At Circle of Care, we are proud to support student learning opportunities and partner with numerous colleges and universities in the Toronto area. As the summer comes to a close, we asked our students to share their perspectives on what it was like working at Circle of Care. Here are some of their responses:
“It has been a pleasure working with the wonderful staff and clients here at Circle of Care. In my role, I supported the Hospice and Bereavement programs within the Volunteer Department. This position has been simultaneously challenging and rewarding, as it gave me an opportunity to explore grieving as a journey, and apply the skills I’ve learned at my Masters of Social Work program. Most importantly, I had the opportunity to learn from those experiencing loss and was able to build trust and help. It has been an incredible privilege to support our clients during such a vulnerable moment of their lives and I continue to be inspired by the resilience of the human spirit. I feel privileged to have been part of such an amazing team, who inspire me with their compassion and dedication, and welcomed me from day one as a colleague.” – Romina V., Volunteer Services Summer Student
“While in my position working with the Client Services department at Circle of Care, I have grown a stronger understanding of our local healthcare system. The position also taught me the interconnectedness of healthcare in Canada. This summer, during the pandemic, I had the opportunity to help create new electronic educational resources to aid in COVID-19 management in the community and among staff. My manager and everyone I have interacted with at Circle of Care have been incredibly helpful, and are always willing to teach me new skills. I feel as if my summer flew by and all the new information I have learned about COVID-19, the healthcare system, and the workforce will definitely help me navigate my future endeavors.” – Iman A., Client Services Summer Student
“Throughout my student placement at Circle of Care, I worked in the IT department supporting helpdesk for all employees. As a current computer science student, the position has provided me with an incredible amount of experience including first-hand knowledge of enterprise software that I would have never had the chance to learn elsewhere. In my role I was able to resolve technical issues, handle both client/worker app difficulties and set up numerous amounts of software for the organization. The IT team has been extremely helpful and supportive of my growth by providing various means of exposure and learning to help further my development and skill set. My time at Circle of Care has been very fulfilling and I know that the knowledge I have gained will follow me through the rest of my career.” – Brian H., IT Student
“My role supporting the Client Services Support team involved handling calls from PSWs, clients and other stakeholders, along with forwarding their requests to the appropriate teams. This summer student position has been a great learning experience for me, as the knowledge and skills that I am gaining complement my current studies in the Social Service Worker Gerontology program at Seneca. I really enjoy talking to our clients and doing what I can to assist them during our phone calls, as I understand how crucial Circle of Care services are to these individuals and their families. I also have a really fantastic team and am grateful for all the support they have provided me throughout the summer.” – Kathleen N., Client Services Summer Student
“In my position supporting the HR team, I had a variety of opportunities to learn and get my hands-on experience in multiple areas of HR, including recruitment, health and safety, and labour relations. I was able to apply in-class concepts to the projects I worked on and help the team to accomplish some of the organization’s strategic goals. The team embraced my curiosity, encouraged me to share my ideas, and made me feel like a valued member. I feel that both the feedback I received throughout my co-op and the overall experience has prepared me for my next HR role.” – Andrea B., Human Resources Co-op Student
“Working with the HR team was one of the most insightful and educational periods of work I have encountered. While working with the Quality management team at Circle of Care this summer, I was able to quantify and see the impacts on clients, workers, and the organization. I’m glad to know how to view things from a quality management perspective. This experience will allow me in the future to think more critically and evaluate how what I’m working on affects the company as a whole. I have learned a lot during my time with the organization and my time here has continuously helped me develop my professional skills, knowledge, core competencies, and personal abilities in both business and community care. The experiences and lessons learned here are invaluable to me, and something I will take with me as I continue to progress in my career. By working at Circle of Care I feel I have made a positive and impactful contribution to my community.” – Patrick F., Quality Summer Student
