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Heads of Agreement Implementation Update
ANF provides the following outline of outcomes from a meeting held last week with DHHS representatives.
1. Safe Staffing/NHpPD: ANF raised concerns that although NUMs have received training, nurses have not received education in the NHpPD benchmarking process. Benchmarking needs to be undertaken in a consultative process with nurses, following the education.
2. Double shift reporting on EIMS: NUMs now have monthly reports of incidence to discuss with staff and reports are tabled at the SSC committees. ANF representatives are members of these committees. Please ensure all double shifts are recorded on EIMS.
3. Payslips: All accrued annual leave arising pre implementation of the new public holiday payments (Jan 2011) will be added/transferred to your annual leave balance and displayed on payslips in the near future. All this accrued leave will have leave loading applied. New hours accrued for those who have completed the public holiday election forms will be displayed under a different code and will not have loading when taken.
4. Professional Development Allowance: An audit will be undertaken of all full time nurses initially to understand why differing amounts of payment were received.
5. Introduction by mutual agreement of six hour shifts: These shifts are confined to weekends and public holidays. There will be an EOI for all nurses who want to work some shorter shifts by mutual agreement and discussions between nurses and NUMs will commence.
6. Increased Penalty Rates: The increase to 13.75% for afternoon shifts, 26.25% for night duty and 12 hour penalties to 16% for all hours has now been implemented.
7. Purchasing of leave: A form has been developed for nurses and midwives to enable the purchase of the entitlement of one week’s additional leave and under SSALS conditions, the discretion to purchase up to two weeks additional leave. The form will be available in the near future.
8. In Charge Allowance: Transitioned Grade 4s must write on their timesheet if their In Charge shift is as the sole Grade 4 or as Grade 4 in charge of other Grade 4s, to ensure correct rate of In Charge allowance is paid.
9. Break between call back: It has been agreed that clear conditions will be drafted in the Award, in the event that an eight hour break is not able to be taken following call back, to ensure all scenarios are clear.
10. New DHHS OHS Committee: The new DHHS OHS committee has met this week to consider the range of OHS affecting nurses as outlined in the Heads of Agreement.
11. New Uniforms: Uniform committee is considering the tenders and will be responsible for selecting the provider and styles. A timeframe will be forwarded to ANF.
12. Rural and Remote: It was confirmed that funding for the new 6.4FTE CNE has been allocated to areas and ANF are pursuing the selection process to commence in a timely manner. Nurses are encouraged to apply for their annual $3,000 professional development package.
13. Night duty payments: Public holidays are included in determining penalty rates for actual hours worked for nurses working on nights.
14. Future Wage Increases: All conditions arising from the registered Heads of Agreement continue until 2013, including wage and incremental increases.
CAREER STRUCTURE
a. Classification Descriptors: Draft descriptors for Grade 1 – 6 with preamble will be circulated for consultation with members next week.
b. NUM Review: It is anticipated the final report will be released next week. Further interviews with ADONs, DONs and AHNM will be undertaken to assist to differentiate the remaining grades and levels within grades. These remaining descriptors will be finalised in draft for consultation by September.
c. Grade 3 – 4 Application: It is agreed in writing that all nurses who successfully apply for the Grade 4 progression (when available), will be backpaid from 28 April 2011 to ensure no disadvantage. DHHS will provide interim advice on timeframes by 13 July. All capability assessment tools and frameworks must be completed and agreed through a consultation process by the end of September. It is envisaged the entire process of the career structure review will be finalised by the end of September.
d. Mental Health Nurses: The Multi Disciplinary Allowance working party and direct entry points for mental health nurses in the career structure, will be undertaken in a new separate committee and include review of interstate comparisons. DHHS will advise timetable by 15 July 2011. ANF Representatives will be on this committee
e. Primary Health Entry Points: The working party has reviewed the report which will now be circulated for consultation with all nurses working in primary health. ANF will be conducting meetings/videoconferencing throughout all regions.
f. Individual Classification Reviews: Due to the extension of this review, it is agreed that the six month timeframe will commence once the career structure is completed.
g. AIN trials: Trial wards are currently being considered. Once intention is confirmed, ANF will be holding meetings on potential wards to ensure nurses are mutually agreeable to the trial.
Authorised: Neroli Ellis Branch Secretary 12 July 2011
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