Staff Matters September 6, 2019 Issue 221 Week 10
CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF SPECIALIST SERVICES IS HERE!
In This Issue
Afford is excited to announce the launch of an industry leading addition within our business, our ‘Specialist Services’ Team. Afford’s Specialist Services are your go-to NDIS Experts.
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Specialist Services encompasses the following:
• Complex Clients (advise and support) • Support Coordination
Joke of The Week Afford Trivia
• NDIS Questions • Allied Health services
Specialist Services Is Here!
Specialist Services
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Afford Ensures The Best For Clients Reminder
• Group Home Placements Specialist Services are in internal support unit who are here to help Afford staff to provide the best care possible for their clients.
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Get Away To Vanuatu!
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Cutomer Service That Shines!
How to access support from Specialist Services? • For any NDIS / Group Home Placements/ Support Coordination enquiries contact ndis@afford.com.au • For any Allied Health enquiries contact allied.health@afford.com.au • For Complex Clients (advise & support) contact complexcare@afford.com.au What sorts of enquiries can Specialist Services assist with?
Handy Helper Upcoming Events Afford Trivia Answer
• Any NDIS Questions (e.g. Price Guide Advice, Plan Reviews, Quoting, Reportable Incidents)
Selfies of the Week
• Questions supporting complex clients (e.g. behaviour support strategies, 2:1 staffing) • Advice for the support of clients in Crisis or Emergency situations (e.g. relinquished care) We encourage all staff, particularly Team Leaders, to take advantage of the internal expertise of our Specialist Services Team! Specialist Services are a unique resource that exists wholly and solely to support you to best support your clients – through their expert advice and guidance. Not only are the Specialist Services Team here to assist with your specific questions, but you will also start to see the influence of the Team’s expertise wash across Client Services. This will occur through regular training and workshops delivered by Allied Health (such as Key Word Signing and dysphagia). As part of this, each Afford site will be assigned its own ‘go-to’ Allied Health clinician to make contacting the team easier. Similarly, you will notice the support of the Customer Experience Officer who will spend time at sites to assist in developing new and meaningful programs. Within the Specialist Services, there will also be someone dedicated to assessing high complex clients; this will include behaviour and physical complex needs clients. A risk assessment will be sent out to staff, which will identify clients that fit into these categories. Take advantage of the incredible resource we have within the Specialist Service Team today via ndis@afford.com.au!
AFFORD TRIVIA
What year did our foundation acquire 'Mitchell Manufacturing' from the Royal Blind Society?
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Staff Matters
STAFF PROFILE NAME: Marie Hibberd POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Ulladulla & Worrigee House FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? Kyuss, Faith No More, RATM, Alice In Chains, anything alternative and mostly from the 1990s FAVOURITE MOVIE? The Labyrinth FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Yoga, callisthenics and playing ninja outdoor gym FAVOURITE FOODS? Anything Potato! IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? Perhaps a bird - great perspective WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? On a beach somewhere or a pilgrimage IF YOU HAD THE POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Give the people the power of empathy IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Yoga
September 6, 2019 Issue 221
AFFORD ENSURES THE BEST FOR CLIENTS
Afford has recently introduced a new role to ensure we continue to maintain our high disability standards and provide exceptional quality supports. Introducing Carolyn Smith: Afford Visitor We welcome to the Afford tribe, Carolyn Smith, who has taken on the newly created role of the Afford Visitor. Having worked for 35 years as a police officer in Sydney, Carolyn retired from the force and moved into the role of an Official Community Visitor for the Minister of Disability Services run by the NSW State Ombudsmen. Her role involved visiting disability organisations to help maintain disability standards. Her passion and exemplary performance in the role was evident, and with changes looming to the State Government’s involvement in Community Visits, Afford contacted her regarding establishing Afford’s very own site visitation program. Afford has a fantastic reputation, both as a leading disability organisation and as an Employer of Choice, which enables us to attract the best employees in the sector. Carolyn accepted the offer and has now been working for Afford in a part-time capacity for just under one month. Carolyn’s role involves calling into our group homes and speaking to the residents about anything and everything, reviewing all things impacting on their lifestyle. Carolyn suggests any changes, or if any issues are identified notes the necessary corrective action needed. She is there to help improve our services and supports by ensuring we are always complying with the disability standards and our record keeping requirements. As an award-winning service provider, we are committed to doing whatever it takes in maintaining the excellent level of service we are well known for. Carolyn will be visiting all of our sites across QLD, NSW and VIC. Welcome her in with the Afford Lifestyle grin!
SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? Born in Papua New Guinea
Reminder!
General reminder for ALL Staff to make sure you complete your time sheet: • Staff can access it outside of the server from the link below https://navportal.afford.com.au/Afford/ WebClient/?company=AFFORD&profile=portemp
www.afford.com.au
September 6, 2019 Issue 221
Staff Matters GET AWAY TO VANUATU!
Encouraging our clients and residents to explore the world and travel to their dream destination is something we are very passionate about at Afford. Afford Getaways are not just an opportunity for our clients to explore the world, they are also a unique opportunity for our staff to see some amazing places while providing care & support to our clients. The most recent getaway was an incredible 11-day cruise to the tropical Pacific Islands of Vanuatu. Supported by our wonderful Lifestyle Assistants, Harwinder Singh, Maddison Ryan, Olive Joyce, Eddie Gonclaves, Jessica Hawkins and Nancy Bola, 22 of our group home residents set sail for an adventure of a lifetime! This getaway is the largest Afford Getaways group we've ever had. Afford Getaways offers opportunities for travellers to bring family members, which is an opportunity that couldn't be missed for Lawrence Camilleri. Lawrence's brother and sister usually travel with another travel competitor. However, thanks to travel arrangements made by Tracey Younie, District Manager, Respite Services; the three siblings were able to travel together. All staff and residents had a wonderful time exploring the crystal clear beaches, drinking fresh coconuts, making memories and having fun. Some staff even got braids in their hair from the locals in Vanuatu. One of the residents who particularly enjoyed himself was Colin Betts. "It is not easy for Colin to be happy, to see him having fun and laughing in all the photos is amazing! When the staff came back, everyone said Colin had a great time – he loved it." - Zahra Ahmadfakhrodin, Team Leader. For Nancy Bola, Lifestyle Assistant, this was her second Afford Getaway after travelling to New Zealand last year. "Every staff member deserves the opportunity to go on one of these trips as it is character building and eye-opening. Afford has many different opportunities for you to explore and take advantage of, you don't have to be stuck in an office environment. My favourite thing about the trip was allowing our clients to get exposed to different cultures and to experience unique things. If you are given the opportunity, you should take and excel!" If you are interested in supporting our clients on a trip of a lifetime, then this is what you need to know! Lifestyle Assistants must have a perfect record, which includes no performance issues within the last year. If you are up to the challenge, just remember, the world is your oyster at Afford!
www.afford.com.au
September 6, 2019 Issue 221
Staff Matters CUTOMER SERVICE THAT SHINES!~
A huge congratulations to our recent Victorian Customer Service Award winners. We are so proud to have such amazing talent within the Afford community, who inspire us all to push the boundaries to deliver exceptional customer service. 1st Place – Helen Giatrakis 2nd Place – Anna Mather 3rd Place – Wade Fitton An amazing achievement by everyone and a HUGE congratulations to all the winners. It is important to nominate those around you that go above and beyond! Think you know someone to nominate? Please email the following people with your nominations: kathy.bullock@afford.com.au - South District emma.hunter@afford.com.au – Central East District wayne.adamson@afford.com.au – Far West District maureen.brown@afford.com.au – All other departments & locations
Handy helper Our Handy Man, Tahier, will be at the following sites this week: - 9th September: Sunshine, Panthers, Empire & Bluebird - 10th September: Minchinbury, Mount Druitt & St Marys - 11th September: Lurnea, Green Valley & Prestons ADE - 12th September: Jamisontown & Butterflies
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
l aboard! Afford Selfie Above: Al p ready for their tri Getaways group Vanuatu! of a lifetime to
Pawsome Se lfie Above: Pearson, TL Leonie bombed b , getting photoy her curio us fur friend !
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
1-30 September
Starlight Movie Month
19 -20 September
Afford Employment Conference
1-30 September
Blue September
1-30 September
Foster Care Month
Afford Trivia Answer: In January of 1990!
www.afford.com.au