b'WORKFORCE TALENTIENs virtually eliminated the need foragency staff in the home, which isso important to making the most of thefunds available for nursing and personal care. As nurses with critical thinking and leadership skills, IENs also positively impacted the culture in the home.Meaford LTC resident Norma Sonnenberg with IEN Sherin Cherian You have to invest in the IENinstance, consider the new legislation program, with some of the upfrontto remove barriers in the system. New getting involved with the local churchcosts and the dedicated time neededfunding for student preceptorships, community, says Ocampo. I want toto help them get settled. But trust me,nurse practitioners and education raise my future children here. it pays for itself over and over withto up-skill workers, not to mention all the benefits you get back, sayspartnerships with universities,Ensuring IENs have a place to liveRupp. These amazing health carecolleges and immigration agencies,when they arrive is a requirementprofessionals are just so competent,are building capacity.for employers. Given the housingpositive and happy to be here caring shortage in southern Ontario,for our residents. It boosts morale. ItsWere pleased about the positive especially in rural communities,a phenomenal return on investment.impacts were seeing from all of these peopleCare arranged temporaryWhats next changes on our ability to recruit and accommodation for all the IENs inretain staff, and were working hard to one location near the long-term careCreating solutions-focused staffingmake the most of every opportunity, home. On a positive note, all havepathways in collaboration withsays Killing. Coupled with innovative already been able to make alternativegovernment, immigration and socialsolutions we are leading as part of our living arrangements independent service partners has long been aHHR strategy, such as hiring abroad, of peopleCare.peopleCare priority. Given our successpeopleCare is truly developing a robust in Meaford, the peopleCare team ispipeline of amazing leadership and Having gone through this experienceworking to replicate the IEN initiativetalent into our sector. LTCTtogether, many are now friends andacross our homes. either still live together in new digs orSheena Campbell is Vice President, make a point of socializing after work.We also continue to collaborate withCommunications and Engagement, organizations like Talent BeyondatpeopleCare Communities.Kerl recently celebrated his birthdayBoundaries (TBB) to advocate for the and invited me to attend his gatheringlegislative changes and resources so I could celebrate and try some ofneeded to bring displaced health care his famous cooking, says Rupp. Aworkers in crisis, and their families, to whole group of our IENs were thereOntario. Settling entire families can and it was so fun to cut loose outsidehave a positive ripple effect on the of work. Rupp took a pumpkin pielocal economy and ease the general to the impromptu potluck, whichworkforce shortage. Support from everyone enjoyed while playing aorganizations like TBB helps remove round or two of video games.barriers often faced by marginalized Amazing ROI groups making the transition into Ontarios labour market. Aligned with For health care organizationslocal partnerships and strategies to considering hiring IENs, Rupp sayssupport long-term retention, these the pros far outweigh the few cons.innovative solutions have the strong From an operations perspective,potential to become new leading IENs virtually eliminated the need forpractices for recruitment in long-term agency staff in the home, which iscare and the health system. so important to making the most of the funds available for nursing andKilling says the strong collective personal care. As nurses with criticalfocus that health care providers and thinking and leadership skills, IENs alsogovernment currently have on finding positively impacted the culture in sustainable solutions to the HHR the home.crisis is also cause for optimism. For www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 11'