Award recipient says being on BSO team has been an opportunity to heighten leadership skills

PSW Jean Wright, who was named Wildwood Care Centre’s 2018 Inspired Leadership Award recipient, says she’s honoured to have been nominated by her peers

Wildwood Care Centre personal support worker (PSW) Jean Wright says being a Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team member is the perfect forum to enhance leadership skills.

As a BSO team lead at the St. Marys, Ont. long-term care home, Jean knows this well – and so do her colleagues, who nominated her for Wildwood’s 2018 Inspired Leadership Award.

Jean, who has been working at Wildwood for nearly 18 years, says being a BSO team lead is also a way to help enhance the quality of life for residents.

“We work with a lot of people, and we work together as a team to make (residents’) lives a little bit better if we can figure out strategies to help,” she tells The OMNIway.

BSO is a provincial initiative to help enhance quality of life for seniors affected by dementia and other conditions that cause agitation. The funding, which is provided to long-term care homes through Ontario’s 14 Local Health Integration Networks, is largely put towards staff education.

Jean says what she has enjoyed most about her career at Wildwood Care Centre is the people she has worked with – both residents and staff members – over the years. Working in long-term care, she says, has also provided lots of learning opportunities.

“I have learned a lot, I have come to know a lot of great people and met some very interesting people,” she says.

OMNI Health Care’s Inspired Leadership Award is presented annually to staff members from each of the organization’s 18 long-term care homes. The accolade recognizes people who demonstrate OMNI’s mission, vision and values. Inspired Leaders also possess outstanding leadership skills and are committed to their work.

Asked how it felt to learn she had been named Wildwood’s Inspired Leadership Award recipient, Jean says the fact that her colleagues nominated her made the honour extra special.

“It was really awesome because it was voted on by our peers. That means we are helping our peers and working together as a team,” she says.

Wildwood Care Centre recently hosted a celebration to honour the home’s Inspired Leadership and Everyday Hero award recipients. Jackie Iredale was named Wildwood’s 2018 Everyday Hero. Keep reading The OMNIway for future stories from Wildwood Care Centre.

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