Accommodation & Respite Services Restructure, May 2007

The long awaited restructure proposals for group homes and respite services have finally been tabled with the Union.

Up until now the Department has been having discussion with Regional Management in developing their proposals and a lot of rumours have been going around about what the new structure would be.

At a meeting held on the 28th May, the Department for the first time, provided details to the union on three different models.

Whilst there are some variations, the main theme of the proposals are:

The establishment of Business Support Units so there is a clear division between frontline and support services. Classifications include:

• Respite Client Liaison Officer
  
• Practice Support Co-ordinators
  
• Business Support Co-ordinators
  
• Service Support Analysts
  

The RSW structure of RSW Level 1,2 & 3 to be replaced by a totally new structure which include classifications of:

• Disability Worker
  
• Disability Worker 1
  
• Disability Worker 2
  
• Disability Worker Specialist
  

All models provide for a manager based in the Units

The Department's preferred model creates the position of Team Leaders who are based in the Units and Service Coordinators who oversees the Team Leaders and Units. The position of "Network Manager" is deleted in this model.

The other models maintain the position of Network Manager with a reconfiguration of the role with and without a Team Leader or Service Co-ordinator position.

The Department will be presenting its preferred model to the PSA's Departmental Committee on 19 June. When we have received specific details on the roles and duties of the new position and the staffing impact, the PSA will be providing these to members so we can consult members and get your feedback.

There Have Been No Timeframes Agreed To. The Psa Has Made It Quite Clear To The Department That Our Members Across The State Must Be Consulted.

The negotiating team from the PSA are:

Chris Harris - RSW Met South

Tony Hay - A/Network Manager, Met South - Tony.Hay@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Steve Spalding - Network Manager, Hunter - Steve.Spalding@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Carol Yarovy - RSW Hunter - Carol.Yarovy@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Caroline Heads - RSW Met North - Caroline.Heads@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Shane Elliott - RSW Southern -Shane.Elliott@dadhc.nsw.gov.au

Ayshe Lewis - Principal Industrial Officer, PSA - alewis@psa.asn.au

If members have any questions or issues regarding this, please contact any of your delegates or the PSA.