Creating a ‘vibrant’ aged care workforce
The implementation of a strategy six years ago to help attract and retain skilled workers in the aged care industry has led to care provider, Feros Care, being awarded for creating a “vibrant, inclusive and respectful” workforce.
Feros Care has been recognised for its Excellence in Human Resource Management at the 2015 Aged and Community Services (ACS) State Awards in Sydney.
Since then, there has reportedly been a 17% decrease in staff turnover and a 34% increase in staff satisfaction.
“The rationale behind our People and Culture strategy was and is all about attracting and retaining a range of skilled and enthusiastic people,” Ms Buckley says.
“Our strategy focuses on encouraging talented and committed people who can provide person centred direct care services, help shape strategy and vision, participate in organisational transformation, and provide exemplary aged care leadership,” she says.
The People and Culture strategy has a range of initiatives, including:
- Unwritten Ground Rules (UGRs) that define the organisation, and that staff have been instrumental in developing.
- Including Feros Care's culture, values and UGRs in Orientation for new staff and volunteers, and the development of self directed learning packages.
- Supporting new staff to ensure they feel welcome, are comfortable asking for help and linking them with ‘buddies’ and our customer care program.
- Annual Staff Awards Dinner that provides a formal opportunity for staff to be nominated by their peers for an award pertaining to each of the organisation’s values.
- The Seven Star Staff Development Program that provides participants with the skills and knowledge to actively ‘live’ the organisational values and building our future leaders.
- Annual Worklife Stocktake based on Values and Clients Surveys that measure perceptions of the culture and achievement year by year. Each year, Feros Care averages a response rate of more than 60%, with results showing a staff satisfaction of 89%.
“I am so very proud of our dedicated and passionate workforce. This award honours our 500 plus workforce that work tirelessly to deliver the best care and support services to more than 5000 seniors each year across the eastern seaboard of Australia,” she says.
“Feros Care is fully cognisant that building the ideal aged care workforce for the 21st century is a journey not a destination, and it requires an ongoing commitment to staff development, work satisfaction and work life balance.”
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