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A Donegal-based stonemason who upskilled in healthcare says it’s never too late to go back to learning.
Zintis Borodkins, 53, who is originally from Latvia, has been living and working in construction in Donegal for 23 years.
Now, after completing a two-year course in Healthcare Support with Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB), he’s looking forward to more meaningful (and drier!) work indoors later this year.
“Work in construction is hard during the winter, and I am getting older, but being self-employed, I can now plan to work 50-50 between stonemasonry and healthcare,” says Zintis.
Zintis “knew from the start” that there will always be work in healthcare, and it was this job security and love of connecting with people that inspired him to go back to education.
In recent weeks he’s completed a two year Level 5 Healthcare Support course (reference code 4885350) with the ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
The part-time course is taught two evenings per week, giving students like Zintis the freedom to continue working during the day.
“It was perfect,” says Zintis.
The blended learning approach involves a mixture of online lectures and in-class training, resulting in a Level 5 QQI qualification. Two modules are completed each academic term, over four terms (two years).
Modules include Care of the Older Person, Care Skills, Care Support, Communications, Infection Prevention and Control, Palliative Care Support, Safety and Health at Work and Work Practice.
“I really liked health and safety in first year because all the background came into real life practice in second year,” Zintis recalls.
He praises the staff, particularly lecturer Siobhan Hewitson for their guidance and expertise.
“A good teacher is so important. Siobhan was always helpful, even if I was late submitting assignments, it was no problem,” he said.
Students are also guided on seeking work experience. A placement in Hillcrest House Nursing Home helped Zintis affirm that he had made the right decision to pursue healthcare.
“After the work experience, I decided that healthcare is really for me,” he said.
“I saw that the most important thing in a nursing home is a team. There was a very helpful team there.”
As he awaits his certification, Zintis is undecided over what area of healthcare he will choose to work in. Whether it’s agency work, with fresh faces each day, or in a nursing home, where you get to know everybody, he is most looking forward to connecting with and helping others.
Being employed meant Zintis was eligible for a course fee waiver (under the ETB’s Skills to Advance initiative), a perk that sealed the deal for him to go back to education.
Healthcare is by no means easier than construction, but Zintis personally finds that it is more beneficial for the mind.
“To help people is to have meaning in life,” he said.
“I like to be in touch with people, and I enjoy the conversations and craic. The thought of doing something for people is great.”
For anyone else who is considering returning to education mid-life, he says: “Go. It’s never too late to learn and change your life.
“The ETB suits everybody and doing a course in your spare time is greatly beneficial.”
If you’re thinking about upskilling, reskilling or changing career in 2025, Donegal ETB’s FET Service has a wide range of evening courses available this Autumn. Check out your options on their website (https://www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder – use the word evening as your keyword) or call their Letterkenny Training Centre on 074 91 20500 to find out more.
If you are currently in employment (full-time, part-time or self-employed), you may be eligible for a fee waiver or reduced course fees (under the Skills to Advance initiative). Contact the Letterkenny Training Centre for further details.
If you are in receipt of a DSP payment, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. Contact your local Intreo office for a direct referral.
Fees apply otherwise.
Ní bheidh do ghairm bheatha greanta i gcloch go deo!
Zintis Borodkins, Healthcare Support
Deir saor cloiche atá ag cur faoi i nDún nGall agus a rinne uasoiliúint i gcúram sláinte nach mbíonn sé rómhall go deo filleadh ar an fhoghlaim.
Tá Zintis Borodkins, 53, as Laitvia ó dhúchas, ag cur faoi i nDún na nGall agus ag obair ina earnáil na tógála le 23 bliana anuas.
Anois, i ndiaidh dó cúrsa dhá bhliain i dTacaíocht Chúraim Sláinte le Bord Oiliúna agus Oideachais Dhún na nGall (ETB), tá sé ag dúil le hobair níos fiúntaí (agus níos tirime!) faoi dhíon níos déanaí i mbliana.
“Bíonn obair tógála doiligh le linn an gheimhridh, agus tá mé ag dul in aois, ach ó tharla go bhfuil mé féinfhostaithe, is féidir liom pleanáil le bheith ag obair 50-50 sa tsaoirseacht chloiche agus sa chúram sláinte,” a deir Zintis.
Bhí “a fhios” ag Zintis “ón tús” go mbeidh obair ann i gcúram sláinte go deo, agus ba iad an chinnteacht phoist sin agus an a mhéad agus a thaitin teagmháil le daoine eile leis a thug an spreagadh dó filleadh ar an oideachas.
Le seachtainí beaga anuas chríochnaigh sé cúrsa dhá bhliana Leibhéal 5 i dTacaíocht Chúraim Sláinte (cód tagartha 4885350) le Seirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) ETB.
Bíonn an cúrsa páirtaimseartha á mhúineadh dhá thráthnóna in aghaidh na seachtaine, rud a thugann an tsaoirse do scoláirí mar Zintis leanúint orthu ag obair le linn an lae.
“Bhí sé ar dóigh”, a deir Zintis.
Bíonn meascán de léachtaí ar líne agus oiliúint sa seomra ranga i gceist leis an chur chuige foghlama cumaisc, rud a mbíonn cáilíocht QQ1 Leibhéal 5 mar thoradh air. Críochnaítear dhá mhodúl gach téarma acadúil, thar cheithre théarma (dhá bhliain).
Ar na modúil tá Cúram do Dhuine Aosta, Scileanna Cúraim, Tacaíocht Chúraim, Cumarsáid, Cosc agus Rialú Ionfhabhtuithe, Tacaíocht do Chúram Maolaitheach, Sábháilteacht agus Sláinte san Obair agus Cleachtas Oibre.
“Thaitin sláinte agus sábháilteacht go mór liom sa chéad bhliain siocair gur cuireadh an t-eolas cúlra uilig i bhfeidhm san fhíorchleachtas sa dara bliain,” a deir Zintis agus é ag cuimhneamh air.
Molann sé an fhoireann, go háirithe an léacthóir Siobhan Hewitson, as a gcuid comhairle agus saineolais.
“Bíonn múinteoir maith iontach tábhachtach. Bhí Siobhan cuidiúil i dtólamh, fiú má bhí mé mall ag cur isteach measúnaithe, ní raibh aon fhadhb ann,” a deir sé.
Tugtar treoir do scoláirí maidir le taithí oibre a fháil. Deimhníodh do Zinitis go raibh an cinneadh ceart déanta aige gabháil leis an chúram sláinte a bhuí le socrúchán i dTeach Altramias Hillcrest House.
“I ndiaidh na taithí oibre, shochraigh mé go bhfóireann an cúram sláinte go mór dom,” a deir sé.
“Chonaic gurb í an fhoireann an rud is tábhachtaí i dteach altranais. Bhí foireann iontach cuidiúil ann.”
Agus é ag fanacht lena theastas, níl Zintis cinnte maidir le cén réimse den chúram sláinte a ngabhfaidh sé ag obair ann. Cé acu más obair ghníomhaireacht, a mbíonn daoine nua romhat achan lá, nó obair i dteach altamais, áit a gcuireann tú aithne ar achan duine, is é an rud is mó a bhfuil sé ag dúil leis ná teagmháil a dhéanamh le daoine eile agus cuidiú a thabhairt dóibh.
Ó tharla go raibh Zintis fostaithe, d’fhág sin go raibh sé incháilithe do tharscaoileadh ar tháille chúrsa (faoi thionscnamh ETB Scileanna chun Dul Chun Cinn), buntáiste a chuir ina luí air gurbh fhiú filleadh ar an oideachas.
Ní hé ar chor ar bith go bhfuil an cúram sláinte níos fusa ná an tógáil, ach is é barúil phearsanta Zintis gur mó mar a ghabhann an cúram sláinte chun tairbhe na hintinne.
“Is ionann cuidiú le daoine agus brí a bheith leis an tsaol,” a deir sé.
“Is maith liomsa bheith i dteagmháil le daoine, agus taitníonn an comhrá agus an chraic liom. Is iontach an rud é nuair a chuimhnítear ar rud éigin a dhéanamh do dhaoine eile.”
Ag trácht dó ar aon duine atá ag cuimhneamh ar fhilleadh ar an oideachas agus iad meánaosta, tá le rá aige: “Tabhair faoi. Ní bheidh sé rómhall go deo foghlaim agus athrú a dhéanamh ar do shaol.
“Fóireann ETB d’achan duine agus is iontach an tairbhe a bhaineann le cúrsa a dhéanamh le linn do chuid ama saor.”
Más ag cuimhneamh ar uasoiliúint, athoiliúint nó do ghairm a athrú atá tú in 2025, rá réimse leathan cúrsaí tráthnóna ar fáil ag ETB Dhún na nGaill an Fómhar seo. Seiceáil do roghanna ar a suíomh gréasáin (https://www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder – úsáid an focal tráthnóna mar d’eochairfhocal) nó cuir scairt ar Ionad Oiliúna Leitir Ceanainn ar 074 91 20500 chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil.
Má tá tú fostaithe (lán-aimseartha, páirt-aimseartha, nó féin fhostaithe), féadfaidh sé go bhfuil tú incháilithe do tharscaoileadh ar tháillí nó do tháillí cúrsa laghdaithe (faoin tionscnamh Scileanna chun Dul Chun Cinn). Déan teagmháil le hIonad Oiliúna Leitir Ceanainn le haghaidh tuilleadh sonraí.
Má tá íocaíocht ón RCS á fáil agat, d’fhéadfá a bheith i dteideal tarscaoileadh táille. Déan teagmháil le d’oifig áitiúil Intreo le haghaidh atreorú díreach.
Beidh táillí le híoc seachas sin.
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