HACC Quality Forum

1. HACC Quality Forum • Presentation by : Jenny Cacic - Coordinator - Penumbra Centre Sarah Yeates - Coordinator- Caladenia Day Centre

2. Penumbra Centre • HACC Agency Appraisal - An Agency Perspective

3. Penumbra Centre • Started in 1978 - Volunteer Basis • Primarily craft groups for people with vision impairment • 2003 - 2 staff, 10 volunteers, 30 members & 2.5 days of program a week

4. Penumbra Centre • Poor Score - National Standards Instrument Assessment 2003 Due to: • Size of Agency • Polices & Procedures not formalised

5. Penumbra Centre Actions Taken: • Committee allocated extra time & Resources to address shortfalls • Assistance given by Outer Eastern Co-ordinator’s Network • 17 weeks, 3 hours a week- 51 hours of work - most issues now addressed

6. Penumbra Centre Outcomes: • Policies & Procedures now in place - most effective being information handed out to new members • 90% of the Action Plan now complete • Outstanding Areas unaddressed due to time and money constraints

7. Penumbra Centre • Total time commitment by Penumbra • 3 hours pre - Assessment • 8 hours actual Assessment • 51 Hours to bring policies and procedures in line with Action Plan

8. HACC National Standards Appraisal 2003 - An Agency Perspective! Caladenia Day Centre

9. Caladenia Day Centre • Caladenia Day Centre opened in 1983 • Now operates 5.5 days a week, as well as 2 Sundays a month • 1 full time coordinator, 12 part-time staff, 34 volunteers and 117 clients during 2004-05 • Administered by a volunteer Committee of Management

10. Caladenia Day Centre • In 2003 - Caladenia had a very incomplete policy and procedure manual • This was addressed as part of the preparation for the Agency Appraisal • Committee and staff supportive during the 4 months this was being prepared

11. Caladenia Day Centre • Positive experience - as many issues had not been tackled before. • Coordinator & staff worked together to create appropriate & tailored policies and procedures • Committee involved and supportive of the work being done

12. Caladenia Day Centre • Many Policies were adapted from the Department's Planned Activity Group Policy and Procedure Manual • Many Policies were shared, discussed or formulated at the Outer Eastern Coordinator’s Network meetings • Caladenia achieved a high score from the Agency Appraisal

13. Caladenia Day Centre Outer Eastern Co-ordinator’s Network • First meeting October 1987 • Network has run without a break for 18 years • Quote from the inaugural meeting minutes “There is no formal agenda, ….it was decided by those present that our main purpose was to exchange ideas with each other..”

14. Caladenia Day Centre • Quote from minutes in 1991 – “ It was recognised that support for fellow workers is necessary….” • The network pools resources, but it has been with the advent of extra requirements, such as the Cultural Planning Tool, and the HACC National Standards that the effectiveness of a network that works together has been proven.

15. Caladenia Day Centre • Quote from presentation in May 2004 - “During the appraisal process the group was able to work together on each of the requirements, sharing documentation, resources, contacts, policies and method. The Outer Eastern Co-ordinator’s Network strongly feels that the wheel need only be invented once – and now all agencies involved in the Network are able to meet and exceed the standards required.”

16. Caladenia Day Centre Conclusion • The Network members aided each other before and after the appraisal process • Agencies involved in the network now have similar standards, policies and methods

17. Caladenia Day Centre • The Network shares ideas, documentation and information • The Network aims to reduce workload, and increase standardisation by not “re-inventing the wheel”

18. Thank You Outer Eastern Co-ordinator’s Network • Contact - Sarah Yeates caladenia@caladenia.com.au or • www.caladenia.com.au/pagdags.htm