Policy Meeti=
ng
Minutes =
;
Location: Spectrum office
Date: Present:=
Sue,
Alison, Rita, Lanni, David, Ray, Scott, Alison,
Tracy, Tony, Ed, Gary, Tanner, Ernie, Kyla, Cathy, Sandy, Adopt policy=
meeting
minutes from July 24, 2003 Issues: Comvida Staff Scheduling =
–
Staff will be able to access their own schedules to ensure accuracy of
timesheets and review hours worked.
One staff said they could not get the calendar to move to the next
month. At the break, Ernie s=
howed
the staff how to move the calendar. Computers at the homes – CARENET was supposed to
enable improved information management with web-based forms that allowed s=
taff
to enter ISP info, Daily recording, vehicle maintenance, etc to a central
database. CARENET has gone b=
ankrupt
though, so Spectrum will have to explore other options. Spectrum staff emails are dropping the CARENET from t=
heir
email and going back to @spectrumsociety.org. The purpose of getting computers for more of the home=
s was
to improve information collection and improve communication. Statutory Issues: Talked about this in May meeting.=
Government changed policies: who is eligible &nb=
sp; =
; &=
nbsp; 15
of last 30 days worked &nb=
sp; =
; &=
nbsp; Changed
calculation that it’s based on the weeks hours now Do we change to government rules or do we stay with S=
pectrum
rules? Doesn’t significantly change people’s pay=
This new way is a less complicated way to figure out =
the
stat pay out Spectrum Days: Boxing Day and Easter Monday Options: turn one into stat, turn other into regular =
work
day but provide option for people to take as vacation day or LOA Will get a ballot together to put into Oct. 15 pay st=
ubs,
deadline for giving back is Bring back to teams which stat to keep Boxing Day or =
Easter
Monday Time and a half to be moved to first 12 hours, and th=
en
double time hours beyond 12 hours (from original 11hours) Proposed rate of stat pay (15 days in the last 30 day=
s)
rules out 20% of staff booked If relief staff come in for a sta=
t, should
we pay them 1.5x rate? We value these relief staff members and would like to=
pay
them the 1.5x rate, but then they would not get an extra day off if you are
part time or casual relief. Benefits Cos=
ts sheet
review Issues: Increases in April-June Mostly to vacation pay Partly due to more people who have 5 weeks’ hol=
idays The payout of sick time is a good incentive to not mi=
ss a
day whereas other companies you lose your sick pay Does Spectrum pay you in a lump sum of money if owed =
many
hours of sick pay upon leaving? Ernie wasn’t sure of answer as most
employees who leave Spectrum have requested their sick pay be paid into an=
RSP Transfer 50% into RSP, need to keep 10 days in bank
Example: If you have 200 hours of sick time, you keep=
80 in
the bank. You are now left with 120 hours. From that the equivalent monies=
of
60 hours goes to an RSP and the other 60 hours disappear Benefits had changed in July, prescriptions are now 9=
0% paid
by Sunlife, 10% paid by employee This saved us from getting another increase to ALL be=
nefits
costs Will be the same next year. Transition U=
pdate Issues: Since April 2002 restructuring process has started Proposal of how services should be administered November 2002 Transition Steering Committee was forme=
d, next
meeting New authority would deliver services in a different w=
ay Community Living Centres are proposed as a means for =
such
service Different roles than social workers Recently announced individualized funding Phase 1 will
include 150 adults and 60 children Changes contracted money to individualized money Not new money to ministry but finding new ways to sup=
port Keeping children and adult services together is large=
st
topic Other agencies are affected by compensation adjustmen=
t Cuts over 3 years are 8% vs. 17% Money is coming from reducing costs of initiative, ho=
w can
this company do some things differently? Such as family care plan, new off=
ice
for shared staffing, cluster housing, restructuring coordinator to help $250,000 given for Spectrum to save $120,000 per year=
Every other agency is doing the same things In August, the unions were told they were overpaid, r=
eview
process to happen Spectrum not funded for any sick days but government
standard is 9 days/year. How are Spectrum houses fu=
nded
(proposals) Calculations are based on top pay rate Old contracts are not adjusted for new wages Only been given increases through government Some new programs subsidize older programs Fewer contracts equals reduced admin and easier to mo=
ve
monies around Contracts will be redefined again may end up with eve=
n fewer
contracts, currently have 6 contracts within Spectrum Family Care:=
Issues: Velma and Jim are in transition for this service Contracts are both the same Different ways of family care, one is 3 different lev=
els
depending upon person supported other is associate family model ($2500 +
supports) Care provider is given $2000 for service $500 for other expenses $650 from individual (their GAIN cheque)
for rent and groceries Individuals get own clothing same as before $3150 together Spectrum provides day program + $250/month for respit=
e. Care provider chooses how she/he will use respite mon=
ey Will be monitored to ensure people us their respite m=
oney as
taking time out is important for this service to work Tax free money Calling this “foster parent employees” be=
nefit
of this is Spectrum can pay benefits to care provider and be more involved=
in
process They will have supervisor, monthly meetings, progress
reports and monitoring visits Cluster Hous=
ing: Issues: Duplex idea, Lee, Bill and Don already living in such=
house Saved money on night support hours and manager hours<=
/p>
Moving forward possibilities around Bert and Linda cl=
ose to
each other, same place, more of a cluster housing model, also considering
options for Mike Legion is being taken down soon and a large building =
will be
built in its place, could propose to owner what it would take to make 5 un=
its
accessible for cluster housing. Possibilities around that and helping with
design of units Seems to be a huge demand of this service still Always look at opportunities when permanent staff lea=
ves a
house When vacancies, fill with temp. to wait till other positions open for more opportunit=
ies for
all employees Each team can make a proposal about how to save money=
by
changing hours Required 2 hours to work by government, but Spectrum
requires 4 hours as a more fair option If have 2 hour meeting policy sta=
tes to
have person owe 2 hours to work. Respect those who do not want to come in for a 2 hour=
s meeting
If a team consensus that 2=
hours
for a meeting is good, then have a 2 hour meeting Group Activi=
ties: Issues: 4 proposals to try and start this month Music therapy, Saturday night hockey watching, variety
group, cooking/crafts/movies No fixed rate of pay Contract with instructor brings issues around employe=
es Talk of higher rate for the employee who is leading g=
roup Some employees will just lead the group for same pay<=
/p>
Restructurin=
g Update Issues: Find ways to do things differently but not less well<=
/p>
No plans for lay offs Always looking for suggestions Any ideas welcome by Spectrum People that have questions, ask them Next meeting date: <=
st1:date
Month=3D"1" Day=3D"21" Year=3D"2004" w:st=3D"on">January 21, 2004 in office,