New operator says home running well

DESPITE the council-initiated closure of the Tarcoola Aged Care Facility due to reports of a crippling staff shortage, new operators Southern Cross Care said the facility was now running smoothly.

Since Western Downs Regional Council voted to close Tara’s only aged care facility in July, at least 12 residents moved on from the 33-bed home.

Several of those residents were moved more than 100km to new facilities where they will stay, although the remaining residents whose families live locally waited out the transition process, despite Western Downs Regional Council instructions to move.

A Southern Cross Care spokeswoman said as of October 5, 17 residents were under their care.

“Current staffing levels are adequate to support the current number of residents at Tara,” she said.

The spokeswoman said when the time came to admit new residents SCCQ would work with the previous owners and operators to ensure adequate staffing levels were met.

“We will work with council to increase staffing levels accordingly to maintain a high quality level of care for all residents,” she said.

Both the council and SCCQ said they were currently looking to hire more staff.

The SCCQ spokeswoman said “some” new RNs and ENs were hired and would take the place of staff who had chosen to leave.

“No job losses have occurred, although some people made a personal choice to move on to other opportunities,” she said.

“As part of the management services agreement currently in place with the Western Downs Regional Council who remain the employer until SCCQ takes over ownership, in partnership with the council we are actively recruiting to fill vacant shifts.”

A Western Downs Regional Council spokeswoman said the council was working closely with SCCQ and the safety and wellbeing of all Tarcoola residents remained a key focus shared by both parties.

“Through the Management Agreement, Southern Cross Care Queensland has given confidence that it is able to leverage its expertise and resources to provide quality care to residents,” the spokeswoman said.

WDRC and SCCQ declined to answer how many positions still needed to be filled at Tarcoola.

Pic: Peta McEachern HEARTBROKEN: Tarcoola residents Neil Smith, 84, Betty Shepheard, 91, and Jeanette Grimes, 84, were devastated to hear the council planned to move them from their home. Now Tarcoola’s new operators say the home is running smoothly.