Aged Care Insite Issue 98 | December-January 2017 | Page 13

industry & policy You said Holy Family Services has a large leisure and lifestyle team, and that makes a big difference. How important is that team in making a diversified business work? They’re integral because they collaborate with the residents and with the childcare centre. They put on programs that benefit the whole organisation. They are very much interested in the personcentred care approach for residents in the aged care centre, and in our retirement village, they bring our community together. The children are, therefore, supported as part of our whole Holy Family Services group, where family is part of our main mission. We could not do without the leisure and lifestyle. They are just absolutely integral. Holy Family Services also offers education through a registered training organisation. What challenges and opportunities does that aspect of the business bring about? RTOs are highly regulated. We started with a diploma of ageing and pastoral care and a certificate in pastoral care and chaplaincy. They were our core mission-based activities. But in the area I work in, CEOs have said to me there is such a huge need for well-trained Certificate III staff because the ones they get often don’t have the expertise or haven’t been given the ongoing time and work placement to develop the skills they need to come to our workforce once they have completed their program. We decided we would add a Certificate III in individual support aged care to our scope, just to support the industry. It’s a benefit to us because it can help our people coming into our service as staff members but it also will help the industry because there will be better-trained staff looking after our aged residents. That’s the main thing for us. The Certificate IV in leadership and management, which we’ve also just added to our scope, is going to support our registered nurses and team leaders, the senior staff on the floor, because they’ve often had no training in leadership and management. They may be clinically competent, but they may struggle with some of the day-to-day things they have to do as part of their role in leading a team of people. What are some of Holy Family’s priorities moving forward, as far as services? Essentially, the mission of the sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth is to look after family, aged care, education services, and children’s services. Moving forward, we’re going to be looking at expanding and developing those areas, but also just making sure we are maintaining the services we provide to the people we’ve got in our organisation. We need to be clear about our offering when people come into our centre – whether it’s our residential aged care or our retirement village. [People need to know what their baseline daily fees cover] and what additional services they can purchase. These are the key things we’re examining. ■ Now’s the time to book “The Book” and share in rewards valued at over $26,000* Last year our pre-publication promotion was a huge success, with many happy winners. Thus, we would like to continue to offer professional business rewards to support you the nurse, the carer, the allied health professional. All you have to do is purchase the 2017 AMH book or any current resource – between November 14 and December 31 – and you will receive an automatic entry to win one of these great rewards* to help you further in your quest for knowledge and excellence. Prizes include attending a conference related to your profession, new laptop computers and future editions of AMH resources. National Winner A major prize comprising flights, accommodation, conference registration, transfers & meal vouchers for up to 2 people to attend an Australian conference in their field, to the maximum value of $6,000. Regional Winners (NSW/ACT, VIC/TAS, QLD/NT, SA/WA) 4 x first prizes of either an Apple MacBook, a Microsoft Surface Pro or HP Spectre Rose Gold to the maximum value of $3,500. Each region will also have 6 secondary runners-up who will receive a free copy of the next edition of Australian Medicines Handbook (Book or Online) valued at $210 each. Each region will also have 3 supplementary runners-up who will receive a free copy of the next edition of the AMH Children’s Dosing Companion (Book or Online) valued at up to $109 each. Maximum total prize pool of $26,348*. *Terms & Conditions Apply. For full details and conditions of entry and to order your AMH resource, just go to www.amh.net.au. NSW Permit No. LTPS/16/08354. ACT Lic. No: TP 16/02127. SA Lic. No: T16/1892. The promoter is Australian Medicines Handbook, Level 13, 33 King William St, Adelaide SA 5000. The random prize draw will take place at Level 13, 33 King William St. Adelaide 2pm on 24/1/17. Winners will be notified by email by 27/1/17 and draw results published on AMH website on 31/1/17. agedcareinsite.com.au 11