31/01/2024
Wow one month of the new year has gone already. Hope everyone has had some relaxation and time off over the festive season and got the Kids back to school and ready for the new working year.
We are bringing our newsletters to you via this page and email, so keep an eye out for them, as we endeavour to keep you informed of requirements and changes being made.
Newsletter January 2024
Newsletter
Downs Nursing Agency (DNA)
Human Resource Officer – Ali Stalley
Wishes to convey to you all that she has an open-door policy. If you have an issue with work related instances/ coworker, training requirements, professional advice or private matters that could affect you from being professional while at work, please call in or phone and arrange to have a chat with her. All conversations are private, confidential, and handled with the utmost discretion.
PH: 46178888 or Email: admin@downsnursing.com.au
Mandatory Documentation
Education documentation: Just a friendly reminder that all documentation is your responsibility to always have up-to-date and current and to forward a copy to the office. Mandatory documentation such as Fire training, Manual handling, Infection control and CPR must be completed annually to maintain employment with DNA. We will remove your name from the availability books until completely updated. Other yearly competencies E.G. ALS, PAL’s Triage forward in a timely manner. Training such as CPR, First Aid and Manual Handling where there is a face-to-face component then we expect you to attend a face-to-face session, NOT online. We will not accept these moving forward. With the mandatory training please use DNA preferred links or qnmu (free if you’re a member) , or facility/hospital training in house. If you need links or assistance with these don’t hesitate to contact the office or speak with HR - Ali Stalley, PH: 07 46178888 during office hours from 0800 to 1630 or Email: admin@downsnursing.com.au.
Legal work or ID documents: Legal documentation includes your Visa and any constraints/changes, even if you become a citizen/permanent resident, we require evidence of citizenship/permanent residency for your file. If you are using your driver’s license, passport, or anything with expiry date for your Proof of ID then this also needs to be current.
Visa changes: As at the 31st Dec2023 new restrictions have been put in place. The number of hours to work have been altered and it is the responsibility of Visa holder to maintain and manage the hours of restrictions across all areas of employment e.g. if you have a restriction of 40hr/week then it is up to you to manage the number of shifts you can accept per week from each employer. We only monitor the hours we offer you not what other employment places offer you.
Leave/Absence
When you are taking your well-earned holidays, going on Uni placement, Maternity Leave or just taking a break from work for various reasons, please give ample notification to the allocators, so they can have a plan with substitutes for your time of absence. Professional courtesy to your employer and the businesses we are assisting with staff coverage.
Shift allocations
The allocators when they receive a shift request will offer it to those staff members with availability within the time slot and skill sets being requested. If you have restricted availability or don’t have the skill set or your documentation is out of date, then you may not receive any shifts. Please do NOT call the office or after-hours numbers continually for shifts. The allocators work very hard at getting shifts allocated and your ringing constantly does not help, in fact it slows down the process.
A word from Ali – HR
It has come to our attention that staff are not arriving at their allocated facilities in a timely manner – professional courtesy is to be at your work unit at least 10mins prior to shift commencement time. Don’t forget CTV cameras are at facilities and your arrival and departure are being monitored. If you arrive late for a shift the facility CAN refuse your shift and you won’t be paid at all (they have refused staff in the past). It is your responsibility to arrive and commence the shift on time.
Request from Jane and Paula
Signing on and off:
When attending shifts please sign on and off using the DSNA timesheets found within the facilities. This is proof of your working and the hours in which you have done. Failure to sign in and out could see your pay being paid incorrectly or worse being missed altogether.
Pay enquiries:
If you have a query re your pay, please send an email with the details of what your query is, and Paula/Cherie will get back to you. Phoning in during the period in which pays are being generated could see more errors being made as this is a very full on and intense time with a lot of variables.
After hours calling and texting:
Please do NOT ring after hours on work mobiles looking for shifts or acknowledging your availability. Please make all calls to the office phone number 46178888 during office hours Monday through to Friday 8am to 5pm or send email as the email box is being monitored after hours also. You can send a text to the mobiles of the allocators but minimize the number of texts as on call gets a lot of texts and unnecessary phone calls. NOT Jane’s private number.
Contacting the Office
If you need to talk to us, always call the Office Number 46178888, NEVER call the mobiles.
Office hours are between 0800-1700 Monday to Friday, except public holidays.
Afterhours
Please do not text between the hours of 2200-0500 unless it is an emergency.
Please don’t call afterhours unless it is an emergency, we are in the office during office hours Monday to Friday and can assist you with your enquiries.
Weekends
Please do not text between the hours of 2200-0500 unless it is an emergency.
Please don’t call at weekends unless it is an emergency, we are in the office during office hours Monday to Friday and can assist you with your enquiries.
Availability
When sending in your availability you may text, but please do so during office hours as if you send this afterhours or on weekends it may be missed.
You can email us your availability or enquires at any time day or night, and we will get back to you as soon as we can. admin@downsnursing.com.au
Please be mindful that we have a lot of staff, and it makes it
difficult if the above requests are not followed.
