Staff Profile: Tina Valente – Employee Relations Business Partner for Senior Services
Developing creative HR solutions for healthcare workers during challenging times
Tina Valente’s career path to her current role as employee relations business partner for Senior Services at CentraState Healthcare System was garnered after 10 years with the leading central New Jersey community healthcare provider.
Beginning her career in a clinical setting as an operating room scheduling coordinator, Tina eventually transitioned to Senior Services as a patient representative at The Manor, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center.
In 2018, Tina accepted the more demanding Human Resources role overseeing three senior communities operated by CentraState comprising more than 500 employees. Since her transition, Tina added the professional credentials as a Certified HR Professional by The Society for Human Resource Management and a Certified HRO Instructor.
As the only on-site Human Resources representative for CentraState’s three senior communities, including Applewood, her responsibilities encompass:
- Recruitment and retention initiatives
- New hire orientation
- Training
- Professional development and employee engagement
- Compliance
- Conflict resolution
- Performance improvement
“Our collective focus is to provide every employee with the tools and motivation they need to feel engaged by the work they are doing and inspired to pursue growth and advancement opportunities,” Tina explains. “In turn, our communities will achieve a higher level of employee satisfaction and a lower turnover rate.”
Read about Norma Dorer’s career advancement to Director of Dining Services – Healthcare.
Employee and staffing challenges during Covid-19
Single-handedly overseeing Human Resources for hundreds of healthcare and senior services employees is challenging any day, but the onset of Covid-19 in early 2020 added another level of urgent circumstances.
From navigating a high-risk workforce to addressing staffing challenges in essential positions, Tina worked side by side with department heads, frontline managers and the CentraState HR team to overcome industry staffing shortages at all levels.
Working in the unchartered territory of a global pandemic, Tina responded creatively and aggressively by forging new avenues to reach potential employees, while managing communications to existing staff with continuous updates and action plans.
She assisted with the transition to a Virtual System New Hire Orientation via Zoom, which allowed Senior Services to hire more than 75 key staff in high-risk and high-demand positions in 2021:
- Clinical management (assisted living, skilled nursing)
- Certified nurse assistants, resident service associates, certified medication aids
- Dining Services
- Housekeeping
- Maintenance and Operations
Meet the Management Team at Applewood
Senior Care Employee Recruiting Strategies
Career Ladders
“To drill down on the high employee turnover in some clinical positions, I had many conversations with CNAs and similar clinical roles to better understand the challenges they faced,” Tina explains.
Her findings resulted in the development and launch of Career Ladders, a program designed to educate and train entry-level clinicians for internal career advancement. “Staff working in these types of roles were universally seeking advancement opportunities; I designed a roadmap to help guide their paths forward.”
Certified nurse assistants (CNA), resident service associates (RSA) and certified medication aids (CMA) are eligible to complete an on-the-job CentraState continuing education curriculum and training for career advancement.
Upon completion of the education requirements, community service and volunteerism, the employee is promoted to a level II position with a pay differential.
Applewood Student Jobs
To attract workers to high turnover Dining Services positions, Tina spearheaded Applewood Student Jobs, a new recruitment campaign targeting 16 and 17-year-old high school students to work part-time as wait staff for senior residents.
She introduced the program with an in-person presentation to students at Freehold High School’s Health Sciences and Culinary Arts programs. Tina was supported by a job outreach marketing campaign targeting parents and older teens. The new initiative resulted in a 45% increase in applications just one week after the launch.
Rutgers University Partnership
Tina partnered with Rutgers University to offer grant-funded soft skills communication courses to all CentraState employees to support employee development. The partnership allowed staff to choose appropriate courses where the professor’s instruction was delivered live via Zoom. In November and December 2021, the program offered five courses related to improve working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and subordinates to create a more positive and productive working environment.
Grow With Us Employee Engagement
In the fourth quarter of 2021, Tina and CentraState HR Business Partner Stephen Rubino launched Grow with Us, a career development survey, to identify every employee’s professional interests and career pathways, including education and certification goals. In 2022, focusing on high-demand, high-turnover positions, Tina will develop and implement individual job role paths for future growth and development. “To overcome the Great Resignation battle, CentraState will offer workers individualized guidance and counseling toward timely career advancement.”
2022 and beyond: Talent development and recruitment Initiatives
The road ahead for the healthcare industry is uncertain. But Tina has already mobilized to meet the needs of her current employees and future hires.
She said that one of her biggest priorities would be to maximize employee retention by ensuring that current staff feels valued and inspired to grow within the organization.
“My ultimate goal is for our Senior Services employees to build meaningful, long-term careers through engaging opportunities and continuous professional development. In turn, we will help stabilize our workforce and continue to retain our talent.”
Tina says she will continue to create new opportunities to attract new employees by building community relationships. “I want all of our employees to feel motivated, supported and happy to come to work every day!”
Is Your Goal to Upgrade Your Career in 2022?
Applewood, part of CentraState Healthcare System, offers several senior living career opportunities in Administration, Dining Services (starting at age 16) and Operations. Clinical positions are also available, including CNAs, starting at $18/hour.
For an outstanding working environment, great benefits and continuous opportunities for training and advancement, visit Careers to find the right position for you. We look forward to welcoming you to the Applewood family!