Jane Abbot completes SA Innovation Hub mentoring program
New mentoring program offers a broader perspective on managing services
Jane Abbot, Relieving Manager, Residential Services, was one of two Resthaven managers invited to participate in the SA Innovation Hub’s mentoring program last year.
The SA Innovation Hub is a group of aged care providers who collaborate to share knowledge, innovations and research to benefit their organisations, clients and the wider aged care services community. Resthaven has been involved with the Hub since the group’s launch in 2014.
The Hub’s mentoring program aims to support and develop talented people in the aged care sector by pairing them with senior executives from amongst the Hub’s membership.
Jane was mentored by Mary Patetsos, ACH Group Chair.
“I felt very lucky to be invited to join the program – Mary’s an amazing, inspiring leader who sits on several boards,” said Jane.
Jane met with Mary several times over the course of six months.
“The mentoring program gave me the opportunity to take a broader look at the management of aged care services beyond Resthaven. In conversations with Mary, I was able to talk through big picture issues that are so pertinent right now – such as governance, ethics, creating age-friendly environments and social inclusion – to learn more about how other organisations were responding to these key issues.”
Through feedback and encouragement, mentors work with their mentees to build knowledge, skills and understanding in key development area.
“In particular, I felt I benefitted enormously from Mary’s experience in policy development and governance in aged care organisations as well as her understanding of aged care reforms.
“The importance of governance within organisations and institutions has been such a hot topic lately. It was reassuring to learn that our governance model is consistent with other leading aged care providers.”
Jane found the Hub’s mentoring program complemented her current studies at Flinders University where she is enrolled in a Graduate Diploma of Health & Aged Care Administration.
“My uni studies have given me a better understanding of how Resthaven fits into the entire health system. Similarly, the mentoring program gave me a broader view of how Resthaven’s management policies and practices compare to those in other organisations.”
“If we stay in our own bubble and think we’re fabulous – we’re vulnerable to not being able to respond and adapt to changes and issues that arise. We’ve got to know what’s happening, what’s changing in aged care and what other organisations are doing, so we can pick up on good ideas that benefit our clients. Mary’s helped me with that.”
Leadership skills were another area for development.
“In nursing, we weren’t really taught to be leaders. It’s incredibly important that we develop leadership. Through the mentoring program, I learnt more about leading teams, delegating and trusting your team and knowing you can’t be across everything.”
Other gains were on a more practical level.
“Mary’s such a busy lady – I wanted to know how she managed her time and her diary. From her, I learnt more about managing correspondence and triaging through the volume of information we are bombarded with – sorting out what’s important.”
Following a successful pilot program in 2017, plans are underway to run the program again in coming years.
“By the end of the program, I felt more inspired and motivated, with an understanding that Resthaven is in a good place and doing great work.”
“I found Mary to be very down-to-earth and personable as well as being an incredibly positive person. Whilst there is some negativity associated with aged care work, Mary reinforced that it is good work and we must stay positive. Aged Care is rapidly evolving and changing with much opportunity – we shouldn’t be scared of that.”
Jane has worked with Resthaven for the past 7 ½ years. She has accrued almost a decade of experience in aged care, having worked for Helping Hand prior to joining Resthaven. She spent many years in the acute nursing sector before choosing to further her career in aged care.