Cooks, care staff and registered nurse positions available now

3 years reaccreditation achieved

Merton Living is seeking excellent staff for casual and permanent part time positions: Personal Carer who can provide safe, effective, quality person-centred care to our residents/consumers which will include but not limited to, assisting with personal care, activities of daily living, housekeeping and cleaning. Certificate III in aged care/individual support is essential with preference given to Certificate IV. There will be opportunities for traineeships for staff new to aged care or wanting to upskill. Registered nurse - required for a permanent part time position to assist with care planning and pain management (holistic massage), strong interest in infection control. Weekend work is currently available. Positions in both our home care and residential aged care services (Merton Home Care and Merton Court Hostel) A current NDIS worker screening clearance check are required, along with a current first aid certificate. We are looking for someone with commitment, interest and empathy in working with the aged; the ability to work as part of a team, adapting to residents needs on the day. COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory. Please contact us via our website link or 02 6547 2684.

Visitation update

Special Event - Saturday 19th November, 2022

This morning at Merton Court we commenced a trial of the Coolgard visitor management system. You only have to walk up to the screen, and it takes your temperature, then you answer our screening questions. The first time you use it you will have to enter your name and contact phone number. From then on, it should recognise you! If your temperature is under 37.5ºC and you pass the screening questions, then it will check you in. You follow the same process to check out. This system will free up our staff time significantly, by reducing our monitoring and recording of paper records. This will also make it easier to conduct contact tracing, should the need occur. Please always remember not to visit if you are feeling unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.

On Monday 26th October, the residents of Merton Court will be treated to a very special lunch. Vines@Hollydene is coming to Merton Court with a delicious three course menu which will delight the residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the wellbeing of residents in aged care, with facilities no longer able to take residents on external outings due to their higher risk of becoming very sick if exposed to COVID-19. Up until March we regularly took the residents to Cafe's and other locations in the region to help keep them involved in the community. Visitation to Merton Court has also had to be reduced and other restrictions imposed such as the requirement of all visitors to have their influenza vaccination. To fill the void, we have increased the hours of the activity officer and increased our own special event lunches to try and make up for the lack of external activities. However, the residents are really missing those treats at the cafes. So, we were overjoyed to hear that Hollydene and Westpac Muswellbrook wanted to organise a special lunch for the residents after hearing about their COVID-19 enforced restrictions during a Business Connect Forum we are participating in courtesy of the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Other members of the Chamber are also contributing to the lunch through sponsorship or gifts for the residents. These include: Muswellbrook Floral Studio, Melanie's Jewellers, RMS, Mangoola Coal and Pirtek. This sponsorship has enabled Hollydene to provide a 5 star menu for the residents. A classical guitarist will provide a lovely ambience throughout. The residents are now looking through their wardrobes for their best clothes, some are even putting the call out to family to buy a new shirt so they look the part! We are all very much looking forward to the day. Thank you so much to the team at Hollydene and Westpac Muswellbrook.

Merton Village in Denman (Upper Hunter Valley NSW) has some independent living units available for the elder community looking to downsize, remain independent without the maintenance, or embrace country living. The entry contribution ranges from $235,000 to $295,000. Merton Village has two sites - one in Ogilvie Street, which is also the main street, and the other in Turtle Street, which is the next street; so the units are very handy to the shops and services. There are plenty of eating places in Denman, as well as services such as a pharmacy, solicitor, two GP surgeries, post office and the Regional Australia Bank whose branch is located in the Merton Living administration building. Recreation options include a 9 hole golf course, bowling club and green, outdoor swimming pool within the town - easy walking or scooter distance. As well as a bowling club, there is also a RSL Club, two hotels and an Anglican Church and Catholic Church. Merton Village itself is also equipped with two recreation halls for residents to run their social activities.

Merton Court and the Denman Children's Centre have joined forces to provide our own version of aged care for 4 year olds, inspired by the documentary shown on the ABC in August/September. Since mid-November we have had weekly reciprocal visits to introduce the little kids and the big kids to each other. Great relationships have already been formed and it has been more successful than we could have imagined! Next year we will build on these introductory sessions and work on creating some meaningful activities and projects where the old and young can help one another.