ANNUAL REPORT 2010-2011 Annual Report 2010-2011 Ted Noffs Governing Committee Frank Hansen (vice President), Jamie Prell (Treasurer), Professor Ian Webster (President), Dr Debra Zador, Professor Toni Makkai, Wesley Noffs CEO and Amanda Noffs (Secretary Ex-Officio and COO) Message from CEO and COO Wes and Mandy Noffs Noffs has weathered two major organisational setbacks this year. We have lost two of our most respected PALM services in Dubbo and Coffs Harbour. The cost of closure of these services has contributed $350,000 to our deficit. We remain concerned that young people in those areas still do not have an adequate replacement program. Our Social Enterprise initiative Gideon Shoes, has taken longer than expected to reach the sales targets we have set and consequently we continue to look for Government support. On top of these financial impacts our communications costs have exceeded budgets, and we have therefore incurred the worst end to a financial year in our history. On a much more positive note, Mandy and I have been impressed and proud with the level of staff commitment and moral. The effort each of the senior staff has made and is making is impressive and we are seeing almost as many young people as we did with the other two programs. This is partially due to the fact that referees want to continue with our services in preference to the new operator. We have had our treatment services reduced but we have also had a significant improvement in longer term outcomes. Much of this stems from our programs in the community such as CALM and Street University. Despite these setbacks our PALM staff have improved retention of young people. PALM managers are working hard to improve staff effectiveness and young people’s outcomes. Ronan O’Connor continues to provide excellent internal training; the training is targeted and meaningful to our team. Ronan has a good insight into the working of the Therapeutic Community and we hope to see great things being achieved in the coming years. Our clinical leadership was driven by Michael Kirton and we express our gratitude to him always going beyond what is expected, we are fortunate to have him. Noffs 2 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright The Street University team is achieving unexpected numbers of young people participating in the programs. Matthew Noffs is discussing plans to develop Street Universities in locations other than Liverpool. The Ted Client Management System is looking promising and to date We Help Ourselves has introduced it into their service, Odyssey House, WEAVE and Karalika in the ACT have also shown a strong interest. Julie Dubuc is doing a wonderful job with Young People in school and indigenous communities in Blacktown and Mt Druitt. Mandy and I are looking at how Ted Noffs can move forward in an ever-changing environment where Government can no longer be expected to support community organisations which are actively involved with people who are experiencing isolation and hard ship. Noffs 3 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright Annual Report Clinical Services/Service Management November 2011 Clinical Psychologist: Michael Kirton Comment The data presented in this report is an achievement related to the input of the Leadership Team including Wesley and Mandy Noffs and in particular Mark Ferry, Julie Dubuc and Ronan O’Connor. During the three months that Wesley and Mandy Noffs were on leave we were ably supported in management and clinical practice by Frank Hansen. Residential Units All of the units experienced increased completion and retention rates in the past year. The implications of this are that we are treating more young people than ever before and secondly given that on average they are staying longer their treatment is more effective (as time in treatment correlates strongly with better outcomes). Communication with the managers including Assistant Managers at the PALM and CALM programmes is had on a daily basis from HO. There is a combined Managers Meeting between all services once per week. These meeting are done using the Video Conferencing facility. Reports on every shift in both Units are made by shift workers and emailed to HO. (See example Addenda 1) The PALM and CALM units work in collaboration in sharing of staff and assisting each other to maintain continuity of treatment for the YP in these PALM programmes. (See example Addenda 2) The introduction of the automated suicide/self harm alert system introduced by Mark Ferry has brought in a new era in risk minimisation for the Noffs in its work with at risk Young People. Highlights from the year follow. PALM Sydney Managers at PALM Sydney are currently: Sally Warwick, Manager, Kieran Palmer - Assistant Manager, Wesley Stokes - Assistant Manager. Wesley Stokes has been appointed in September 2011 after Tom Whittenbury the previous Assistant Manager moved to be the CALM Manager Sydney. Senior AODW staff include: Leki Mafoe, Kelly Sobiesiak, Daniel van Anen. Noffs 4 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright The statistics for the last 3 years indicate excellent outcomes regarding client retention rates. There were increases as shown below: There are at least three main factors for this improvement: • Consistent and effective management and clinical guidance from the Leadership Team. • Improved staff retention rates in the last 3 years. • Effective and regular training for staff from the training team. (Addenda 6) Staff retention rate: • There has been a significant increase in staff retention rates at PALM Sydney over the last 3 years : • Management team: Manager: 8.5 years, Clinical Asst Manager: 6 years, Operational Assistant Manager: 2.5 years (previously Snr AODW) • Counsellors: Both Counsellors have worked for PALM Sydney for over 5 years. • Admin: Miao Yi Kuang has worked for PALM for 3.5 years • CALM staff are all former PALM Staff: Mgr: 5.5 years, counsellor: 3 years, vocational education coordinator: 2.5 years. • There has been an increase in AODWs staying in their role. 5 of our Seniors over the last 2 years staying in their roles for 2.5 years. • 3 of the fulltime AODWs have worked for the organisation for 1 or more years. Noffs 5 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright Increase in Telephone Screens Completed by the Intake Officer. 2009/10 compared to 2010/11 Meetings, Networking and Training A new data collection system was introduced to replace SMART by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Sam Wilson and Sally Warwick attended the two day training course in July and then trained the PALM staff that would be required to use it. PALM management attended several CDAT meetings. Sally Warwick is the chairperson of the Randwick CDAT and has been project managing an inhalant resource booklet which Bendigo Bank has agreed to fund a substantial amount of the printing costs. The CDAT also ran a successful community bbq in Maroubra on 5th Nov which local MP Bruce Notely- Smith attended. Hip Hoperations provided a workshop. Eastern Suburbs Youth Services Network meeting which occurs bi-monthly. Meeting at NSW Health office of Health Advancement to discuss potential funding for a healthy lifestyles program and smoking cessation support program. Oasis Drug and Alcohol service in September about the PALM program. AOD psycho education to 6 young people involved in a court diversionary program at the Maroubra PCYC. PALM Sydney participated in Mental Health month by having information stalls at the following forums: “Bringing Parents Up to Speed” on the 29th October, The Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum in Campbelltown. Addiction Medicine Doctors from the Langton Centre visited PALM to gain a better understanding of our service. “Big Kitchen” attendance by Young People where they made food for themselves and another charity. They are able to use this facility on an ongoing basis. Noffs 6 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright Founder of the “Big Kitchen” also organised a personal training session with her trainer for the young people for one of their afternoon recreation groups. NSW Health Smoking Cessation Workshop at the Shack Youth Service. PALM ACT Managers at PALM Canberra are currently: Jessica Aulich, Manager, Jaimie Northam, Clinical Manager, and Patrick Mullin Assistant Manager. In the last six months have three new Senior AODW’s at PALM ACT these are: Danial Massey, Andrew Bennett, Dylan Chauncy The ACT Unit went through a period of upheaval in the management structure from March to July 2011. This was initiated by the manager Brett Pridmore having to take time off for health reasons and then resigning on his return. After interviews the position was offered to an applicant who accepted then declined the position. Several staff resigned during this period including the two Assistant Managers. Jessica Aulich accepted the position of Manager in June 2011. Jaimie Northam accepted the position of Clinical Manager in July 2011 and Patrick Mullin, Assistant Manager in November 2011. Since July 2011 the PALM Unit has been working very positively. This has reflected in the overall high level of motivation and positive feedback from the overwhelming majority of staff. In turn this staff positive energy has reflected in very positive outcomes for the YP in the programme and this is reflected currently in the high retention rates. Feedback from community agencies has been particularly positive in the last six months. (See Addenda 4) The graph for retention rates in ACT is below. The decrease in retention rates for 2010-2011 is due to the dramatic increase (120) in the numbers of Young People being admitted to the programme and being treated in the programme. There is also an effect from the use of the CALM programme with the extended follow up and mentoring. Noffs 7 Annual Report 2010-2011 Copyright Year Retention Admissions 2008-2009 41.0 88 2009-2010 40.4 89 2010-2011 31.7 120 Community connections ACT developed in 2011: Winnunga Indigenous Health Centre- Ian Bateman comes out and meets with the young people once a week for a group.