• National Winners in Better Practice Awards

    Richard Hearn, Sue McKechnie and Lynn OpenshawLast night, Resthaven was honoured to be awarded a National Better Practice Award.

    Run by the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, the award was presented for Resthaven’s Wellness and Reablement in Home Care model in the inaugural National Innovation and Excellence in Aged Care awards. This new higher tier of Better Practice Awards recognises providers, nationally, demonstrating leading edge, innovative practices in aged care that represent ‘excellence’.

    ‘Resthaven has a strong focus on co-design of services with our consumers. Over many years, we have listened and heard consumers say that what is most important to them is to be as independent as possible, and to stay living at home,’ said Richard Hearn, Resthaven Chief Executive Officer.

    ‘This award, for innovation and excellence in our approach to wellness and reablement in the home, reflects the genuine intent of our staff, as they work in partnership with those older individuals who have invited them into their homes with the goal of maintaining their quality of life.’

    ‘We focus on wellness strategies to support people to maintain or regain their independence, goal setting with each person, and finding out what is important to them to improve their quality of life.’

    ‘Our staff have proactively worked over an extended time to change the work culture from ‘doing for’ to ‘working in partnership with’ consumers. They have worked diligently and have embraced the reablement approach. This considerable culture change has been leadership driven, motivating staff with consistent support and messages from management.’

    ‘Ongoing leadership and workforce development has been pivotal in achieving these outcomes. I am so very proud of the way Resthaven staff have worked to embrace this considerable culture change.’

    Better Practice Awards are presented each year for projects, initiatives or programs that act as exemplars for other aged care service providers to assist and to encourage improvement to care and services. The Better Practice Awards recognise and disseminate better practice and innovation across the broad spectrum of aged care services.

    ‘As one of the first winners of an award, we are also thrilled to have won a Commendation Award for our Spirituality in the Garden project, which was acknowledged at this event.’

    ‘Congratulations also go to the team at Resthaven Marion for this very successful initiative.’