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Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 28 and 29 February in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the experiences of current and former FET students.
A young Donegal man who took a leap of faith into a career in caring says he’s found his dream job.
Not many people wake up excited to go to work every day, but healthcare assistant Glenn McDyre from Inver counts his blessings to have a job that gives him purpose.
The 31-year-old had worked in fishing, construction and the mines in Australia before returning home and enrolling in a Health Service Skills course with the Further Education and Training (FET) Service of Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).
The part-time two-year programme trains students to be Healthcare Assistants, opening doors to various settings like nursing homes, hospitals and home care.
Glenn had inherited the caring gene from his mother, who worked in the sector and encouraged him to follow suit.
“I never had a real want for the jobs I had before,” Glenn says. “That was until I started doing a day or two each week at the Bluestack Special Needs Foundation. Being in that environment gave me an understanding of how excited I could be about work.”
Glenn studied at the ETB’s Donegal Town (Ard Scoil na gCeithre Máistir) FET Centre, where he benefitted from invaluable learning support for dyslexia. He was offered one-to-one support with reading and extra time to complete exams and assignments, which made all the difference.
“I wouldn’t have had a lot of confidence going back to education, but it was made very easy for me,” he said.
“I was never afraid to ring up and ask for an extension or say that I was struggling.”
Glenn commended his dedicated teacher, Elspeth Vaughan, for her constant encouragement.
“Elspeth had a high expectation from her students and in return it enabled us to be able to give a deeper level of care.
“At times I thought it was challenging. She never promised it would be easy, but she promised we would be good carers if we stuck with the course. I believe that helped us to succeed in a nice environment where there were supports if you needed them.”
The other important skills he learned were empathy and compassion.
“No matter who you are, you’ll not get through life without understanding the struggle. We all experience different struggles and when you have that understanding you can bring them into your work environment, it doesn’t hold you back. It helps you give a better level of care,” he said.
Modules on the course include care of the older person, care skills, care support and communications. Additionally, a 60-hour work placement at the Donegal Community Hospital gave Glenn the chance to gain hands-on experience with a team that he says was incredibly helpful.
The part-time delivery of the course meant that classes were three days per week, allowing Glenn to continue working at the Bluestack Foundation.
Another thing he learned, not from books or assignments, was inner confidence.
“You learn a lot about yourself and you get a confidence that you didn’t realise was there, to know that you can succeed and you can do what you want to do.”
Once the two years were done, Glenn saw the opportunities before him. Today, Glenn works as a locum Healthcare Assistant for the HSE across seven different areas.
No two days are the same for Glenn, which is just the way he likes it.
“I’ve done my share of nine to five jobs where you are looking at the clock, but as a healthcare assistant, the days fly by,” he said.
“You wake up excited to go to work and it’s class to be in the position where you have the potential to make someone’s life that wee bit better.
“If you can make one second of someone’s day that bit better, it’s life-changing, and you go home happy. It gave my life a lot of meaning.”
Beyond the personal fulfillment, Glenn has found that caring is an attractive line of work with good pay.
“It might be taboo to talk about money, but before I did the course, I was looking at settling down when I was thinking about what job I could do.
“It’s great to be paid well and to see people appreciate what you do.
“You are helping people who need you and you meet some very interesting people. One thing I try to bring to every house is positivity, to help people get the belief that they can make themselves feel better. I have experienced so much that would give you massive hope.”
Glenn’s passion for caring shines through as he encourages others to explore this path through Health Service Skills.
“If you are at a stage in your life where you don’t know what to do, and if you have that caring nature in you, I would say go for it, it’s a good job,” he said.
“We all have loved ones and we want the best for them. I am fortunate to be in a position where I can give the level of care I expect for a loved one. It’s a lovely position to be in.”
Glenn’s course is only some of the many full and part-time healthcare support courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2024 FET Fair on 28 and 29 February in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:
- Wednesday 28 February, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service.
Panel discussions on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begin at 7.00pm.
- Thursday 29 February, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.
Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service on 074 91 78088, email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
Tugann fear ó Dhún na nGall léim a athraíonn a shaol faoin bpost is ansa leis ag cabhrú le daoine eile
Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall ar an 28 agus an 29 Feabhra san óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, táimid ag cur éispéiris mac léinn reatha agus iarmhac léinn FET os comhair an phobail.
Deir fear ó Dhún na nGall a thug léim faoi ghairm bheatha chúraim go bhfuil an post is ansa leis aimsithe aige.
Ní mórán daoine a dhúisíonn ar maidin agus sceitimíní orthu dul chun na hoibre, ach tá an cúntóir cúraim sláinte Glenn McDyre as Inbhear buíoch beannachtach go bhfuil post aige a thugann cuspóir sa saol dó.
D’oibrigh an fear 31 bliain d’aois san iascaireacht, sa tógáil agus i mianaigh san Astráil roimh dó teacht abhaile agus clárú le cúrsa Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte a bhí á reáchtáil ag Seirbhís Bhreisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB).
Ar an gclár páirtaimseartha dhá bhliain, oiltear mic léinn le bheith ina gCúntóirí Cúraim Sláinte, rud a osclaíonn doirse dóibh do thimpeallachtaí éagsúla mar thithe altranais, ospidéil agus cúram baile.
Is óna mháthair, a d’oibrigh san earnáil, a fuair Glenn na géinte comhbhácha, agus spreag sí é í a leanúint.
“Ní raibh fíor-dhúil agam riamh sna poist a bhí agam roimhe seo,” a deir Glenn. “B’shin go dtí gur thosaigh mé ag obair lá nó dhó sa tseachain ag an Bluestack Special Needs Foundation. Trí bheith sa timpeallacht sin, tháinig tuiscint orm chomh tógtha is a d’fhéadfainn a bheith faoin obair.”
Rinne Glenn staidéar ag Lárionad FET ETB i mBaile Dhún na nGall (Ardscoil na gCeithre Máistir), áit ar bhain sé tairbhe as tacaíocht fhíorluachmhar i leith na disléicse. Tairgeadh tacaíocht duine le duine dó maidir leis an léitheoireacht agus am breise chun scrúduithe agus tascanna a chríochnú, agus ba mhór an tairbhe dó é.
“Ní raibh an-mhuinín agam agus mé ag filleadh ar an oideachas, ach éascaíodh dom é go fírinneach,” a dúirt sé.
“Ní raibh eagla orm glaoch a chur agus síneadh ama a iarraidh riamh nó a rá go raibh mé ag streachailt.”
Mhol Glenn a mhúinteoir díograiseach, Elspeth Vaughan, as a spreagadh leanúnach.
“Bhí ardionchas ag Elspeth dá mic léinn, agus, ar ionad sin, chuir sé ar ár gcumas leibhéal cúraim níos doimhne a thabhairt.
“Uaireanta, cheap mé go raibh sé dúshlánach. Níor gheall sí riamh go mbeadh sé éasca, ach gheall sí go mbeimis inár gcúramóirí maithe dá gcoinneoimis leis an gcúrsa. Tá mé den bharúil gur chabhraigh sé sin rath a bheith orainn i dtimpeallacht dheas, áit ina raibh tacaíochtaí má bhí siad de dhíobháil ort.”
Ba iad na scileanna tábhachtacha eile a d’fhoghlaim sé ná ionbhá agus comhbhá.
“Is cuma cé thú féin, ní dhéanfaidh tú do bhealach tríd an saol gan tuiscint a bheith agat ar bheith ag streachailt. Bíonn streachailtí éagsúla orainn go léir, agus nuair atá an tuiscint sin agat gur féidir leat iad a thabhairt isteach i do thimpeallacht oibre, ní choinneoidh sé siar thú. Cuidíonn sé leat leibhéal níos fearr cúraim a thabhairt,” a dúirt sé.
Áirítear leis na modúil ar an gcúrsa, cúram an duine bhreacaosta, scileanna cúraim, tacaíocht chúram agus cumarsáid. Anuas air sin, de bharr socrúchán 60 uair ag Ospidéal Pobail Dhún na nGall, fuair Glenn an deis chun taithí theagmhálach a fháil le foireann a bhí fíorchuidiúil, dar leis.
De bharr sheachadadh páirtaimseartha an chúrsa, bhí ranganna ann trí huaire sa tseachtain, rud a lig do Glenn leanúint ar aghaidh ag obair ag Bluestack Foundation.
Rud eile a d’fhoghlaim sé, agus ní ó leabhair ná ó thascanna, ná muinín ina chroí istigh.
“Foghlaimíonn tú go leor fút féin, agus tagann féinmhuinín ort nach raibh a fhios agat a bheith agat chun a bheith eolach gur féidir an rath a bheith ort agus an rud a theastaíonn uait a dhéanamh.”
Nuair a bhí an dá bhliain críochnaithe, chonaic Glenn na deiseanna a bhí roimhe. Inniu, tá Glenn ag obair mar Chúntoir Cúraim Sláinte ionaid do FSS ar fud seacht limistéar éagsúla.
Ní hionann dhá lá do Glenn, agus taitníonn sé sin leis.
“Tá mo chion de phoist naoi go dtí a cúig déanta agam ina mbíonn tú ag amharc ar an gclog, ach mar chúntóir cúraim sláinte imíonn na laethanta thart go gasta,” a dúirt sé.
“Dúisíonn tú agus tú an-tógtha chun dul chuig an obair, agus rud ar dóigh é bheith in acmhainneacht agus an cumas agat saol duine a fheabhsú giota beag.
“Má tá tú ábalta soicind amháin de lá duine eile a fheabhsú pas beag, is athrú ó bhonn é, agus téann tú abhaile agus tú sásta. Thug sé an-mhíniú do mo shaol.”
Chomh maith leis an sásamh pearsanta, fuair Glenn amach gur obair tharraingteach í an ghairm chúraim a bhfuil pá maith ag baint léi.
“B’fhéidir go bhfuil geis ar a bheith ag caint ar chúrsaí airgid, ach roimh dom an cúrsa a dhéanamh, bhí mé ag féachaint chuig socrú síos agus ag smaoineamh ar cén post a d’fhéadfainn a dhéanamh.
“Tá sé go hiontach pá maith a bheith agat agus a fheiceáil go bhfuil daoine buíoch as a ndéanann tú.
“Tá tú ag cuidiú le daoine a dteastaíonn do chabhair uathu, agus castar daoine fíorshuimiúla ort. Déanaim iarracht rud amháin a thabhairt chuig gach uile theach agus sin dearfacht chun cuidiú le daoine creidiúint go bhfuil siad ábalta iad féin a chur ag mothú níos fearr. Tá an méid sin feicthe agam a chuirfeadh dóchas ollmhór ort.”
Tá paisean Glenn don ghairm chúraim soiléir agus é ag moladh do dhaoine eile an cosán sin a fhiosrú trí Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte.
“Má tá tú ag staid i do shaol nach bhfuil a fhios agat cad é a dhéanfas tú, agus má tá tréithe cúramóra ionat, déarfainn leat triail a bhaint as, post maith atá ann,” a dúirt sé.
“Tá daoine atá gar dúinn ar fad agus muid ag iarraidh na rudaí is fearr dóibh. Tá an t-ádh orm deis a bheith agam an leibhéal cúraim a bheinn ag súil leis a thabhairt do dhuine atá gar dom. Is tarlú álainn é.”
Níl i gcúrsa Glenn ach ceann amháin den iliomad cúrsaí tacaíochta cúraim sláinte lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a thairgtear trí Sheirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – gheobhaidh tú an raon cúrsaí iomlán atá acu ar fud an chontae ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2024 ar an 28 agus an 29 Feabhra san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:
- Dé Céadaoin an 28 Feabhra, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuistí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Príomhoidí Tánaisteacha scoile freastal chun cloisteáil faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uas-sciliú cloisteáil faoi na deiseanna uas-scilithe a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET.
Cuirfear tús le pléití painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna triú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.
- Déardaoin an 29 Feabhra, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas maidir leis an raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an bhfoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.
Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost adultguidance@donegaletb.ie, nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
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