Staff Matters – Issue 129

Staff matters November 17, 2017 - Issue 129 Week 19

Afford Building Dreams

In This Issue 1 Afford Building Dreams

2 Staff Profile Kicking International Goals

3 Healthy Habits Getting Results

4 You’re in the Driver’s Seat Selfie Of the Week Have a Laugh The final touches are being made to our Group Home that will soon welcome the final six Cherrywood residents.

Residents anxiously wait for the ‘green light’ to move into their extraordinary and beautiful new home. They regularly ask for updates about the progress of the build and are super excited to set the move in day.

Over the past 12 months we have welcomed 40 residents into their new homes, supporting them to live independently. Their homes have a great, welcoming feel as soon as you’re invited in. We’re so pleased that over the past year these houses have become more than homes, they have become a supportive and inclusive community and a family unit.

It is expected that the final Cherrywood residents will be in their new home before Christmas and they are already deciding how they will celebrate their first Christmas in their new home.

Let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au

Reminder Don’t forget to send your/clients’ achievements, good news stories and photos to CELEBRATE@afford.com.au

Staff matters

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November 17, 2017 - Issue 129

Staff Profile

Cassie Rumble

Lifestyle Assistant Cherrywood LC Favourite Song: Get Back Up Again – Trolls Favourite Movie: Anything Disney Favourite Hobbies: Sleeping, knitting, eating and exciting stuff.

Favourite Foods: Gozman and Gomez and cake If you could be an animal what would you be: No animal What is your dream holiday destination: Germany, Finland or Spain.

If you had the power what would you change about the world: No powers.

What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Made me a sandwich‌. I live a sad life.

If you had to teach something what would you teach: Sarcasm

Kicking International Goals Committed to creating greater awareness of the benefits of sport for health, skills development and for socialising, Afford recently partnered with the Physical Disability Rugby League team for the Physical Disability Nines tournament in New Zealand.

At the recent NSW Physical Disability Rugby League Association (NSW PDRLA) Awards Night, Afford was presented with a jersey for their sponsorship of the Team. Kathy Bullock, Afford South West District Manager, accepted the Jersey on behalf of Afford.

Members of the NSW PDRLA played their very first international tournament in New Zealand (the Nines Tournament) which consisted of four teams including the West Tigers, Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors. The event was held to celebrate the physical disability rugby league team in NZ joining the competition.

The Afford team proudly wore their jerseys with the Afford logo. It was a thrilling competition with the team reaching the Grand Final but narrowly coming second place to the home town Warriors.

Marco Quinto and Marco Spanatti, clients from Afford Oran Park Lifestyle Centre, represented their teams with pride. The league is inclusive to people with physical disability and opens up doors for people with disabilities to lead a healthier lifestyle and participate in sport.

All involved in the event, including Shaun Spence from the Wests Tigers and James Gavet from the NZ Warriors are proud to be associated with this tournament. It was a great community event that showcased amazing sporting abilities. Afford clients who played in the competition represented their teams with courage and commitment and are proud with the result.

Afford is now officially a sponsor of the NSW Physical Disability Rugby League teams and looks forward to following the progress of all the players and developing the partnerships into the future.

Afford is proud to be a part of a great association that encourages and aligns with our vision of promoting opportunity, health and wellbeing to people with disability.

Something no one knows about me: I sleep with one sock on, one sock off and one foot out of the bed. I wish my life was organized enough to wear matching socks everyday.

let your abilities soar

www.afford.com.au

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November 17, 2017 - Issue 129

Healthy Habits Getting Results Afford is committed to supporting clients in every aspect of their lives. We have already supported many clients to leave weight and nicotine problems behind with healthy and active programs that encourage healthy living.

Afford aims to arm each client with the knowledge, skills and support they need to live independent, happy, healthy and full lives.

Donna is an Afford resident and Supported Employee that works at Head Office and she is just one of our super success stories of clients who are working towards a healthier lifestyle.

Over the past few months, Donna has lost around 20kg by cutting down her portion sizes at home and staying away from Coke, by being determined to be more aware of what she consumes.

With Afford’s support, Donna is now more aware of the amount of sugar in the food she buys and she also has sessions with a Nutritionist at the Ripples Leisure Centre to help her through her weight loss journey.

Since moving into her new home, Donna has also started a new Monday night tradition of making her roommates a roast. She loves cooking - peeling the vegetables and preparing the food for when her roommates her home from work so they can all sit down to a lovely home cooked baked dinner together.

Donna’s goal is to go down three dress sizes and she has already started to see - and feel - the difference in her clothes and legs. She is feeling healthier and happier and credits working in her new role at Head Office for helping her keep her busy and distracted from unhealthy habits.

Afford has a whole-of-life approach to supports for clients. From work to home, Afford staff have worked with clients and Group Home residents to adopt a healthy eating programs and activities.

Out our Group Homes, fruit bowls are always full and residents love taking fruit to work and coming home for healthy snacks at any time.

Afford Lifestyle Assistants work with residents at our Group Homes to have a better appreciation of the food that they are putting into their bodies and maintaining a healthy balance through the purchase of smaller portions of food, leaner meats and stocking the pantry themselves - rather than eating out. Residents love menu planning, shopping and cooking and with the support of staff. They happily choose healthy fresh meals to prepare and cook.

let your abilities soar

www.afford.com.au

Staff matters

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November 17, 2017 - Issue 129

You’re in the Driver’s Seat

OF

CHOICE

The safety and care of our clients is our top priority at all times.

Whenever you enter an Afford vehicle to transport clients, our clients’ wellbeing is in your hands.

This means that we must be vigilant in develop seating plans for trips, to ensure the best care for our clients on the road. Seating plans must be a priority to ensure the safety of our clients.

Seating plans in our vans help to ensure that: - All clients in the van are safe - Our clients receive the appropriate level of supervision for behaviour/ medical reasons - We reduce the risk of challenging behaviour - We reduce levels of client anxiety - We reduce conflict between clients (as they are allocated their seat) - Staff who are driving can focus on the road but know which clients are where and possible risks/hazards that could occur. This is especially important when doing transport as there is usually only 1 staff member in the van, the driver.

Seating plans are also important as our clients know what is expected of them and what is happening when it comes to being transported. It can reduce incidents, as long as all parties are consistent and encourage and implement the plans. It also provides staff some sort of control while driving and focusing on the road. The seating plan is developed depending on client personalities (e.g. clash in personalities), behavioural risks (e.g. clients how may lash out), hazards (opening van door, throwing objects etc), medical needs (e.g. seizures). Where required, remember that parents, carers and other specialists can be involved to ensure the best outcome for clients.

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Have a laugh

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In the Selfie Above: Accommodation Residents Salon Takeover!

let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au

Please send in your selfies or laughs