Building staff education and confidence through the ELDAC Linkages Program

A guest blog by Sandra Villamil, Case Manager, The Butler Canberra

The Butler Canberra is excited to participate in the ELDAC Linkages Program as we recognise the clear benefits of working in partnership with other stakeholders in the care of our consumers. We believe that by implementing a coordinated approach with as many stakeholders as practical, we will meet all aspects of our consumers’ care needs and deliver the best possible care.

As a Commonwealth accredited provider of home care services, we aim to better understand palliative care and advance care planning to improve the quality of end-of-life care for our consumers.

Participating in the ELDAC Linkages Program has been exciting and rewarding. We have a diverse team with members from different positions (director, manager, registered nurse, lifestyle coordinator, administration and home care workers) who bring unique perspectives and skills. Engaging the whole team in working towards our main goal of ‘giving our consumers the best possible care and improving their end-of-life care’ has been incredibly valuable. Seeing our staff working together toward our goals, expressing their ideas, and participating has supported all team members to feel a sense of purpose and unity within our organisation regardless of their position title.

The support received by our ELDAC Linkages Program Facilitator, Mays, has been incredible. She has provided guidance and support from day one, and is approachable and ready to assist us with any doubts, questions, or concerns. So far Mays has supported us through the ELDAC Linkages Program to organise essential training and education for all staff and to build resource materials that can be used at any time for our team and consumers. The ELDAC Linkages Program has also allowed us to be more involved with our consumers, their families, and our staff and their wellbeing, which we are very enthusiastic about.

1. Advance care planning (ACP): We want to feel confident discussing ACP with our consumers and being able to provide helpful resources and guidance to them. We would like to ensure that all consumers who want to develop an ACP are equipped with the information to do so. We understand that having these discussions can be challenging but ensuring that our consumers have a say in their care and receive the support they need to make those informed decisions is essential. It is vital for us to create a supportive environment that encourages our consumers to ask questions and express their concerns. By listening to their concerns and needs, we can better understand their wishes and provide the support they need to develop an ACP that reflects their values and preferences.
2. Building Capacity: To ensure that all staff can use the SPICT tool (SPICT-4ALL) to report and respond to our consumers who are approaching end of life, meet their changing needs, and avoid late hospital transfers. Using tools including SPICT can help us ensure that our consumers receive the appropriate care and support as they approach the end of their lives. We are also aware that to achieve that goal, we need to collaborate and work as a team to ensure that everyone is aware of the changing needs of our consumers and are equipped to respond appropriately.
3. Internal/External communication: To implement a communication framework for our staff by providing them with the necessary tools and support through education, training and mentoring from senior staff. Effective communication is essential in delivering high-quality care and support to our consumers. We also aim to implement the ISBAR framework (Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation) as it can be a helpful resource in guiding how to use it effectively in various situations.

Ultimately we would like to see all our consumers continue to receive the best possible care and end-of-life care and aim to achieve this by improving communication between our consumers, their families, and staff. We want our staff to be able to implement the delivery of high-quality, consumer-centred palliative care and for them to feel empowered and confident to support our consumers from the day they start services with us until their last day with us.

Find out more about the ELDAC Linkages Program and how your aged care service can get involved on the ELDAC website.

The next call-out to join the ELDAC Linkages Program will begin in mid-2023. Follow us on social media (links below) or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest ELDAC news and announcements.

 

Sandra Villamil
Case Manager, The Butler Canberra