Everyone working in Aged Care provides invaluable assistance to residents and patients. Working together, Clinical Care Coordinators, Clinical Care Managers, Registered Nurses, Residential and Facility Managers, ACFI Specialists and Personal Care workers ensure that the best care possible is
provided, when and where needed.
Delivering high-quality person-centred care requires excellent communication and relationship building skills, responsiveness, accuracy, problem-solving, empathy, self-motivation and collaboration with team members.
These are the skills of Emotional Intelligence, which include: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skill.
In this HPG educational series we will discuss each of the components of Emotional Intelligence.
Part 1: Self-awareness
Self-awareness means having a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs and drives.
People with strong self-awareness are honest with themselves and with others.
They are neither overly critical nor unrealistically hopeful. They recognize how their feelings affect them, other people and their job performance.
People with high self-awareness are candid and have an ability to assess themselves realistically.
They are able to speak accurately and openly about their emotions and the impact they have on their work.
Self aware people know and are comfortable talking about their limitations and strengths and demonstrate enthusiasm for constructive criticism. People with low self-awareness interpret feedback that they need to improve as a threat or a sign of failure.
The following are interview questions focusing on Self-awareness.
As a candidate, think through specific examples from your Aged Care experience and highlight your successes during your interview.
As an interviewer use these questions, and the responses you hear, to determine a candidate’s strengths.
Interview questions:
1. How would you describe yourself?
2. How would others describe you?
3. What are your strengths?
4. What are your areas for development?
5. Tell me about a time when you’ve received feedback?
As a candidate, be prepared to offer in-depth examples when further questioned by your interviewer.
As the interviewer, listen to the answers given and probe further for additional
insight.