Becoming a Hotel Services Team Leader
As the Hotel Services Team Leader at Highercombe, Meagan is responsible for coordinating the cleaning, laundry, and food services for 126 residents.
It was only 18 months ago, Meagan joined ACH Group on a casual contract in the Central Kitchen.
Meagan credits her rapid career rise to “the best boss I’ve ever had” – Central Kitchen Operations Manager Amy White.
“When I got the job with ACH Group, I truly didn’t think it would go anywhere – I was very wrong,” she said.
“This is the first organisation that I’ve ever seen or worked for that is proactive in giving opportunities for their people to move up.
“I’ve really felt like I’ve been given a shot here that I’ve never had anywhere else.”
Meagan said in her new role she was also given the freedom to try new things and in just six months has made huge strides in streamlining the workforce.
“The support I’ve had to try new things in this role has been phenomenal,” she said.
“When I started our staff were often only trained in one of either cleaning, catering, or laundry – I’ve combined that training so I staff can do each of our major duties.
“I’ve also linked our staff in with our other residential care homes so they can pick up shifts at other ACH Group homes.
“This has provided more consistent hours for our existing workforce while reducing our reliance on agency.”
Meagan said her immediate focus is to throw everything into her current role, but she said she had no doubt when she was ready there would be “a lot of potential for further career growth” with ACH Group.
I started at ACH Group’s Central Kitchen working on the dishes and cleaning. From there I progressed to other areas within the kitchen.
I learnt every area, from stores (the ordering) to pre-weigh where all the ingredients from recipes are gathered. The manager Amy saw my potential and asked if I would like to learn to be a Team Leader.
I said that I would as I really enjoy advancing my skills since I am a fast learner. She then put me on a few shifts with other team leaders at Highercombe and Milpara to see if I liked it. From there an opening became available and I applied.
I was then offered an interview for a Hotel Services Team Leader and was successful in getting the job at Highercombe where I currently work.
My job is Hospitality Team Leader. My responsibilities involve hiring staff, managing rosters, supervising staff, ordering food and other kitchen items and managing a budget.
Ultimately, I am responsible for ensuring that 126 residents have good food, their rooms and communal areas are clean and laundry is done well.
ACH Group really gave me a chance and identified me as someone who had the skills to progress. From a casual contract doing dishes to managing all the hotel services for ACH Group’s second largest home in 18 months has required a huge amount of faith and trust in me from my managers and ACH Group. I’m really proud of the work that I’ve done.
I love the people I work with and the residents that I get to interact with every day.
That older people are incapable of doing certain things. There are many residents who are very cognitive and capable of many things.
They teach me things and, they have lots of life experience that I really enjoy hearing about and drawing from.
I would like to take on leadership roles such as becoming a senior caregiver or team leader and improve the quality of life of residents through innovative care practices.
Fulfilling, rewarding.
With ACH Group, you make a real difference to older people’s lives – and your own.
ACH Group has more than 200 unique roles across care, nursing, allied health, administration, maintenance, corporate and hospitality teams.
Learn about career development at ACH Group as staff share their career stories, showcasing how their experiences lead to fulfilling careers dedicated to supporting people to live good lives.
Join ACH Group and support older people to live good lives – while making your mark on the people within.
