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Involving People in the Business
Ensuring the Effectiveness and Development of Our People
Health, Safety, and General Well-Being
People from Disadvantaged Backgrounds / with Disabilities
Collection and Interpretation of Information and Data
Incorporation of corporate knowledge into the decision making process
Creation and management of corporate knowledge

Involving People in  the Business

The Practices Review Committee , a  sub-committee of the Board  includes representatives of the Board, Community, Clients, Executive, Management and Staff and is responsible for:

•    Development and review of organisational policy and documentation procedures
•    Review of training and competency programmes, their application and effectiveness
•    Review of Community Visitor (Ministerial representative) and other external reports for rewards and recommendations
•    Monitoring practices through review of various data collections and audits

Ensuring the Effectiveness and Development of Our People

•    Committee established  to coordinate and oversee the training objectives and programmes of the Foundation. Committee membership includes  representatives from each staff group
•    A Training Manual developed by the Committee  documents the Training process and requirements of employees.
•    An Annual Training Plan is established,  circulated and implemented. Both internal and external presenters are used.
•    Opportunities to participate in external training,  seminars and conferences are also provided
•    Bi-monthly formal support and supervision of all positions ensures the opportunity for information exchange and feedback,  identifies areas for improvement and development and acknowledges achievement

Health, Safety and General Well-Being

•    Relationship developed over a number of years with rehabilitation provider to ensure skilled and safe practices used across organisation, with effective risk management practices applied
•    Access to trained counseling and support to assist staff to deal with stressors of working with medically frail group
•    Comprehensive  OHS policies and procedures are in place
•    Trained OHS Committee represents all workplaces.
•    Manual handling training, wheelchair vehicle driving training  and  a health care practices competency assessment programme is applied.
•    Wheelchair access property design in accordance with building codes, with tools and equipment to protect the safety of clients and staff.
•    Successfully completed  the final stage of the Premium Discount Scheme in July 2004

People from Disadvantaged Backgrounds / with Disabilities

•    Cooking and Housekeeping staff  were facing unemployment on the closure of Cram House. In addition a number of mature women who were providing untrained care to clients needed to gain skills to continue to work in the new structure. The Foundation sought assistance from D.E.T. who funded a Mature Workers programme. Fifteen women successfully completed their Certificate III Community Services (Disability) in this programme in 2000
•    Two female and two male Trainees have been  from Non-English speaking backgrounds. Additional supports were provided by  internal Workplace Trainer / Assessors where indicated to facilitate understanding and application  of written work – both in assessment and service documentation requirements
•    One male Trainee was dyslexic and specific supports were implemented  to assist his successful completion. Currently one Trainee is receiving additional support to manage poor literacy issues

Of this group:
•    Sixteen remain employed with the Foundation, including all from Non-English speaking backgrounds
•    One has Certificate IV Workplace Training & Assessor
•    Three are currently studying for their Diploma Community Services
•    Four are OHS  trained and Committee representatives
•    One is  a member of the Communication Project Team
•    One has acted as  relief Manager
•    One is a member of the Practices Review Committee
•    One is the CSW representative at information sessions for Traineeship programmes
•    One designed the Menu  and associated recipe and shopping  plans for  community houses

Knowledge and Information

Collection and interpretation of information and data

The process of obtaining essential information and understanding it is pivotal to our purpose of accomplishing our Mission and satisfying our clients’ needs.

Three key areas of information collection in health care service delivery for our client group come from:

Client – Understanding of Needs
•    Individual health assessment by medical professionals
•    Holistic assessment of care and support needs by a registered nurse
•    Listening and responding to how the client wants the service delivered

Management – Information on legal requirements
Membership with Peak Bodies, professional networking and maintaining current  research ensures Board and executive  have the combined information to achieve the strategic objectives within:
•    Corporate Law
•    Industrial legislation
•    Disability, health  and associated service provision legislation

Staff – Analysis of Knowledge
•    Employment of staff with evidence of  tertiary skills/ qualifications in the area of service delivery
•    Internal audit of knowledge through regular use of  group meetings, surveys, verbal reliability and practical skill competency reviews

Integration of corporate knowledge into the general decision making process

The involvement of people at all level of the business in information gathering and discussion through a range of strategies encourages decision making   with true consultation and occurring at the appropriate level of operations

Creation and management of corporate knowledge

Executive staff lead  the provision and storage of corporate knowledge in a method available to all staff  through the development of policy and procedure based on required  legislation and Best Practice information.
Bi-annual consultative policy review processes and a  culture of flexible learning provides the basis for our corporate knowledge to remain proactive and to filter to all levels of the Foundation
The past three year history of significant change within the Foundation demonstrates our willingness and ability as a company to remain current with legislative change and  research,  and respond by  facilitating and supporting the  management of change .
The development of  monitoring tools  for a range of service delivery strategies ensures that executive management stay informed regarding actual service outcomes.