to attach two peer support letters as well.