Newsletter

Welcome to PNA FEBRUARY - MARCH  version of the Staff Newsletter.

WELCOME

PNA Management would like to take the opportunity to welcome all our new clients and staff that have joined our agency in the last month.  A special welcome goes to our Riverina unit who have commenced operation and have recruited a number of staff to hopefully make a difference with the staff shortfalls within the Riverina especially in Wagga Wagga. 

To the staff that have joined or who have come back from a break from the agency we also wish to express our welcome and already the year is showing to be a prosperous and rewarding 2012 for PNA and its staff.

PNA CONTACT PHONE NUMBER

I must restate that for the Canberra staff when making contact with the PNA Office or on call person to only use the 62416292 phone number at all times, we have a number of incidents of staff rining a mobile number and that person is not working.  Please disregard any mobile number that appears when PNA contact you direct and only use the direct contact number as mentioned above as the On Call staff change and they all have diferent telephone numbers.

For the Riverina - Wagga Wagga staff the only number you will need to remember is the mobile 0418 867440, this number is diverted to an on call person the same as Canberra when the Offices are unattended.

NEW OH&S LEGISLATION

It is imperative that all staff no matter their location be aware that the OH&S legislation changed as of 1 January 2012. 

It is the responsibility of each individual no matter their status in the workplace if they see or are involved in an OH&S incident that they report this matter in writing to their supervisor and employer.  The Employer is now required under Due Diligence to ensure that senior management  are immediately informed of any hazard, risk or incident that may have occurred.

Any individual or company that fails to meet their requirements can be indidivually prosecuted and fined for negligence.

This is wholly designed to stop individuals from not reporting an issue and leaving it to another party to report the matter because they do not want to get involved.  Every employee and employer now have a responsibility to ensure these types os incidents are properly reported and handled.  A written report then makes the matter more traceable than a verbal report as a supervisor or manager can easily deny the report.

As far as PNA is concerned and have already dealt with a matter under the new legislation, that an Incident Report is submitted and I then take the matter in writing to the Care Manager/Director of Nursing of a facility to have the matter appropriately dealt with and investigated.

AVAILABILITY FOR WORK

PNA Management would reassure all staff that we do not care if you work one whift a month or 20 shifts a months, but to keep our data base up to date we need you to ensure that your Availability is kept current.

All staff are forwarded either through the mail or electronically a Monthly Availability form to complete and return.  This is imperative to receive as we have an increase demand from particular clients up to 7 - 10 days in advance requesting all levels of staff and we only get a short time to reply and fill the requirement before other agencies are provided with the requests.

If your availability changes do not hesitate in contacting your area office and informing them of any changes.  Communication is a very integral requirement to ensure that you as a staff person gets work when desired and the client gets their needs met by our agency and not from other sources.

Recent ongoing cancellation of staff at a particular location in Canberra we have been able to address.  The problem has been new staff at the location and too many people trying to do the one job and everyone contacting different agencies with the same request.  We have been reassured from this particular facility that PNA has first choice to fill the request and then it will be opened to other agencies.

This is why we would like to ensure that all PNA Staff communicate regularly in relation to their availbility with our area offices.

Any existing staff person that wishes to rotate between Riverina and Canberra locations is able to do so but must inform their particular area of the request so that the staff person can be registered on the various data basis's relevant to that area.  In the event that a staff person does decide to undertake rotation they will need to complete an Availability Form for each area.

POLICE CHECKS

PNA would like to remind all staff that Police Checks that are only valid for 3 years and are required to be updated and maintained as a requirement under the Age Care and the Health Professional Employees legislation.  PNA maintain a data base of each individual's Police Check status so if you are not sure please contact the office and this will be checked for you.

PNA attempts to forward reminder letters and application forms prior to an expiry date so that our records can be up to date at all times.  The responsibility is then on the staff person to either return a completed Police Check application with appropriate photo identification attached for PNA to submit which incurs a cost of $49 that is deducted from your following pay.  The other way is for the staff person to submit the Application directly to the Australian Federal Police and pay the appropriate cost themselves, a copy of which you must provide to your employers.

Clients are now with all incidents occurring in hospitals and age care facilities requesting up to date information regarding staff's Police Check status.  Once you are more than a month out of date allowing for the process to occur you will cease to be offered shifts until a current Police Check is provided for our records.

 COMPLACENCY RE DUTIES

PNA Management would like to re-enforce and further bring to the attention of their staff the need at all times whilst in the workplace to be dillingent and alert.  

Not only has this come about due to the recent fire at the Nursing Home in Sydney which resulted in a number of people being killed and many more hurt. But we have all heard or read about the issues at a number of Age Care Facilities in Canberra over the last month where a resident was killed and other residents not properly cared for.

All Canberra staff have been trained  in Emergency Practices and now we can see first hand how being alert and responsive at the specific time when incidents do occur that every staff's 'Duty of Care' comes to its own in the saving of the people who the community have given the responsibility to care and protection.

PNA would like ALL staff that are not familiar with the  Emergency Procedures of any particular facility or hospital to ensure that they make themselves properly proficient with the particular location's Emergency Procedures and especially the 'Mustering' point for future reference.

'Duty of Care' comes down to each staff member whether it be in a Hospital or an Age Care facility to ensure that they provide their residents/patients with the most appropriate care and attention that they would like to receive if they were in that position.

CHARITY FUN RUNS

Mother's Day Charity Run/Walk - One of the major events that PNA supports each is the Mother's Day Charity Run/Walk for the Cancer Society.

The event is being conducted on Sunday 13 May 2012 at Rond Terrace, Commonwealth Park from about 8am - 12md.  You are able to undertake a 10Km run, a 5Km run or a 5Km walk.

There is plenty of time to get some degree of fitness as the theme is not on 'Winning' but more in 'Participation and Enjoyment.'  Each year there are about 3,000 - 5,000 participants of all walks of life take part in the Canberra event.

If you are interested in participating please contact the PNA Office and we will forward you the link to the information and registration for the Early Birds.

TRAINING

Any staff wanting to book any training and know what they would like should contact Roxanne on her mobile on 0424 138642 or email roxy@professionalnursing.com.au.

Any training undertaken by a staff person as a form of Professional Development and is paid for by the staff person can be claimed on their tax.  This training should still be forwarded to Roxanne so that our data base can be suitably endorsed and kept up to date for reference as may be required at various times.

In the near future arrangements will be put in place for our Riverina staff to update their professional development in areas of Manual Handling/OH&S and Senior First Aid/Basic Life Support.  When this is finalised we will let staff know in that area so that they can register with Roxanne to be enrolled in the training.

In relation to any new Canberra staff Roxanne will be in touch to ensure your Professional Development is up to the agency's standard and if necessary arrange for enrolment in particular training sessions.

Those staff working in Age Care will soon be able to access through the ANF an Age Care Training Room to maintain their skill base through an annual subscription.  Further information will be provided after the launch in mid March this year.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Corporate Fitness Memberships - For those Canberra staff who are interested in the health and wellbeing and would like to utilise a fitness centre, well PNA has an arrangement with Club Lime to offer a corporate rate for 'Platinum' level membership which will allow you access to any of Club Lime's facilities around Canberra at anytime including the pool and spa.

Any staff or their immediate family wanting to take advantage of this arrangement need to contact me to find out further.  It is amazing that we have been telling staff for the past 18 months of this deal yet I am continually told that staff didn't know how good this offer is in comparison to what friends are paying at the same complexs directly with the gym.

For our Riverina staff we are in negotiations with a local fitness centre with the view of obtaining a similar arrangement for those staff or their familes that wish to obtain or maintain a fit lifestyle. This should be finalised by early to mid March and the Riverina Team will let you know of the progress and cost involved if you are interested.

Current PNA Discounts at: 

Club Lime Fitness Centres- CISAC, Belconnen, Gold Creek, Gunghalin, Kaleen, Kingston, Tuggeranong, Woden and Mawson Special Corporate discount rate.

Haig Park Service Centre, Mitchell  Ph No. 62428245

10% Discount to PNA Staff on production of PNA Photo ID Badge

Whisk - Belconnen and Woden Westfield Centres

10% Discount to PNA Staff on production of the PNA Photo ID Badge.

Sharon Wood Massages (Mobile Service)

Special rate charged to PNA staff on production of photo ID badge.

Contact Number 0419 479440.