Internal Advancement & Leadership Development
At The Bess and Moe Greenberg Family Hillel Lodge Long-Term Care Home of Ottawa (Hillel Lodge), we are dedicated to providing ample opportunities for internal advancement and leadership development. Many of our key roles, such as Assistant Director of Care and Director of Care, have been filled by promoting talent from within.
To support your professional growth, we have established the Individual Development Plan (IDP) for our leaders. This initiative offers a structured framework that empowers you to take ownership of your development. The IDP is designed to help you leverage your strengths, address areas for improvement, and align your career aspirations with our organizational goals. By identifying key focus areas and setting actionable objectives, you will enhance your leadership skills, clinical expertise, and management abilities, positioning yourself for future opportunities within Hillel Lodge.
When you join Hillel Lodge, you become part of our family, gaining not only the chance to grow in your role but also to develop your leadership capabilities.
"Hillel Lodge is a wonderful example of how internal advancement can transform careers. I began as a PSW and grew into roles like charge nurse, RAI coordinator, and Assistant Director of Care, ultimately becoming the Director of Care. The supportive environment here has empowered me to embrace challenges and make a real difference in residents' lives. I truly believe anyone can thrive and advance their career within our team."
— Cindy Garcia - Director of Care
Elevating Excellence: Empowering people, Enriching Lives.
At Hillel Lodge, we are embarking on an exciting new journey to strengthen the care and support we provide to residents and families. As part of our broader Elevating Excellence motto, we are introducing the Hillel Lodge Academy — a hub for staff learning, growth, and innovation.
- Building on the strong foundation our staff already provide, the Hillel Lodge Academy will offer additional training and support to help ensure care remains safe, consistent, and of the highest quality. In its early stages, the Academy will focus on nursing and compliance, supporting our teams with enhanced resources to continue meeting and exceeding standards of care. Over time, it will grow to include every department, creating opportunities for teamwork, leadership development, and culture-building across the Lodge.
- For our residents and families, this means smoother routines, more personalized care, and more time for meaningful interactions. For our staff, it brings new opportunities to grow their skills, feel valued, and work together in rewarding ways.
“The Hillel Lodge Academy is about raising the bar for care and creating an environment where our staff feel supported to succeed. We are investing in both our people and our culture, because when our staff thrive, our residents and families thrive too.”
— Ted Cohen – CEO
Preceptor Program and Job Shadowing
In 2023, Hillel Lodge began to offer the Preceptor Resource and Education Program in Long-Term Care (PREP LTC) to enhance skills and preparedness to supervise clinical student placements.
Preceptors get training to:
- Facilitate learning by assigning and delegating tasks.
- Give and receive positive and constructive feedback and evaluate student performance.
- Promote critical thinking and clinical reasoning.
- Emphasize professionalism, respect, confidentiality, and collaboration.
- Foster clear, empathetic communication.
- Prioritize resident safety, autonomy, and dignity.
“Being a Preceptor can be incredibly rewarding. To know that helping to shape the next generations of nurses and passing on your own legacy”
— Victoria Walker – RAI Coordinator
Preceptors work in partnership with a student during their shift to provide hands-on work experience and model best practices. Preceptors are responsible to guide, support, and mentor a student partner throughout their placement.
Why should you become a Preceptor?
- Develop your Skills – hone your leadership, delegation, and communication skills.
- Enhance your Resume – demonstrate your willingness to lead, learn and improve quality of care.
- Improve your Practice – students and preceptors can learn from each other to reinforce skills.
- Grow the Profession – preceptors are crucial to train students for the future of healthcare.
- Reconnect to your Passion – professional collaboration with students can be motivating and invigorating!
"Our Preceptor Program positions Hillel Lodge as a hub of learning excellence, enhancing person-centred care and providing additional staff support. This program fosters mutual knowledge-sharing during clinical placements, benefiting both students and Preceptors. By reinforcing clinical reasoning, Preceptors strengthen their understanding while students gain insights into the latest best practices.”
— Morag Burch – Former Director of Care