Recently we wrote to UAW People & Culture Operations Business Partner Chrissie Kells about some concerns workers have had with a particular resident.

We told Chrissie that workers have been worried about the knock-on effect of a few hurdles with providing care to the resident: the resident’s size, the fact that they require four people to assist them and the fact that the resident is often not very compliant when it comes to how care is to be given.

There have been workers worried about injuring their backs (some staff members are already off due to this) and that it’s often difficult to grab four people off the floor to assist, especially when each shift is often short-staffed to begin with.

We also told Chrissie that some of the current equipment is not suitable for a resident of this size.

In our letter, we also mentioned that there seem to be more and more residents with aggressive behaviours wandering the halls and that sometimes they can be quite intimidating to workers, particularly if you’re in the hall on your own.

Chrissie has written back to me saying:

“We can confirm we have a resident who is bariatric (160-170kg) and has been assessed to require 4 staff for assistance to ensure safety for both the staff and resident.

The resident has been with us since November 2021 prior to this the resident lived independently in their own home. Following an acute medical episode in November 2022, there has been a steep learning curve for the resident who has been resistive to the change in their lifestyle. The site has been working closely with the family and support services including the onsite physiotherapist and treating doctor to ensure that appropriate safe work procedures are in place and bariatric equipment is available for use. To minimise the risk of manual handling injuries and promote staff and resident safety UA have put the following in place:

• Extra staffing to ensure four (4) staff are able to provide supports, we acknowledge this can be challenging to assemble staff, however we continue to work with staff to ensure this process is smooth

• A bariatric lifting hoist, commode chair, leg rests and recliner has been purchased and is in use. Staff have been instructed and coached in use

• Additional equipment bariatric turn sheet, leg lifters has been purchased for which we are awaiting delivery

• Purchase of a specially designed bariatric bed

• Four (4) staff assist to minimise risk of injury to the resident and staff

• Changes to hygiene and continence processes to prevent staff injury

• Agreement to remove items of furniture from the resident room to aid in delivery of services.

• Care plans and communications to staff updated to reflect changes to delivery of services

• Specialise care planning support from the treating doctor and onsite physiotherapist

• Staff instructed to care for the resident via the care plan, acknowledging the resident does not always wish to be supported with the use of equipment.

Whilst we agree the resident is easier to move from the bed, the resident choice is to spend time seated within a recliner chair and all residents have the ability to make choices about the life they choose to live. As detailed above, we have made some changes to the continence care and purchased additional equipment we believe will aid care.

With respect to concerns regarding resident’s with potential aggressive behaviours, the staff are being provided additional training and support around the care of residents with dementia and behaviours which are presenting. All residents with identified behaviours have behaviour support plans in place and residents with changes in behaviour are monitored with behaviour charting/ assessment and medical support services. Any changes in care are communicated to staff through care plans and at staff handovers, this includes residents who may have been unsettled in the previous shift.

We will work with staff to ensure there is communication of the outcome of any incident investigation, noting this can at times be limited due to privacy concerns.

We acknowledge changes in the acuity of residents can present challenges to the workforce, we continue to work with and support the staff to care for our residents in a safe and empathetic way. Staff are encouraged to report any hazards to RiskMan and their line Manager so we can work with the staff to create a safe environment.”

Our advice would be to do as Chrissie has suggested and continue to report all hazards via RiskMan as well as to your WHS safety committee – and if you’re not receiving any feedback in response to your reporting, then I would give HACSUassist a call to discuss further options.

Remember, you are entitled to a safe working environment and should always leave work in the same condition that you started!

If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through HACSUassist.