Aged Care & Disability Services

Introducing Blue Haven Care

Officially launched Monday 27th April

Brings together Council’s residential and community services, previously: ◦ Illawarra In Home Support ◦ Blue Haven nursing home & hostel

Conscious commitment to continue providing

services

Blue Haven Care, Community ◦ Commonwealth HACC Program ◦ Community Care Support Program ◦ Home Care Packages Program ◦ Community Transport

Blue Haven Aged Care Facility ◦ 82 care places (previously 30 low & 52 high care

places

Blue Haven Retirement Village ◦ 200 Independent Living Units

Domestic Assistance

Home Maintenance

Centre Based Day Care

Respite and Carer Support

Social Support

Case Management (<65’s only from 1/7/15)

Home Care Packages

Community Transport (still under review)

1st Decision – why has Council decided to stay in this space? ◦ Able to offer the full continuum of aged care

◦ Chances of viability are enhanced by retaining all types of current service offering

◦ Opportunity to streamline operations to create efficiencies

◦ Aligned with Council’s CSP and Delivery Program

◦ Income from Council’s retirement village contributes to being Fit for Future

◦ Council has a commitment to rebuild and expand the aged care facility as part of creating a Kiama Centre of Aged Care Excellence

◦ Still need to be able to demonstrate economic viability

So…Economical viability?

◦ What did we need to know & do?

◦ Who else did we need to help?

How much does it cost us to provide services? ◦ Unit costing project

◦ External consultant

◦ Internal time & motion study

Outcome: ◦ Unit costs are too high

◦ Duplication evident

◦ Need for some organisational restructuring

◦ Continue to work closely with Council HR

How can we meet future funding expectations? ◦ Implement individualised budgets

◦ Understand issues related to lack of interface between software solutions

◦ Harness internal Council expertise – Finance & IT

◦ More need to restructure internally

Education ◦ Finance staff needed to understand the Aged Care

business

◦ Case Managers needed to understand budgets

◦ Change in mindset from “Not for Profit”

◦ Ensuring our clients are aware of the changes

Information Technology ◦ Currently implementing iCare

◦ Technology will need to be mobile

Human Resources ◦ No permanent staff in past 12 months

◦ Temporary contracts finish 30/6/15

◦ Will achieve reduced staffing costs but need to revise work practices

My Aged Care portal – will change nature of service ◦ No more client assessments

◦ Reduces need for higher skilled workforce

◦ Imposes need to rethink service delivery to be competitive

One streamlined organisation: ◦ Customer Service takes on a key role

◦ ‘Brand’ has to be marketed