Page 3299 - Week 11 - Thursday, 11 November 2021
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“speaking up” culture. All remaining staff will be trained over coming months. Evaluation of the program at Calvary Public Hospital has commenced, and a report is expected shortly. Initial feedback indicates that the program has made a significant impact on participants, with more than 88 per cent of workshop participants agreeing that they plan to always speak up when they observe behaviour that may compromise safety.
The rollout of the Speaking Up for Safety program has been a priority in CHS, with more than 4,500 staff trained in the program, including 374 medical practitioners and 51 visiting medical officers. The ACT government recognises the importance of a culture that not only encourages people to speak up but also an organisation that actively listens to staff concerns. We are seeking to foster an environment where everyone is supportive and encouraging when a staff member speaks up about safety. We know that this will not be achieved overnight, but it is vital that we remain focused on this objective.
Work is progressing to integrate the values in action framework at Calvary Public Hospital to embed the values in the culture, particularly in areas of performance development and planning processes.
Both CHS and Calvary Public Hospital are piloting the Safewards program, another internationally recognised evidence-based model to reduce conflict in health services. Safewards encourages staff and patients to work together to make the environment safer for everyone. The program includes important principles such as using positive words and building empathy through getting to know and understand each other. These interventions not only improve interactions between staff and patients but also staff-to-staff interactions. We all know the power of a kind word and the positive impact of building relationships with others. It is through these interventions that Safewards promotes a safe and respectful environment for everyone.
CHS is piloting the SCORE civility program. SCORE stands for “strengthening a culture of respect and engagement”. The aim of the program is to transform a culture of disrespect by addressing long-term issues, facilitating safe and honest discussions and teaching new skills to cultivate an improved, safe and respectful workplace culture.
CHS has recently launched Green Buddies, a new program to support the wellbeing of nursing and midwifery staff in the women, youth and children division. Developed by clinical staff, the initiative has trained 12 inaugural volunteer buddies to support the wellbeing of their colleagues. Buddies are identified on the wards by a green badge and are available to help with emotional and professional concerns, from how to fill out a timesheet correctly to managing issues in people’s personal lives that may be impacting on their work. Buddies are trained and provided with the tools to guide and connect staff with relevant information and appropriate support, resources and services.
A mentor program aimed at supporting junior medical officers has also been rolled out across CHS. Blue Buddies are informal near-to-peer mentors who help JMOs with advice and guidance. Blue Buddies may provide debriefing after a difficult event, information on managing work-life balance or broader strategies that may be directly
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