Hunter Valley Training Company

Janet Lee, Manager Safety Services, Hunter Valley Training Company

Ben Hainsworth, Managing Psychologist, Beilby Consulting

Optimising Pre-Employment Assessment to Drive Organisational Performance: A Case Study from Hunter

Valley Training Company

Hunter Valley Training Company

Maitland l Sydney l Brisbane l Lismore l Coffs Harbour l Tamworth

Port Macquarie l Muswellbrook l Penrith l Wollongong l Goulburn l Nowra

Hunter Valley Training Company

Hunter Valley Training Company

Organisational and Safety

Challenges

Hunter Valley Training Company

1200 employees

Young workers and trainees

83 % male

Apprentices at host sites

43% mining & manufacturing

Work-Related Injury Rates

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

15-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+

Rat

es

pe

r 1

00

0

Age group (years)

Work-Related Injury Rates (a): Sex and Age - 2005-2006

Male

Female

(a) injured workers per 1000 people who worked sometime in the 12 months to June 2006

Source: Work-Related Injuries, Australia, 2005-06 (ABS cat. No. 6324.0).

Why change?

Competitive GTO market

Need to innovate and respond to client needs

Improve apprenticeship completion rate: 85%

Workers compensation costs

Change in legislation regarding mental health

Pilot Program

HR & Safety Departments joint initiative

Strategy to review:

Medical assessments

Pre-employment psychometric assessments

Recruitment process

Apprentice talent management

Improvements to pre-

employment medical process

Review of process

Personal Health

Pre-employment functional assessments

Consultation with treating practitioners –physical & mental health

JobReady / better tracking of individual cases and audits

Periodic staff training

Case study – horticultural traineeSustained a shoulder injury when he slipped and fell off a retaining wall

Suspended by host employer, remained on suitable duties with HVTC

Phobia of heights and had an allergy to certain plants

Workers compensation costs: $63,887.05 +Cost to region for payment of his wages $17,097

EAP and medical advice sought Redeployed to suitable occupation

Psychometric Test ReviewPublisher Measures

Personality

Measures

Ability

Time to

Complete

Benefits Concerns Cost

Testgrid 20min Sound research and

marketing material

Too expensive,

Developed in

USA

$90pp

Onetest 15min Widely used No capping of

fees or after

sales support

$60pp

SHL 7min Short Screening tool,

Widely used

Limited

measure

$25pp

ACER 50min HVTC had previously

used ACER,

Reputable

Only cognitive

reasoning

$15pp

Beilby /

Psytech

35min Comprehensive,

Performance

Management Report

& ANZ Consulting

Training staff $22pp

*All Assessment Publishers require accreditation training ≈ $2000.00

Health & Safety Indicator (HSI)

International Reputation

ANZ Industry Norms

Ability & Personality

Benefits

3 Reports

– Profile Report

– Staff Management Report

– Candidate Feedback Report

Safety Psychometric Results

N = 89 Apprentices

All completed HSI

3 Groups of Risk

% Suspensions

Critical Score

0.0%

3.5%

13.0%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

Low Risk (n = 20)

Moderate Risk (n = 41)

High Risk (n = 28)

Pe

rce

nta

ge (

%)

of

Pe

rfo

rman

ce Is

sue

s

What to do with the HSI results -

Screen the risk

Candidate Safety

Score

Literacy Attention to

Detail

Problem

Solving

Motivation Diligence Rule

Follow

Open to

Guidance

Confid

-ence

Resilience

David 9 10 8 9 8 8 7 7 6 8

Hamish 8 8 7 8 7 6 8 9 7 8

Sam 7 8 7 7 6 5 9 9 6 6

Peter 4 5 6 4 6 5 6 6 4 4

Kelly 3 5 4 3 6 7 8 6 5 3

Michael 3 4 5 4 6 5 5 4 6 4

• Sandvik Case Study

– Multiple LTI’s, MTI’s

– Assessed post placement

– Stakeholder meeting

– HSI Staff Management Report

– Implemented Strategies

– Results:

• Compliance

• Performance

What to do with the HSI results -

Manage the Risk

What to do with the HSI results -

Manage the Risk

Sandvik Apprentice Supervisor:

“HVTC demonstrated a simple yet effective management plan underpinned by innovative psychometric assessment results and subsequent consultation. The result has been a clear improvement in safety performance and compliance”

Results of Pilot ProgramUpskilling of Field Officers and Host Employers through training and

talent management techniques

Workers compensation - $130 K reduction over 12 months

Reducing apprentice management costs

LTIs – 10% reduction LTIFR (Frequency Rate)

Assessment of mental health indicators

Performance Management

Talent Management

Challenges

Change and resistance

Training

Pen & paper v Online

Costs – product, time, internal training

Measurement of Return on Investment (ROI)

FutureHVTC commitment to strategically screen and manage risk

Consistent pre-employment medical process

Consistent psychometric assessment process

Implementation of complete software upgrade to streamline recruitment process and apprentice life cycle:

Pre-employment medical /psychometric assessment

Talent/Performance management

Apprenticeship completion

Highest quality employee

Questions

Hunter Valley Training CompanyMore information at hvtc.com.au

Hunter Valley Training Company