Manager feared job loss if he spoke up

THE former manager of an aged care facility at Somerset says he feared he would lose his job if he protested against significant cuts to staffing hours.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety heard Southern Cross Care, which runs Yaraandoo Hostel, had cut staffing hours in eight of its nine facilities across the state.

The commission, which is sitting at Hobart’s Wrest Point this week, heard one of those changes occurred in August last year and saw a reduction of 14 staffing hours per day in care staff at Yaraandoo – eight hours in the morning and six in the evening. Yaraandoo’s former manager Patrick Anderson said he knew a reduction in staffing hours would have a detrimental effect on the care of residents, but did not feel he could speak up.

Mr Anderson – the manager from October 2017 to February this year – said he was told by one of his managers that the board was “hopping mad” about the budget and that savings had to be made.

“The cuts were presented to me as something that was a necessity and that we would be shutting down at some point in the future if we did not make these cuts,’’ he said.

“And I guess the most honest way I could put it is I felt as though if I didn’t comply that my employment would be ceased.”

Mr Anderson said, in retrospect, he should have protested the cuts.

Yaraandoo’s clinical care co-ordinator Tammy Marshall said when staff changes were proposed, she was not involved until the decision was already made.

Ms Marshall said there was a feeling of distress about the changes and said they impacted on the already “very low” morale among staff.

She was asked about whether the facility had a vision. “Well, there’s certainly a vision to save on costs,’’ she said. The commission also heard about documents relating to the budget that spoke about a “pathway to break even”.

The commission heard from family members of two residents of another of Southern Cross Care’s facilities, Glenara Lakes near Launceston, who relayed negative experiences.

Both Yaraandoo and Glenara Lakes have been subject to significant compliance action in the past 12 months relating to their operations.

The hearing continues.