Empowering frontline supporting staff to achieve new milestones

Career advancement for Operations Assistants (OpAs) can be challenging, as it requires recognised competencies and a solid foundation in English. Grace, who had been working in the catering industry for many years, made a determined shift in her career in 2020 by joining the HA. She worked as an OpA in sterile services department, where her duties included counting, organising, and packaging sterilised medical instruments. However, she was eager to achieve more.

Grace often finds interaction with people interesting. With nearly three years of working experience in hospital and the encouragement by her supervisor, she enrolled in the ‘JUMP Programme’ offered by the Institute of Vocational Training under the HA Academy. This programme consists of two course modules: the ‘Healthcare English Foundation Course’ and the ‘Care-related Support Worker Course,’ which exactly helped bridge the gap for her.

“I had no prior experience in a ward; I was starting from scratch. This programme boosted my confidence by allowing me to take the initial step and apply what I learnt in a real-world setting.” Through her dedication and perseverance after a year of training, Grace completed the programme in July last year. She successfully passed the evaluations and skills assessments, and got a promotion to Patient Care Assistant (PCA) at the HA Infectious Disease Centre. She noted that the JUMP Programme not only provided her with the essential skills for her new role, but also enhanced her confidence and allowed her to adapt swiftly to her new work environment.

Grace believes that if people approach to work and patients with sincerity, they will resonate with others. “I am very grateful to be engaged in a job that I am truly passionate about.”