Promotion a major benefit of working for OMNI, says ESM
Tuesday November 6, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Although Angie Acheson began her working career in corrections, she came to realize that her calling was to work with seniors.

Acheson, the environmental services manager (ESM) at Almonte Country Haven, came to work full time at the Ottawa-area long-term care home in 1998, after being laid off her job as a corrections officer.

A job she had as a nurse’s aide while at college had left an impression on her, and when it came time to find another job, long-term care, she decided, was the right path to take.

“I realized that my strengths were with seniors and I decided to come back,” says Acheson. “Actually, I was attached to this home long before that, too, because my grandparents were both here as residents.”

One of the things Acheson says she loves about her career with OMNI is the company’s emphasis on education and the fact it encourages staff members to better themselves.

Promotion from within is a major function of OMNI, and Acheson characterizes herself as a “prime example” of someone who was able to continually move up the OMNI ladder.

Starting in the home’s dietary department, Acheson took OMNI’s training course to become a personal support worker (PSW). After working on the floor, Acheson went to the life enrichment department and then moved to housekeeping.

In 2005, Acheson decided to take OMNI’s manager’s training course, which would help her attain the title of ESM in September 2006.

“I chose to (take manager’s training) so I could better understand the home, better understand the department (and) better understand where my skills were best suited,” she says, emphasizing OMNI’s dedication to education.

“The opportunities are there. If you grab at them, there are lots of training opportunities. OMNI definitely does promote from within.”

Not only does OMNI score points by providing many training opportunities, says Acheson, it’s also provides quality training.

“It’s very informative and very hands-on, and I’m very much a hands-on learner, so for me it was very beneficial,” she says.