Scenario

Estelle Lovett is a Community Support Worker at First Access. Today she has an administration day onsite to catch up on documentation and planning. During her morning tea break, she enters the staffroom to make a coffee and discovers there is none left. She remembers that there is a bulk order that is kept in the storeroom. On entering the storeroom, she is narrowly missed by a box of plastic gloves that have been stacked on the top shelf. She notices the storeroom is looking a little disorganised. She sees the coffee in glass jars on one of the shelves. She has to use the storeroom stepladder to reach the glass jars. While up on the stepladder, she notices someone has left a Stanley knife on top of a box that hasn't been retracted. Estelle takes the stepladder over to the box with the Stanley knife, steps up and retracts the blade, then takes the knife down and puts it away in its place near the inside of the doorway.

As Estelle is about to put the stepladder back, she overhears a colleague, Sandra, talking on her phone in the staffroom. 'I just think that we are spending too much time individualising the planning for our clients. If we focused on a more universal daily plan for everyone, we would get through so much more during a day. I mean, why are we separating mealtimes for some clients and why on earth are they getting a choice as to what they'd like for dinner? I think with some of the issues they come here with, who cares! I mean, Ethan can't even taste food due to what he's put his body through, and I heard he's just been diagnosed with diabetes, so no more cake for Ethan. Deb has proposed we make the kitchen wheelchair accessible as she wants to have a group baking in there and there is one client in a wheelchair, one! What a waste of time. If they want to bake, have some of their family members pick them up and take them somewhere else to bake.'

Estelle exits the storeroom and notices Sandra is slightly startled. She changes the subject on the phone and keeps talking quietly. Estelle is able to make her coffee and leave the staffroom.

Based on the scenario create a script for a meeting to take place between Estelle, Diya Headley, and Jukka Sepp to discuss two workplace improvement suggestions.

Estelle will also ask them why she thinks the work practices can be improved and how this will assist in meeting legal and/or ethical requirements.

Also, how can Estelle contribute to the development and review of policies and procedures? Estelle must also ask Diya and Jukka for feedback on her suggestions and ask them:

If they think her suggestions are reasonable.

If they can suggest any improvements to her suggestions.

Refer to the following policies and procedures for the script: Privacy and Confidentiality Policy and Procedure Duty of Care Policy and Procedure Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy and Procedure Code of Ethics Code of Conduct Policy and Procedure Workplace Health and Safety Policy and Procedure Management of Risks and Hazards Policy and Procedure.

Provide the role-play instructions to the person playing Diya and Jukka as follows:

Use the following guidance to help with creating the script:

Diya is friendly and eager to hear about Estelle's ideas. She is impressed by anyone showing initiative so is supportive of Estelle. Familiarise yourself with the following guidance:

I have read your email and am keen to hear more about your proposed ideas.

I believe your ideas are reasonable. I think the next step should be to discuss your ideas for the storeroom with our health and safety representative.

I think it is important that we are all regularly reminded of our Code of Conduct, our mission and our values. We need all staff to be reflecting our values at all times.

Jukka is a supportive colleague and will be hearing Estelle's proposed work practice improvements for the first time.

I have experienced some mishaps in the storeroom. I'm glad you have brought it up and believe it is a really good idea to get make some changes before an accident happens.

My neighbour, Sandra, who works here part-time- you might know her- was telling me the other day about how she loves our values and how supportive our workplace is. (The student being assessed does not know that Sandra is your neighbour until now.)

It is a real shame that you have heard someone obviously not reflecting our values. I think we have a job where we may need to vent or talk things out occasionally, but there is a way of doing that.

Hopefully, this is an isolated incident as most of us are careful about what we say and where we say it.

I think having a staff member as part of the review of policies is important.