Risk, Resilience and Recovery
CASE STUDY STORY
ACSO operates eight forensic residential and one youth recovery residential program throughout Victoria, each based on a 24/7 staffing model.
During normal times, residents – many of whom have cognitive disabilities, along with behaviours of concern – are provided intensive support to foster new skills, increase their confidence and support reintegration and pathways to independent living.
Over the last 12 months however, both staff and residents alike were forced to adapt, with social distancing, the mandatory and changing use of PPE, regular RAT testing, isolation requirements and the risk of infection increasing the pressure on day-to-day operations and the progress of behaviour support plans.
“I think the creativeness of how we had to operate definitely brought us closer together,” recalls Erin Morrissey, Team Leader at STEP House. “We had to adapt to COVID safe, positive experiences and think, how can we do this differently? How can we change this? Previously we might have sat around a table to play monopoly with residents, but you can’t do that keeping 1.5 metres apart. Instead, we came up with the idea to take the TV into the backyard and have a football afternoon, which was a fun activity we could do together safely outside.”
At Nicholson House, staff learnt Auslan to communicate with two residents who are hearing impaired, as mask-wearing inhibited the way they would normally interact. As well, iPads were brought in to help facilitate appointments, such as those with Corrections, specialist case managers and occupational therapists. For other houses, it was rethinking how to mediate difficult conversations, mitigate risk, and manage conflict and frustrations with residents who didn’t always understand.
“It was this flexibility to think outside the square, that really unlocked an innovative spirit,” says General Manager of Forensic Residential Services, Lee Esposito.
Stronger together
Supporting each other and working together cohesively as a team throughout the pandemic, was also a key feature of what made the last 12 months such a success for the residential services team. As well as covering extra shifts, offering each other breaks, and providing moral support, staff also made adjustments to their lives outside of work in order to keep residents and each other safe.
“I had two staff who relocated themselves to their family garage for a period of time so that they weren’t at risk of passing COVID between work and their families, and vice versa. There was so much team connection and genuine care, and that extended to the residents as well,” says Forensic Residential Services Program Manager, Catherine Nolan.
“The attitude was – we’ve got a job to do and that’s to keep everyone safe,” adds Siraya Norris-Ashton, Team Leader at STEP House.
Changing mindset and perspectives
What was perhaps most unexpected for the residential services team during this period was the shift in their mindset, the sense of personal growth and an overwhelming and lasting feeling of positivity.
“It entirely changed my outlook,” says Forensic Residential Support Worker, Mitchell Clarke O’Reilly. “The need to adapt, to learn to communicate better and all those key fundamentals around self-care have been absolutely massive for me. The residents also did a sterling job of managing the changes. It’s almost like they stepped up to the plate and we could rely on them at times to actually take the initiative. They really grew as people as well.”
Regeneration and renewal
Seeing her team thrive and actually flourish throughout this experience has made Lee especially proud.
“The team have done an amazing job, adapting and responding to clients, managing business as usual operations, as well as all the change management that has happened during this time, with new [digital] systems and processes being introduced across the whole organisation. I think the team have done exceptionally well and continue to do. I also think it’s been the closeness of the whole team, their approach and a shared care for each other and our clients that makes the work really rewarding, but also operationally, the best as it can be both now and into the future.”
