Adj Prof Jackie Hanson, Chief Executive

Monday is International Kindness Day. While kindness isn’t technically one of our Metro North values, I think the sentiment underpins our other values. Being kind, whether it’s doing an act of kindness or taking a kind thinking approach, is one of the easiest things we can do. It doesn’t cost us anything to be kind, but it can go a long way in diffusing a difficult situation or improving someone’s day. So, while Monday is International Kindness Day, I highly recommend making every day a kind day.

Today is also International Accounting Day, recognising a group of staff we don’t often celebrate but we would struggle without!

Short notice accreditation

Short notice accreditation assessments are continuing across Metro North. Our first directorate though the new system was Redcliffe Hospital which passed with flying colours. Community and Oral Health and Mental Health have concluded, and The Prince Charles Hospital will be next week. There has been amazing feedback so far from the assessors, specifically relating to how engaged and proud our staff are across the board with the work they do and how they contribute to caring for Queenslanders. Congratulations to all of you.

Psychological safety

Queensland Health has just published the updated Workforce Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework. The framework aims to foster a Queensland Health workforce with systems and controls to prevent harm, harassment and discrimination and promote optimal mental health and wellbeing. It includes definitions of key terms including psychological safety:

Psychological safety is a shared belief held by members of a team that they are safe to take interpersonal risks, to express their ideas and concerns, to speak up with questions, and to admit mistakes – all without fear of negative consequences. An important part of psychological safety is valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion. Psychological safety fosters open communication, trust, and collaboration.

Peer Responder development day

On Tuesday, we celebrated our first Peer Responder Development Day with 100 peer responders from across Metro North, supported by the People and Culture Team. The day was created to acknowledge and celebrate the work each Peer Responder does and enhance their skills and knowledge.

The day included workshops, training sessions and interactive activities about building effective communication, active listening, and employee wellbeing skills. This event provides a platform for these individuals to share experiences, learn from one another, and gain insights from experts in the field. Peer responder development days are crucial in fostering a supportive and empathetic environment, enabling peer responders to better assist those in need and contribute positively to our Metro North employee experience. We hope to run these days more often, if anyone is interested in becoming a Metro North Peer Responder at one of our facilities, please send your details to mnvalues@health.qld.gov.au.

I need to ask do our clinicians and assistants need to spend hours writing WUG documents, TOR for meetings, attending countless meetings containing agenda items that could be disseminated by email, PDP with my supervisor taking 6 hours. This is my personal experience, I realise there must be checks and balances, but these things take much time that could be spent with patients. Thanks for reading.

Process simplification will be a critical component in ensuring our future workforce is doing what it is designed to do and red tape and ticking boxes is reduced to what is absolutely essential. I encourage you to open conversations with your teams and managers to look at what could be streamlined, done by someone or something else and or omitted now. We can’t do away with paperwork completely, as we need to be accountable and ensure we have safe consistent processes, but I know from my own experience sometimes I’m drowning in paperwork that might not all be necessary.

OVP is increasing. Can Metro North have a campaign similar to QAS where the community and the public understand that aggression verbal or physical is not tolerated.

Yesterday the Metro North Chief Operating Officer Jane Hancock hosted an occupational violence prevention workshop this was attended by around 100 staff to look at what we can do to reduce OVP and make our workplaces safer for all. The outcomes and actions that will be deployed will be made available shortly.

Staff recognition

Last month some of our food services staff were recognised at the Institute of Hospitality in Healthcare Awards. RBWH Dietitian and Nutritionist Denise Cruikshank was recognised with both the National Leadership Excellence Award and the 2023 Rosemary Anne Pirie OAM Award. Denise also won the Queensland and New South Wales branch leadership award. In addition to her clinical work, Denise has been pivotal in the development of several statewide nutrition guidelines.

STARS Dietetic Assistant Nikole Kypreos received the Qld and NSW branch Brightest Star Award. STARS Dietetics and Food Services Team received the branch Project of the Year Award, and STARS Dietetics and Food Services Director Jen Ellick was highly commended for the branch leadership award. Metro North was recognised for the CBORD program with the Qld and NSW branch Advocacy Award.

Congratulations also to Professor Adam Scott who was a finalist for the Queensland Australian of the Year 2024. Adam has been a leader in cardiac and mental health telehealth services, making specialist care accessible to regional Queenslanders. It’s fitting that next week is Perinatal Mental Health Week.

Kind regards,

Jackie.