What are Providers doing to improve Support Worker engagement levels? Latest trends.
Partnering many large Disability, Aged Care and Youth Services organisations across Australia provides the team at Support Worker Co with unique sector insights into some of the key initiatives Providers are implementing to improve their levels of Workforce satisfaction and retention.
By David Cuda
With sector-wide average turnover rates on the continued incline, we are noticing a marked strategic shift in Providers focus on how to improve Support Workforce retention. Providers are investing into a range of landmark projects to better understand all elements of what will enhance their Support Workforce’s retention rates and consequently implementing a range of transformational initiatives to generate improved future outcomes.
Providers are increasingly investing into identifying what are the crucial ingredients and implementing initiatives to improve these to create an environment for Support Workers to flourish, covering a broad range of key elements such as management practices, systems and culture. The concept of what is drives effective Support Workforce empowerment encompasses everything from training programs to workflows, department and team structures, employee communications, operational norms, culture and leadership. When all the elements are effective, Providers are finding they can turn their individual Support Workers into an improved cohesive team helping to propel their organisation forward.
Some of the latest key insights gained are:
- Providers who prioritise developing their Support Workers engagement levels are delivering improved profitability.
- Providers who are focussed on turning engagement and empowerment of their Support Workforce into a competitive advantage are finding this is a better method to promote the achievement of their organisational mission, purpose, and values.
- Altering and re-engineering company-wide polices and systems to improve their Support Workers experience are spurring positive change.
- Frontline and middle management behaviours are increasingly being focussed on caring, nurturing, encouraging. The direct line of supervision is the key to setting the right tone for the broader Support Workforce and accordingly has a big influence on positively impacting each Support Worker’s experience.
- Providers that are adopting a more people-oriented focus along with a more empowering culture are noticeably gaining benefits, as do each of their Support Workers experiencing this positive shift. In addition to boosting financial returns, Providers investing into the Support Workforce engagement initiatives are improving their Support Workers consistency, resilience, retention and loyalty, and these are some of the key hallmarks of better enabling Providers to thrive over the long term.
Beyond improving the day-to-day experience for Support Workers, the improved levels of frontline Support Workforce engagement is enhancing Providers competitiveness and adaptability in the fast-moving NDIS and Home Care markets. What a great win-win for Providers and Support Workers alike.
Would you like to gain some further insights?
Support Worker Co. is a pioneering Workforce Solutions and Consulting Services firm. We design and implement tailored Support Workforce-related services and solutions that drive results and solve the complex and important Support Workforce-related challenges of Community Services providers.
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