City of Salzburg – Nursing staff: Measures taken by the city’s senior citizens’ homes are working
The lack of nursing staff in the state of Salzburg hits the municipal senior citizens’ homes just as hard as all nursing facilities. the situation has nonetheless stabilized. This is partly due to the numerous measures taken for their employees.
Standing together – peers support at work
The new “peer system – we stand together!” has just been introduced in the city’s senior citizens’ homes. Ingo Vogl (Red Cross and cabaret artist) and his crisis intervention team trained the first 15 employees who offer direct support to their colleagues in demanding situations. More courses will follow. Alexander Buchbauer, co-initiator of the project and himself part of the Red Cross crisis team, the advantages of a peer system: “It’s about being able to talk to a well-trained colleague quickly and on an equal footing: to address problems and stress. With the low-threshold peer system, we offer help for self-help, and not just at the next team supervision in a few days, but when the crisis happens.” The departmental social councilor Anja Hagenauer also praises the innovation: “I’m glad that we in our retirement homes we can fall back on such a strong pool of innovative employees. In this way, we can always launch projects like our peer system together and support the care. My thanks go to the first 15 peers, who will be able to support their colleagues even more competently in difficult situations in the future.”
Attention parents: summer care for children of employees
In addition, a pilot project for summer childcare during the long summer holidays was implemented for the first time this year. This year, 8 children of employees from the Taxham and Hellbrunn senior citizens’ homes were cared for at the Hellbrunn location. Due to the success, an expansion to 6 weeks and an expansion to several locations is planned for 2023. The range of official apartments has also been expanded with the property in Eniglgasse. These serve as further incentives so that the municipal senior citizens’ facilities become more attractive as employers.
The offers specifically for executives support professional training and the development of personal strengths and talents.
All of these measures have a positive effect on the employees and the positive effects can be felt every day by the 540 residents. In total, the city spends around 35,000 a year on this new “Be as I am” program.
Supervision, support and development
Nursing professionals are in demand, and they must also be given opportunities for professional and personal development. In addition to competent team supervision, all employees also have individual coaching options at their disposal. In the event of a conflict or in particularly stressful situations, mediation is possible at any time.
Appreciative and modern working environment
Nursing is a very demanding activity that requires mutual support from employees. In order to provide relief in the event of short-term staff shortages, a day-time on-call service was created in the nursing teams in all houses. The continued employment of retired nursing staff and short-term support from trainees and students have also proven their worth.
Excellent employer Nonntal
The team at the Nonntalheuer retirement home even received the “Modern Work Award” for the “Modern Caring” concept. A central point in further development is always the consistent participation of those affected in decision-making and change processes.
All of these advantages are summarized for those who are interested at www.stadt-salzburg.at/pflege.