Dear colleagues,

I’m excited to be taking the lead on Values in Action for Metro North including staff wellbeing.

We have done a lot of work in the past few years to establish and expand our Values in Action programs, with a particular focus on staff wellbeing during the pandemic. I want to touch on some of the other work happening under the VIA framework.

Welcome to Metro North – from the moment someone is offered a job with us, we want to ensure they are getting the best experience of the organisation through onboarding. This includes the values-based orientation program which sets expectations of staff behaviour aligned to our values, and what the values mean to staff, patients and consumers.

Our People, Our Values – values in action is not an add on to what we do, it’s an integral part of who we are at work (and hopefully outside of work). As part of this, all staff should have the opportunity to complete a values-based performance and development plan (PDP) with their line manager, including behaviour expectations and development for career progression or improving capability.

Celebrating Values in Action – this includes our staff reward and recognition programs such as the directorate and Metro North staff excellence awards, length of service recognition, and highlighting staff who demonstrate our values in our newsletters and social media.

Our People’s Wellbeing – the newest addition to our wellbeing program is the Metro North Fitness Passport. It also includes our staff wellness portal, peer responder program, staff psychology support, and the RUOK? training.

Culture of Safety and Respect – everyone should feel safe, welcome and valued in our care and in our workplace. This includes patient safety through the Safety and Quality Strategy and the Have Your Say survey (starting 17 May).

Fun – having fun with your colleagues is not only better for us as individuals, it delivers better patient outcomes by improving communication and breaking down barriers. Fun activities include the annual soccer and netball tournaments, Hospital of Origin and Movie by the Sea.

My personal motto for my work as I moved 15 years ago from a clinical role to an administrative one has always been to “Help those that help patients”. I’m looking forward to applying this principle in my new formal responsibilities and sharing new programs and activities as they are developed.

You can find great wellbeing and values resources on QHEPS and on the COVID extranet.

Kind regards,

Mark