Urgent Notice to DADHC members

PSA members in DADHC are advised that work bans are now in place on any work or activities arising from the implementation of DADHC's Policy: "Reconfiguration of DADHC Group Homes and Vacancy Management."

On 3 February the Department issued a policy on the reconfiguration of group homes.

There has been no consultation with the union on the implications this policy has on members.

The policy's aims include:

• "relocation clients to more appropriately designed group homes"
• "improve the sustainability of households through optimising the use of staff resources
• "to raise the number of clients per house to the optimum of 5"

The policy states that "This process does not create vacancies as current resources are simply being reconfigured."

This policy has huge OH&S implications for staff as well as signalling the Department's intention to cut frontline RSW positions in group homes.

Members are hereby directed to:

• not participate in any meetings organised by DADHC Management for the purposes of discussing the movement of clients
• to not provide client profiles, client risk profiles and unit vacancy profiles to Regional Management
• to not participate in any transition plan

The above bans do not apply to proposed movement of clients which commenced prior to 3 February 2006.

The PSA has demanded the policy be withdrawn and the Department enter into full consultation with the Union on the reconfiguration of group homes.

If you have any concerns or questions about this, please contact Ayshe Lewis at the PSA on (02) 9220 0968 or alewis@psa.asn.au.

John Cahill
General Secretary