BaptistCare makes list for AFR BOSS Best Places to Work 2022

BaptistCare is excited to announce the organisation has been acknowledged in the 2022 AFR BOSS Best Places to Work List, ranking tenth in the Government, Education and Not for Profit list, from over 750 nominated organisations across Australia and New Zealand.

The organisation has been recognised for its achievements and practices including its employee assistance program, Flourish, and its response during COVID-19 in supporting staff across the organisation.

Speaking to the AFR, BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore explained that as the first aged care provider to experience a COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, BaptistCare saw first-hand the challenge the aged care job sector would face and its impact on aged care workers in particular.

“After conducting a pulse survey a few months into the pandemic, 36% of staff responded that their well-being was not high, and a significant number indicated they were struggling.”

“While we had already established support for staff, it was clear these new and evolving challenges required a further response that acknowledged the evolving situation. Our Flourish program provided staff with greater access to counselling and support services and introduced additional lifestyle, career, financial and legal support,” he said.

The program, available to staff and volunteers, and their families, was relaunched with a broader and holistic range of support services, and nearly 5000 staff and volunteers received direct mail ensuring they were aware of the program and support available.

In addition to staff engaging with Flourish, BaptistCare also provided staff with retention bonus payments totalling almost 500,000, above and beyond those provided by Government, and appreciation vouchers for staff on receiving their first vaccination dose, allowing staff to continue their jobs in aged care.

The organisation also employed an additional 150 staff across its 18 homes to act as a surge or additional workforce should trained staff be needed in outbreak-affected homes. The additional workforce was reassuring in a sector where large numbers of staff were being furloughed at a time. 71% of these staff have remained employed with BaptistCare, with more than 20 supported to undertake a Certificate III qualification.

During the first phases of the pandemic, BaptistCare’s Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) rose significantly from 17-29, demonstrating that a people-first approach yields great results even through a crisis.

“The pandemic has highlighted systemic issues in aged care, with underfunding and staff shortages. In a sense, aged care was already in crisis prior to the pandemic. But despite this, BaptistCare’s staff, in aged care and right across our organisation, stepped up and did their absolute best. Their commitment to our residents, clients and colleagues never wavered, and for that, we are incredibly thankful,” said Mr Moore.

The prestigious annual list, published by The Australian Financial Review and Boss Magazine, is based on a rigorous assessment process managed by Australia’s leading behavioural science consultancy, Inventium. The assessment includes a staff survey contributing to 50% of the overall score and a written submission that covers the organisation’s existing practices, programs and policies.

Alongside the accolade, BaptistCare is also given a benchmarking report showing how the organisation performed in relation to other entrants and recommendations on how it can further improve its performance.

“The report is of great importance to BaptistCare. It’s not enough to be listed as a great place to work, if we don’t keep evolving and improving our people-first approach. This is a journey for BaptistCare. In addition to further initiatives in the works, the ongoing voice of our employees matters greatly and will be a driving force as we continue to generate an employee experience everyone is proud of.”

“Our staff have spent the best part of two years turning up, day after day, in some of the toughest conditions. We truly value them, and we’re so pleased their engagement showed us they heard, felt and saw this,” said Mr Moore.

The AFR BOSS Best Places to Work list recognises and ranks the best places to work in Australia and New Zealand, by industry, and is the premier list of its kind. The list is judged and compiled by Inventium – Australia’s leading behavioural science consultancy, using a unique research-based methodology. In 2022, the list comprised of ten industry lists, compiled from over 750 nominations.