Achieving City and Guilds certificates has been a 'rewarding' experience
Graduate Betty Azzario was beaming from ear to ear as she collected her City & Guilds certificate from the Bermuda Hospitals Board.The 46-year-old was one of 16 Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) staff to gain the accreditation after balancing work, family and school life to complete the nine-month programme.She is now trained to work with people with learning disabilities and said, despite the challenges involved, the job also had its rewards.Ms Azzario will now be one of 84 community support workers helping people with special learning needs on the Island. Her role will be to support nursing staff in the day-to-day care and activities, such as maintaining client’s hygiene, a BHB spokeswoman said.MWI currently offers a range of services to adults, 18 and older, with moderate to severe learning disabilities.In addition to day services, inpatient and respite care; the hospital also has a network of 15 staffed homes across the Island to help those in need of residential group living.Ms Azzario, who is also taking a full-time course in nursing at the Bermuda College, said serving as a community support worker has given her a chance to create special bonds with clients.In particular she has developed a unique relationship with one woman, who is unable to speak, but has learnt to communicate through blinking her eyes.“Two blinks are for ‘no’ and one blink is ‘yes’. It takes a lot of patience and sometimes it’s just trial and error, but I enjoy it,” she said.Learning about her clients and gaining a better understanding of their conditions is one of the best parts of the job, according to Ms Azzario. “This is definitely a passion. I am just greedy for knowledge.”Fellow graduate Teresa Ming, 35, gave up her job as a realtor to serve as a community support worker.She said her former job left her feeling “empty inside” and she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives on a more immediate level. She applied for this job and has enjoyed it ever since.“It has been very rewarding. Every day that I go to work I can actually see where I have made a difference in an individual’s life.“Sometimes it’s as simple as a smile on an individual’s face. Particularly with the learning disabled, because their emotions aren’t as expressive as ours, something as simple as a smile or a little laugh says a lot.”Ms Ming admitted it was challenging to get through the City & Guilds’ accreditation of ‘Working with People who have Learning Disabilities’ after the death of her mother earlier this year.But she added: “I am grateful for the teachers and tutors in college for having patients and understanding. I know [my mother] would be proud.”Another graduate Lauralyn Ming, 35, said she had wanted to go into nursing since the age of five.She added: “When I got this job I saw it as a foot in the door and a step in the right direction, so I like it. I also like all my service users, they keep me going each day.”Though the course came with its challenges, including times when class members had fallen behind with their work, she admittedly persevered.She told The Royal Gazette: “I am glad now it’s over with. I’m excited I made it.”Other graduates included: Veronica Douglass, Faith Gilbert, Lori-Lyn Hill, Brenda Hollis, Dionne Lambe, Je’Duntee Minors, Natalie Nesbitt, Louis Reynolds, Michael Robinson, Atiba Simons, Leroy Smith, Michael Stirling and Beth-Ann Tucker.
Sixteen Bermuda Hospitals Board staff were praised for their 'dedication and persistence' after completing a vocational course with the City & Guilds Institute.
In front of cheering family and friends, the graduates received their certificates to the tune of 'Proud to be Bermudian'.
They are now qualified to work with individuals grappling with moderate to severe learning disabilities.
The graduates are: Betty Azzario, Veronica Douglass, Faith Gilbert, Lori-Lyn Hill, Brenda Hollis, Dionne Lambe, Lauralyn Ming, Teresa Ming, Je'Duntee Minors, Natalie Nesbitt, Louis Reynolds, Michael Robinson, Atiba Simons, Leroy Smith, Michael Stirling and Beth-Ann Tucker.
Carrying the title of community support workers, they will be tasked with supporting nursing staff at Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) in their day-to-day care and activities for clients.
Patrice Dill, the Chief Operating Officer at MWI said the certification would not only “enhance and bring credibility” to their personal practice as service providers, it would also improve the quality of service for clients.
She said: “At MWI, we are committed to continuous quality improvement. In all our directorates we aim to provide the best service we can and so providing our staff with access to education and development opportunities is key.”
Michael Murray, the clinical director for learning disability, said most clients were now based in the community, rather than on site at MWI.
Nurses, accompanied by community support workers, visit their homes periodically and help them with daily tasks.
“This helps improve comfort, dignity and quality of life and was commended as a leading practice in our recent survey by Accreditation Canada,” said Mr Murray.
“It is mandatory at MWI that all community support workers in this directorate gain this certification, but it is the community support workers [themselves] who put in the hard work to succeed and achieve it.
“I am very pleased to be celebrating another 16 graduates today.”
Also on hand at the ceremony was Bermuda College president Duranda Greene, who applauded the graduates for their hard work.
“Today I am here to share with you as you celebrate your success—the success of 16 employees. Sixteen employees who were dedicated in completing the task at hand and persistent in seeing it through...who did not allow obstacles, whether great or small, to stop them from fulfilling their vision.
“Sixteen employees who understood the concept of life-long learning, and knew that it was not too late to further their education. Sixteen employees who have had some long days and nights, preparing for classes, writing papers and studying for exams.... [and] who have had to juggle: work, family and school commitments.”
Dr Greene said the employees had not only become role models to their colleagues, but to their children, family and friends.
However, she encouraged each of them to stay professionally competitive by continually learning new skills.
“I salute each of you ... [and] celebrate you and your success. You should be proud of your accomplishments. So stand tall and be proud, but don't let this be the end of your educational
