Page 913 - Week 03 - Thursday, 10 March 2016
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The project working groups are working through identified challenges in the areas of leadership and values, staff development and welfare, communications and information, and technical challenges. The leadership and values project working group is examining what signature behaviours look like in ACTAS that underpin the broader ACT public service values of respect, integrity, collaboration and innovation. Consultation has begun on the essential elements of a new leadership framework.
The staff development and welfare project working group is looking at best practice examples of operational and peer debriefing systems with a view to making recommendations on preferred options for ACTAS in these important areas. The group is focused on helping to foster a wellness culture across the service.
The communications and information project working group is analysing the communication needs of the organisation. Communicating effectively with a 24/7 workforce based on rolling shifts is a challenge. The project working group intends shortly to trial the new award winning ESA workforce connect communications app as one of a suite of options to enhance the flow of relevant and timely information to staff. Ultimately, this project working group is looking to finalise a whole-of-service communication plan.
The technical challenge project working group is currently beginning to review the specialist response capability within the service and its fitness for purpose into the future. The project working groups have met three times already and will continue to meet monthly.
In order to coordinate this activity and facilitate communication and stakeholder engagement, ACTAS has appointed a project officer for the blueprint for change work. The successful applicant has 30 years’ experience in ambulance, community settings and change management processes. They have closely engaged with staff and management since being appointed in early December last year. I am very pleased to report that all eight of the original blueprint for change recommendations are substantially being addressed or, indeed, have been completed.
Recommendation 1—adoption of an implementation charter—has been achieved. The charter was endorsed at the October 2015 meeting of the oversight committee. It is the action plan for the blueprint for change and was developed after extensive stakeholder consultation.
Recommendation 2—professionalism as a cultural standard—is a work in progress. The achievement of professionalism as a cultural standard will involve considerable hard work and a commitment from all staff across ACTAS. It will take time. I am advised that the ESA commissioner and the acting chief officer have clearly stated their support for the process. The new acting chief officer, Mr Quiggin, has invested considerable time and energy in meeting staff, acknowledging the need for change and engaging with staff across all operational areas of the service. If the engagement of staff in the project working groups can be used as a barometer I believe there is ample evidence that change is being embraced.
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