Hearth Appoints Amanda Marek to Head Up Greater Bendigo Office
I am very excited to announce the appointment of Amanda Marek to the newly created role of Hearth Support Services Relationship Manager – Team Leader Greater Bendigo Region
Amanda who joined us on the 25th of October and has lived in Bendigo for the past 11 years, will head up Hearths Bendigo office.
We hope to have our Bendigo office up and running before Christmas this year. The next step in Hearths regional expansion apart from finding suitable office space in Bendigo, will be to recruit our first Relationship Manager for the regional office.
Hearth Support Services Relationship Managers are dedicated to organising and coordinating the selection, matching of Disability Support Workers and Client/Family liaison, to ensure everybody is working together as a collaborative team. The Hearth Relationship Manager is a pivotal role in the “Hearth Approach” to disability support i.e.
The Hearth Support Services Approach to Disability Support Worker Matching
- Understand the Clients’ goals, interests and needs
- Find a Disability Support Worker who matches the Clients interests and is available when required
- Introduce the Client to the Disability Support Worker to see if there is a connection
- Ensure the Client is happy to proceed with shifts
- Make sure the Family/Guardian is comfortable to proceed with shifts
- Confirm the Disability Support Worker is comfortable and ready to proceed with shifts
- Organise any specific training that may be required prior to commencing shifts e.g., Hoist training
As part of the Hearth Support Services “Matching Process” the Relationship Manager physically introduces the Client to the Disability Support Worker before shifts start to ensure that all parties are comfortable with the match. If the Client has more challenging or complex support needs the Relationship Manager can also organize “shadow shifts”. Shadow shifts are organised to assist new Disability Support Workers to learn what is required to support the Client from a Disability Support Worker who has previously or currently supports the Client.
Another key role of the Relationship Manager is to coach, mentor, and assist each Disability Support Worker in their team with their career development. It is very reassuring for the Disability Support Worker to be able to call their Relationship Manager whenever required to discuss any challenges they have.
It is particularly reassuring when the Disability Support Worker knows that the Relationship Manager has met the Client and understands the situation and because of their experience they can listen and provide assistance or reassurance should the Disability Support Worker require it.
To meet the demand for our services and deliver consistent sustainable support we have had to develop our capability, capacity, and structure. As a result, Hearth Support Services has evolved over the years into an ecosystem of support for the Client and everyone else within the ecosystem, enabling us to provide sustainable long-term support.
Amanda has over 10 years of broad experience working for Healthscope Independence Services in the disability services sector based in Bendigo.
In her new role Amanda as Relationship Manager Team leader will head up the Bendigo regional office as well as providing support to the Relationship Managers.
Once again Amanda, congratulations and we look forward to your contribution to growing our dynamic new business venture in Regional Victoria.
Regional General Manager Hearth Support Services
