New DOC makes staff empowerment top priority to strengthen team
Empowered staff members bring best care to residents, says Nancy Webb
Wednesday May 7, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
Nancy Webb says her goal as director of care (DOC) at Almonte Country Haven is to empower staff members to make the team as strong as possible. Empowered staff members, she adds, result in residents receiving the best possible care.

“I love to empower the staff,” says Webb, who started her post April 14. “I think that my goal is to (make sure) that we are the strongest team right from the kitchen right through to managerial and that communication is so paramount in running a successful home and focusing on making sure that the residents stay the centre of our care.

“I also believe that by keeping (staff members) active in the organization they take pride in the organization and it makes for a very happy and wonderful workplace.”

Empowering staff members by giving them as much say as possible has a positive impact in the health-care sector, explains Webb. Empowerment translates to staff members feeling valued and happy.

Empowerment must resonate throughout the entire home, she says, adding that empowerment starts with communication between residents and front-line staff, and making sure this “uphill” information is carried throughout the home.

Webb is also keen to discover the interests of each front-line staff member. This, she notes, helps when it comes to forming committees aimed at developing new ways to bring the best quality of care to residents.

“We can use those curiosities and those talents that they have and use them within the organization in areas such as lifts-and-transfers committees,” says Webb. “We have staff members with passion who are now just taking that over.”

To put this idea into action, Webb says a personal support worker (PSW) committee is being set up at the home to share information and develop best practices in various areas of resident care.

PSWs have been chosen to spearhead this because they are often the first line of communication for residents, Webb adds.

Rick Gourlie, administrator at Almonte Country Haven, says Webb, who previously worked in acute care, has done an excellent job of transitioning into a long-term care setting.

Gourlie also says he agrees with Webb’s approach to empowering staff members.

“Empowerment is the key to success,” he says. “If people understand their role and can be empowered to move ahead in it, then you don’t have to wait for the approval and that’s a good process. Empowerment allows people to reach their full potential.”

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