#PeopleofPCH is a series that highlights the diverse stories of staff, residents, and families across Partners Community Health (PCH).
Say hello to Sue Welsh, receptionist at Camilla Care. Sue shares her story for Administrative Professionals’ Day:
“I’ve been a receptionist for my entire career, and I have over 35 years of experience in this field. My journey as an administrative professional started at a car dealership, where I developed my skills and gained valuable work experience for 23 years. I moved on to a second dealership for eight years, but I knew I was ready to learn something new and challenge myself.
I was looking for a new career opportunity when I saw an ad for a receptionist position at Leisure World, now known as Camilla Care. I applied, got the job immediately and the rest is history. I realized later that my father’s aunt was a resident of this home when it was originally built. When I was a kid, we would visit her here, but at the time it was called Chelsea Park Nursing Home. I never expected to land a position in long-term care, but I wouldn’t change this opportunity for a thing. Some things in life truly come full circle. I’m proud to have been a member of the team at Camilla for almost eight years now.
Receptionists are often the first point of contact for individuals when they’re encountering an organization, and this is true for long-term care as well. From tasks like answering the phone and greeting family members, to directing visitors to their destinations, to putting together new resident charts and contracts, my role covers a broad spectrum of responsibilities.
Administrators at any level—receptionists, administrative assistants, office managers—are all essential for maintaining seamless day-to-day operations both at the front of the house and behind the scenes.
The best part of my job is being able to interact with the residents and their families daily. We have so many amazing residents that I’ve met, both past and present, and it’s extremely fulfilling to be able to spend time with them, have conversations and form relationships.
A typical day at Camilla doesn’t exist. Every day is different and that’s what makes working with the residents and staff fun and rewarding. This isn’t your basic, cookie-cutter job where you’re doing the same thing all the time. You can come in planning to do one thing, and then you might need to shift your focus to something completely different–I love it.
My favourite part about working with the team at Partners Community Health is that we’re always planning engaging activities for both the residents and staff. We often have entertainers and singers perform for residents. A group of Irish dancers visited in March, and we had food trucks stop by to serve delicious food that residents could enjoy. We work hard to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone.
One important lesson that I’ve learned throughout my career is to always keep an open mind. Remember to be confident in who you are and what you do no matter what comes your way.”
