Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2007 | Page 19

Our Commitment to Accountability Berry Street takes very seriously its accountability to all our stakeholders – our clients, staff and foster carers, funders and supporters. Our Board met 11 times over the year. Our website was redeveloped. Good financial management and high returns from the stock market resulted in a $2.15 million surplus. Combined with the proceeds from the sale of Berry Street, East Melbourne, our net assets reached $23.6 million. The Board engaged Freehills to undertake a Board Effectiveness Review, benchmarked against ASX companies. This confirmed the Board’s strengths as - the quality and commitment of Board members, Board dynamics and the good relationship between the Board and management. A plan was developed to address areas requiring improvement. Take Two earned certification from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards with the surveyors’ pleasing assessment: “the immediate impression of the Take Two program is one of a service run by a dedicated team striving to achieve the highest level of responsiveness to client needs”. We established a new Risk Management system and ensured all staff had appropriate pre-employment checks. A new Strategic Plan 2007-2010 was developed and launched. The Board and Executive Management Team met for a day and a half to revisit our vision, branding and develop a new 3 year Strategic Plan. Board members, external advisors and senior staff met together through the Finance and Investment Committee, Education Advisory Committee, Marketing Committee and the Clinical and Program Advisory Group. Image top: The Board and Executive Management Team Retreat We never give up