Advancement Opportunities Abound at Seabrook

After she moved to the area, a friend told Sereen Morales about Seabrook, an Erickson Senior Living community in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. With her home health license in tow, she applied for and secured a home health aide position and began working at the community.

“I loved the residents but I was mostly set in one place for a majority of the day,” she says. “I wanted something a little more fast-paced with the chance to help more residents.”

Seabrook encourages team members to investigate other potential areas for growth, and Morales took the time to learn about the many departments around campus. At Seabrook, it’s not just about the hired position for a team member, but the opportunity to advance and grow a career within any of Erickson Senior Living’s communities across the country. 

Each employee has structured one-on-one meetings with their supervisor, when they learn about community updates, Erickson enterprise developments and immediate needs for their success. Much time is spent focusing on their individual growth. 

“We work with every team member to create an individual development plan to give them a pathway for advancement,” says Jim MacDonald, Seabrook’s human resources director. “If you’re a dishwasher today and want to be a nurse tomorrow, we will help you create a plan and achieve your goals during the course of your employment with us.”

There are a variety of programs in place through Erickson Senior Living to help team members grow. 

For one, the 2024 Internal Career Expo showcased career pathways and development opportunities for team members. 

“Our goal is to provide our talented and diverse team members with meaningful work experiences that match their career interests and goals,” MacDonald notes. “That’s why we host the Career Expo and educate our employees about the ample opportunities available in the community.”

In addition, a formal cross training program enables team members to experience different positions throughout the community, for up to two months, to determine if they could see themselves in that role.

Also, a formal mentoring program pairs employees with seasoned staff members in another department. Over a nine-month period, they build a strong working relationship, learn new skills, network, experience the one-team culture, and rely on a dedicated coach to help navigate challenging situations.

This year, Erickson introduced a joint program with LeggUp, a professional development firm that provides talent coaching and skill building for high performing team members.

“At Seabrook, when we hire someone, we’re always looking to their future,” MacDonald explains. “It’s how we intentionally grow our business and grow our culture of caring for people.”

After investigation, the security department intrigued Morales and supervisors encouraged her to transfer. She was hired as a security officer, escorting ambulances, responding to pull cord calls, and resetting smoke detectors.  

At the same time, she shadowed lead officers in the department. They took her on emergency medical responder (EMR) calls and explained policies. 

“They showed me everything I needed to know and answered all of my questions,” she noted. 

She was also encouraged to pursue additional training to advance in her new career. Erickson Senior Living offered the emergency medical responder (EMR) course at Seabrook, and Morales became an EMR officer. Last year, as a result of the certification, she was promoted to lead officer. 

In this new position, Morales is giving back, acknowledging the support she received from department leaders, mentors and Erickson Senior Living to help her advance in her career. 

“I teach classes and review policies and needed renewals,” Morales explains. She’s planning to complete coursework to become an instructor and teach onsite EMR and CPR classes. She may even return to college to pursue a nursing degree, with assistance from Erickson’s tuition reimbursement program. 

“I am evolving and helping other people to evolve. The opportunities are just endless, not just for our department, but throughout the community.”

Watch your calendar! Be on the lookout for the 2025 Career Expo at Seabrook!

To learn more about career opportunities at Seabrook, or to apply online, visit www.ericksonseniorlivingcareers.com