News Flash

GLENSIDE REDEVELOPMENT CONSULTATION PROCESS

On Wednesday 29 July 2009 the Public Service Association Industrial Officer, Sue Cummins, and Worksite Representatives from Glenside Campus met with management to commence the consultation process on Workforce Planning for transition to the Glenside Redevelopment. This will include a move to integrated and collaborative services.

Some of the workforce areas briefly discussed were:

• The increase in Allied Health staffing establishment for rehabilitation services for Occupational Therapy and Psychology.

• The Supported Accommodation Transitional Project will be located in “The Glen” pending the building of 20 Supported Accommodation Units on the Glenside Campus.

• There is a proposal for the long term arrangement for Allied Health staff in-reaching from the integrated community teams. PSA raised concerns from members wanting more clarity around the in-reach concept. The PSA has been advised that Community Teams resources will be increased.

• Moving towards more multi discipline teams within the Acute and Rehabilitation Hubs on Glenside.

• Discussions regarding the proposed development of Allied Health Assistant training requirements and roles for the acute mental health inpatient services.

• Sole Practitioners of Physical Therapy, Music Therapy, and Art Therapy, will focus their time across the 40 Rehabilitation Beds and the Forensic area. Natural links for Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology to Aged Care with access pathways for rehabilitation. Dietitian providing a key role in the Metabolic Disorder Program as well as food services across campus. Further discussions are required regarding where reporting lines sit within the structure. The PSA previously having raised concern about the loss of some sole practitioners within mental health and the importance of the roles. The increase in activity may over time culminate in the increase of these therapy groups.

• Pharmacy – whilst no immediate change is planned a review will commence in the near future regarding increasing the focus on clinical pharmacy. Staff and the PSA will be involved in the consultation process when it commences.

• PSA raised concerns about the proposed staffing structures and how they were developed. There has been no consultation on the development of service plans out of the Models of Service since 2008. Further discussions will be held around these proposed benchmark figures.

• Discipline specific supervision will be linked to relevant Senior Disciplines, but PSA concerned that the proposed Allied Health Structure across Mental Health has not been released, therefore, clarity around this matter is still required.

• Backfill for Social Work and Occupational Therapy is included in the proposed staffing establishments for Acute Services. No backfill unless more than four (4) week periods for Psychologists and all of Allied Health in Rehabilitation Services.

• There needs to be further consultation in relation to the development of HR Principles for this process.

Members have raised concerns around the consultation process and are concerned that they have not being involved in the planning development process. PSA members can be assured that this is the commencement of the process and are encouraged make any comments or raise concerns they may have on the Workforce Planning Proposal. The PSA has reminded management of their obligation under the SA Government Wages Parity (Salaried) Enterprise Agreement 2006 Clause 22(Consultative Process), which they are well aware of and this clause can be viewed on the PSA website.

Discussions around the consultation process occurred and it was agreed that a further meeting is to be arranged in two weeks, with a series of follow up consultative meetings with Allied Health staff in the areas of Acute and Rehabilitation Services. Corporate Services, at this stage is only a physical move, but PSA and members will be consulted on any change in roles. PSA has sought to attend these staff meetings and have requested paid time meetings for members, which has been agreed to by management.

The PSA has been advised that discussions are happening in relation to the governance arrangements for Rural & Remote to transfer to Country Health SA. The PSA will be involved with the consultation process for transition of this service.

3 August 2009