LITTLE CURRENT—While agency staff use continues to bedevil the labour envelope at Manitoulin Centennial Manor, the long-term care home is starting to see some light at the end of the staffing tunnel, with the help of a significant ($75,000) boost to nursing funds and the continued efforts of management to recruit new registered nurses (RN), registered practical nurses (RPN), a resident assessment coordinator, behavioural support specialist and a few more part-time personal support worker staff (PSW), starting to show results.
Manor administrator Don Cook informed the Manor board at its April 25 meeting that two RNs will are anticipated to be coming on board in May.
“Our new staff member that is on the two-month work placement through Cambrian College employment center is working out quite well,” said Mr. Cook. “We have received an increase in the nursing envelope in the new April 1 budget allocations. So, with the reduction of agency staff, it will provide us with budget room to create a new nursing ward clerk, to take on the duties of scheduling, staff replacement and other clerical work that would free time for nursing staff to work on more clinical work, such as assessments, reports and audits that will improve the care of the residents.”
The Manor is also working closely with Extendicare and placement consultants to recruit staff from offshore.
“Director of Care Sylvie Clark has interviewed two nurses and we are now moving forward with the next stage of bringing them here to work as PSW until they get their CNO (College of Nurses of Ontario) registration,” continued Mr. Cook.
The administrator also noted that the Manor had the arbitration date for the CUPE contract on March 28 and the arbitration board informed the nursing home administration they were meeting on May 2. “So, we are hoping we will have a new contract on that date,” said Mr. Cook. “We continue constructive monthly labour relation meetings with CUPE.”
The mild winter also contributed to some leeway in the Manor budget, with reduced Hydro and fuel costs taking less of a bite than anticipated. Overall, the Manor saw a health March surplus of $170,000, a welcome bottom-line improvement from some previous years.
