Page 1486 - Week 05 - Thursday, 13 May 2021
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We recognise that cultural change will not only benefit the entire workforce but also patients, their families and carers and our non-government partners. Our goal continues to be one of creating an environment in which our workforce feels supported, valued and empowered to deliver exceptional care and enhance patient and consumer outcomes and experiences.
To reiterate the comments of Minister Stephen-Smith, to date seven recommendations from the culture review have been completed. Significant work has progressed on the remaining 13 recommendations and I am glad to be a part of the culture reform oversight group to progress this work.
I will talk about a couple of specific initiatives that demonstrate the ACT public health system’s commitment to supporting our workforce, including our mental healthcare workforce. The first is the workplace resolution and support service available to staff in both Canberra Health Service and ACT Health Directorate. It provides a range of services, including direct resolution between employees, by providing internal mediation and facilitated discussions. The service conducts facilitated discussions or mediation for all preliminary assessments where the outcome is alternative dispute resolution. It supports managers, as well as staff, in helping them address and manage inappropriate workplace behaviours, deal with interpersonal conflict between team members, and conduct difficult conversations about performance and attendance.
It provides guidance and direct support to employees experiencing personal stresses that impact the workplace, including family violence and mental health concerns. Staff who access the service report that they are encouraged by the fact that the service reports directly to the CEO of Canberra Health Services or the Director-General of ACT Health Directorate.
Both Canberra Health Services and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce are implementing the Speaking Up for Safety program, which Minister Stephen-Smith mentioned earlier. The aim of the program is to help overcome ingrained interpersonal behaviours that prevent staff from speaking up and raising concerns that may lead to poor patient outcomes. The program involves skills training to support effective communication amongst peers.
Significant progress has been made with this program. At Calvary over 700 staff have attended the training program, and at Canberra Health Service 19 staff from a range of disciplines have completed the two-day training program and accreditation process, to facilitate Speaking Up for Safety seminars. Training for staff will be delivered by September this year. The Speaking Up for Safety program is supported by other initiatives that are also being implemented, including the occupational violence strategy and the nurses and midwives Towards a Safer Culture program.
In the six months that I have been involved in this program as Minister for Mental Health I have been encouraged by the strong evidence-based approach being used to inform the culture reform program that has been developed and is being implemented across the system. I particularly want to mention the Safe Wards work undertaken
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