Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2008 | Page 11

Why aren’t all kids having a good childhood - what are we doing doing about it?

A: By ensuring that we have the right staff

– that they are well supported
and supervised and constantly
improve their knowledge and skills
To provide the highest quality services demands that we have
the best staff and foster carers – people who understand how
to form relationships with our kids and families, as the crucial
first step in healing.

• Introduction of a new online Learning Management
System, which increases access to learning, especially
for rural staff.

Like other sectors, the community sector is facing workforce
shortages, which will be exacerbated as many of the baby
boomers retire in the next 5-10 years.

• Development of a writing and recording resource for
residential care workers, in conjunction with Westcare,
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Ideas
that Work and Fran Haarsma Productions.

Our focus is on retaining and developing our staff. Staff
turnover across Berry Street was 12.7% and amongst our
leadership group of 41, it was 7.8%.

• Forty-nine staff were granted up to 5 hours study
leave each week.

Highlights of 2007/08 include:
• Our first Employee Opinion Survey, which reported that:
• 97% of respondents (of a 60% response rate)
are aware of our organisational Values – Courage,
Integrity, Respect, Accountability and Working
Together and see people applying them in their work.
• 89% would recommend Berry Street as a good
place to work.
• 83% felt they had appropriate professional
development.
• 90% indicated they could express their views
and their teams were accepting of difference.
• A new Code of Conduct was developed based on our
Values. All staff discuss the Code of Conduct with their
supervisor before signing their acceptance.

• An increased focus on safety in the workplace and
the development of a new elec