Exploring the Role of a Maintenance Worker in a Seniors Care Home
October 1, 2024 | By Park Place Seniors Living |
Have you ever been curious about what a career in maintenance work entails? If you love working with your hands, enjoy solving problems, and take pride in maintaining beautiful and functional spaces, a career as a maintenance person might be the perfect fit. At Park Place Seniors Living, a leading retirement community in Canada, the key responsibility of a maintenance worker is ensuring that residents live in a safe, well-kept, and comfortable environment. But the job goes beyond just fixing things—it’s about enriching the daily lives of the residents who call Park Place home. Let’s explore what makes this role unique, the skills and experience required to become a maintenance worker, and the benefits that can be enjoyed by following this career path.
What does a maintenance person at Park Place Seniors Living do?
As a maintenance worker at Park Place Seniors Living, you’ll work under the direction of the Site Leader and the Maintenance Manager to keep the building and grounds in top condition. Your responsibilities will vary from day to day, which makes the job both dynamic and fulfilling. Some of the key tasks include:
- Conducting routine checks and documentation: You’ll ensure that all required maintenance checks are completed and properly logged. This includes safety inspections and preventative maintenance tasks that keep the facility running smoothly.
- Building maintenance: You’ll help maintain the building in a safe, operable condition by handling everything from minor repairs to larger projects. This can range from fixing light fixtures to addressing plumbing or HVAC issues.
- Work orders and preventative maintenance: Using the Maintenance Care computer program, you’ll track and complete work orders efficiently, ensuring that repairs and routine maintenance are done in a timely manner.
- Painting and touch-ups: You’ll paint vacant suites to prepare them for new residents and perform touch-ups in common areas to keep the facility looking fresh and inviting.
- Fire safety: As part of your duties, you’ll support the fire safety program, making sure that all fire systems are functional and compliant with safety regulations.
- Seasonal tasks: In the winter, you’ll ensure that sidewalks, patios, and exit areas are clear of ice and snow, keeping the grounds safe for residents and visitors alike. This may involve shovelling, sanding, or salting walkways.
What skills and experience are needed to become a maintenance worker?
The role of a maintenance person requires a unique set of skills and qualifications. While the job does involve physical work, it also requires problem-solving skills and attention to detail. Here are the essentials you’ll need to succeed in this role:
- Relevant experience and training: You’ll need at least two years of experience in a maintenance role, ideally in a similar environment such as a retirement community, hospital, or other residential facility. Formal training in areas like plumbing, electrical work, or HVAC systems is a plus.
- Computer skills: You’ll be using the Maintenance Care computer program to track work orders and preventative maintenance tasks, so basic computer literacy is essential.
- Strong communication skills: You’ll need effective verbal and written communication skills in English, as well as strong organizational and interpersonal abilities. You’ll often interact with staff, residents, and management, so being able to communicate clearly is a must.
- Physical capability: The role involves hands-on work that can be physically demanding, from lifting heavy items to working in various weather conditions. You’ll need to be in good physical condition to perform the duties of the job.
- Certifications: WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training and Occupational Health and Safety certifications are assets that will make you stand out as a candidate and ensure that you can work safely and effectively.
Why work as a maintenance professional at a retirement community?
Working as a maintenance person in a Canadian retirement community like Park Place Seniors Living offers a unique set of rewards. Here are some of the perks that come with the job:
- Getting immersed in meaningful work: Every day, you’ll be contributing to the well-being and safety of residents. Knowing that your work makes a direct impact on people’s lives is incredibly rewarding.
- Variety in your work: No two days are the same. From fixing minor issues like a leaky faucet to addressing more significant problems like a heating system failure, your job will keep you engaged, helping you exercise your skills and utilize your talents on the job regularly.
- A strong sense of community: Working at Park Place Seniors Living, you’ll become part of a close-knit community. You’ll get to know the residents and staff, building relationships that make your job all the more fun and fulfilling.
- Job stability and competitive wages: The maintenance role at Park Place Seniors Living offers job security in a stable and growing field. You’ll be working for a trusted name in senior care that values its employees, with fair compensation that reflects your qualifications, training, and experience.
- Opportunities for professional growth: Park Place Seniors Living offers a supportive work environment where you’ll have the chance to grow and develop your skills. Whether you’re looking to gain new certifications or advance within the company, there are endless opportunities to advance your career and expand your skill set.
- Relocation opportunities: Looking to move to another community in Canada? Park Place Seniors Living has a large, unique portfolio of seniors’ communities in cities and towns across British Columbia and Alberta, and one in Ontario. Park Place operates care homes, multi-level care communities, and assisted living and independent living retirement residences, making the opportunities for a maintenance worker endless.
Join the Park Place Seniors Living team
Ready to embark on a fulfilling career journey with Canada’s leading retirement community? Park Place Seniors Living offers a supportive work environment, competitive wages, and the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents. Enjoy a hands-on role that is dynamic, rewarding, and collaborative in nature.
Visit the Park Place Seniors Living careers page to learn more about current opportunities and to apply to become a professional maintenance worker today.
