CHOICES PEP TALK

The Return of …..the Newsletter about

achieving the VISION

January 2016

Issue 1

• There has been a team of 2 managers and 2 staff trained in PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) to provide clients with the opportunity to plan future goals in a fun and creative way.

• We have had 4 staff attend the PECS (Picture Ex-change Communication System) Level 1 training; this will provide the Choices clients and staff a resource team who has knowledge and training to assist in enhancing communication for clients.

• Implemented and regularly use case conferences - which have improved support plans and outcomes.

• Created a welcome package for families.

• Revised the Associate Living Program – now called the Family Home Program. New policy, new educa-tion and training program for staff, new forms, more education for families.

• Used solid risk management processes to improve our management of client finances. We are working towards a much improved relation-ship between our clients and the places where they do banking. We have more and more cli-ents who have their own trustee!

• We can now do analysis of risk manage-ment items such as incident reports, Serious Occurrences, medication training results;

• Team meetings are Home Centered focused on the best environment and team problem solving for improved Quality of Life for each client

• MCSS Compliance 93% And here’s to our many more outstanding achievements to

come in 2016! Cheers, HeatherCheers, HeatherCheers, HeatherCheers, Heather

What Have You Done

For Me Lately? Since 2012 the leadership team, front line and support staff have been working hard to understand and par-ticipate in the many changes that have been imple-mented. All of those changes are designed to help cre-ate a life we want here at CHOICES.

WHAT HAVE WE DONE? • Implemented and committed to the JUST CULTURE

(√ BEST PRACTICE) • Moved clients into decision making roles – participation

in hiring interviews (√ BEST PRACTICE), regular meetings between the Board and the MOTM (√ BEST PRACTICE), and clients are making real decisions about their PCP.

• Created a maintenance process second to none! The list of accomplishments by maintenance is enormous! (√ BEST PRACTICE)

• Created Property Standards so clients live in and the front line staff work in homes not houses.

• Implemented data collection and client presentations for the Behav-iour Review Committee – which is receiving rave reviews. (and we are pretty sure our data collection is as well!) (√ BEST PRACTICE)

• Improved policy for Finance, OH&S, Human Resources and Programs

• Greatly improved our commitment to staff education. We have welcomed 3 new apprentices to the DSW Apprenticeship Program; we have 1 apprentice just about to finish his apprenticeship.

A message from Heather A message from Heather A message from Heather A message from Heather

Bruce, Executive Director Bruce, Executive Director Bruce, Executive Director Bruce, Executive Director

AGENDA: Progress from 2012 – 2016

Maintenance Improvements

Family Home Program

Frequency of Coffee Breaks Meetings

Coffee and light refreshments will be served. RSVP to Barb 905-628-6147 by January 19th

Next Event: April 2016

Please Join Us for the 1st:

FAMILY FOCUS COFFEE

BREAK

Tuesday January 26th 6:30pm– 8:00pm

at the Westfield Day Program Site 459 Ofield Road South

What Is Servant Leadership? An Intro...What Is Servant Leadership? An Intro...What Is Servant Leadership? An Intro...What Is Servant Leadership? An Intro...

Volunteers

CHOICES continues to struggle to have a for-mal volunteer program. We are not funded for a volunteer coordinator and at this point in time we do not have the resources to get this

program up and running. We very much appreciate all the volunteer hours many folks provide to us!

Grants

Just an FYI that we have applied to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for two grants; one for improvements to our IT system and one for two wheelchair vans (approx. 70K each). Trillium is a grant maker and thought-leader, awarding mil-

lions annually to some 1,000 nonprofit and charitable organizations across the province. Wish us luck!

From the desk of Quality Assurance… From the desk of Quality Assurance… From the desk of Quality Assurance… From the desk of Quality Assurance… Bernadette Homerski, Quality Assurance Manager

Developing P.C.As (Person Centered Attitudes)Developing P.C.As (Person Centered Attitudes)Developing P.C.As (Person Centered Attitudes)Developing P.C.As (Person Centered Attitudes)

No. Don’t panic…it isn’t another new piece of documentation! During our MCSS Compliance Audit, it was brought to my attention by one of the audi-tors that there was such a ‘positive attitude’ in the agency. YAY!

And really good to hear from someone outside of the agency.

Attitudes can have a powerful influence over behavior. But, while attitudes are enduring, they can also change….we, and others appar-ently, can see that at CHOICES We all develop attitudes about all kinds of issues from politics, to fashion to religion …even food! There are a number of different fac-tors that can influence how and why attitudes form. Experience: They may emerge due to direct personal experience, or they may result from observation.

Social Factors: Social roles and social norms can have a strong influence on attitudes. Social roles relate to how people are expected to behave in a particular role or context. Social norms involve soci-ety's rules for what behaviors are considered appropriate.

Learning: Attitudes can be learned in a variety of ways. Consider how advertisers to influence your attitude toward a particular prod-uct.

Consider this: as a Professional Support Worker you have the ex-perience of being with people who need support in various aspects of their lives. How does your attitude and behavior as a support worker educate those who do not work with adults with developmental delays? As a Professional Support Worker, you also recognize that society has certain expectations for behavior and communication. Social Fac-tors do not seem to take into consideration the needs of many of the individuals we support. How does your attitude and behaviour help/hinder you when faced with barriers while supporting individuals? We are well aware of how quickly an attitude is learned. It only takes one person one sentence to change the tone in a room and create a positive or a negative attitude. How does your attitude/behavior communicate worth and respect to the individuals you support?

So, how do we develop a P.C.A. - a Person Centered Attitude? It starts with US….ME. Everything we say and do is a reflection of our attitude so the first task is to take a look at the attitudes I have.

As was mentioned at the beginning, attitude affects behavior. Behaviour is communica-tion. What am I communicating to my co-workers and the individuals I support?

This year 2016, I challenge each person at CHOICES to be “ATTITUDE AWARE”. If you hear a negative attitude, address it and adapt. When you hear a positive attitude, support and celebrate it. Better choices makes CHOICES better!

Robert K. Greenleaf first coined the phrase "servant leadership" in his 1970 essay, "The Ser-vant as a Leader." However, it's an approach that people have used for centuries.

As a servant leader, you are "servant first" – you focus on the needs of others, especially team members, before you consider your own. You acknowledge other people's perspectives, give them the support they need to meet their work and personal goals, involve them in decisions where appropriate, and build a sense of community within your team. This leads to higher en-gagement, more trust, and stronger relationships with team members and other stakeholders. It can also lead to increased innovation.

Servant leadership is not a leadership style or technique as such. Rather it's a way of behaving that you adopt over the longer term. It comple-ments democratic leadership styles, and it has similarities with Transfor-

mational Leadership (which is often the most effective style to use in business situations). This is where leaders demonstrate humility in the way they work.

Simply put, servant leadership is authentic leadership. If you’re not serving others, you’re not leading.

The problem is, most definitions of servant leadership are difficult to understand or share.

Therefore, to increase awareness and advocacy Modern Servant Leader has created a more simple definition, using the acronym S.E.R.V.A.N.T.

Over the next few issues of the Newsletter, we’ll examine each letter and what it means to be Selfless, Empathetic, Resolute, Virtu-ous, Authentic, Needful and Thorough.

Rob Fairhall, Operational Compliance Coordinator

Get to Know Debb Consoli, Orkney Support Worker

I’ve been with CHOICES since 2005 and gained experience at many programs and locations. I started my career with Choices at Harvest, moving then to Orkney, and I assisted when the Duncan Home was first being set up. I have worked in Supported Independent Living, Family Home, Westfield, and The Mulberry Bush and I have now returned to Orkney. I have had the opportunity to meet clients before they came to CHOICES and then to support them in their goals once they have become a part of CHOICES. I have furthered my education in Social Role Valorization and Sex Esteem (Training the Trainer) along with enhanced computer skills. My role at The Mulberry Bush gave me the opportunity to work alongside 14 individuals that were interested in learning employable skills, independence and educating the community. I enjoy working with everyone and con-

tinue to learn from others daily and hope I can share my experiences. I believe in “I can and I will”

A monthly feature highlighting our greatest

asset—our staff! Get to know the faces on

your CHOICES Team.

Orkney has 6 housemates that reside together, encourage and respect each other. Everyone has

their own chosen routine; they also have individual and group activities that change at their request.

The Orkney home has evolved and changed to undergo a visual change that is reflecting of each per-son that lives here. A walk through their home tells a story about each person from the time you enter the front door and see their collage of personal pictures, a stroll into their bedrooms that reflects their individuality: that includes their likes, family, friends, favorite color schemes, activities and music. The maintenance department has worked hard to give the house interior a much-needed face-lift with new paint. Abigail and Sonya can now play hangman on the large chalk board in the kitchen and the sensory room is a work in progress. It is coming together nicely with sensory activities and playful lighting. The living room is set up with beautiful new furniture, which everyone enjoys, curtains, television, lamps, tables and plants. Everyone has their area

that they like to spend time in. Please drop in to see us but remember to knock and wait as we like to welcome guests into our home.

“A HOUSE is made of Bricks & Beams, a HOME is made of Hopes & Dreams” Written by Debb Consoli—Orkney Support Worker

Just Look For the Big Blue HouseJust Look For the Big Blue HouseJust Look For the Big Blue HouseJust Look For the Big Blue House

Meet Deborah Filice, Program Manager at Carlisle & Harvest A lifetime Hamilton resident, I have been working and volunteering in the housing and homelessness sector for twenty-nine years, previously as the Director, Housing Services in Brantford and Housing Operations Manager with the City of Hamilton. As a ten-year part-time Professor with Guelph University / Humber College, I instruct in the Property Man-agement program and the Leadership Development program. My volunteer efforts include over 15 years with the Insti-tute of Housing Management and advocacy work addressing issues of poverty and homelessness. I am a long-time mem-

ber of the Ontario College of Social Work and Social Service Workers and hold a degree in Gerontology from McMaster University and Masters Certificate in Municipal Leadership from York University.

I have been married for 41 years, caregiver for legally blind mother, three adult children, two grandchildren (Tyler and Jacob). In my spare time I listen to audio books, enjoy my two grandchildren and author content for various educational courseware materials for in-class and on-line learning.

I’m truly enjoying my current role as Program Manager for Choices. This new career path has provided the opportunity to gain en-hanced understanding of the needs for persons with developmental disabilities while providing resident and family support.

Meet Lisa Davidson, Duncan Support Worker

During my time at CHOICES I have had many opportunities to work in many different areas of the organization which has allowed me to gain so many fundamental experiences. The experience that I have had through-out my employment with CHOICES has given me the skills to be able to support each person with the most Person Centered approach in mind. With this knowledge I have been able to support the people who live at the Duncan residence with making posi-

tive choices that will help them to succeed at being fully integrated citizens in their community.

Most recently I was able to achieve a very long term goal of mine, gaining full time employment. This opportunity will allow me to utilize the skills I have gained over years of experience as well as expand my knowledge and responsibility as a

developmental service worker.

I look forward to many of the goals we have set as a team within the Duncan home as well as goals I have set for myself.

2016 is going to be a very exciting year of positive change -I am going to enjoy the journey. “Do with, not do for”

Education & Training 2016Education & Training 2016Education & Training 2016Education & Training 2016

CHOICES PEP TALK NEWSLETTER Page 4

tel: (905) 628-6147

fax: (905) 628-6175

email: choices@choicesgroup.org

59 Kirby Avenue, Units 10 & 11 Dundas,

ON L9H 6P3

MISSION STATEMENT The Mission of CHOICES is to actively pursue a continuum of service that will enhance the quality of life for individuals with

developmental disabilities, promote social inclusion and the worth

and self-worth of the individuals we support.

Welcome to a new and exciting year of education and training. This year we will be focusing on Communica-tion through the Self Directed Learning as well as our Direct Support Professionals Core Competencies. We have been given the opportunity to utilize the SEIU edu-cation opportunities for a great deal of our material this coming year and I hope that you all benefit from this. Through the CHOICES newsletters I will be focusing on the Core Competencies and giving examples and oppor-tunities for staff and clients to share their experiences as

well. I look forward to a new and exciting year. Christina Hume-Hall, Education Coordinator

We were proud to be able to provide the following learning opportunities to our CHOICES Staff in 2015:

• Survive to Thrive Trauma - 11 staff

• Building Inclusive Communities - 5 staff

• Augmentative Communication - 12 staff

• Autism Intervener Course Level 1 - 4 staff

• Supported Decision Making and the Role of the Facilitator - 6

• Operations of Small drinking Water Systems - 3 staff

• Advanced Care Planning Workshop - 4 staff • Registered Behaviour Technician – 6 staff • Work of Leaders - 5 staff • Hope and Healing - 6 staff • Using Functional Communication Training to Re-

duce Challenging Behaviours - 2 staff • Building a New Story - 3 staff • OADD Conference - 3 staff • FASD Community Initiative in Service - 10 staff • PATH - 4 staff • Working with Individuals with Sexually Inappropri-

ate/Offensive Behaviours - 25 staff • PECS - 4 staff • Community Network of Specialized Care Video

Conferences Live and Archived – ALL! • Open Future Learning – EVERYONE IN AGENCY!

• Remember: to warm up & stretch your muscles before shovelling to prevent injuries.

• Keep your feet wide apart, and the shovel close to your body.

• Lift with your arms and legs, and avoid twisting at your waist to prevent back injuries. Shift

your entire body during the throw.

• Keep hydrated! Avoid narcotics and caffeine before shovelling to reduce the amount of stress

on the heart.

Safety On & Off the Job: Safety On & Off the Job: Safety On & Off the Job: Safety On & Off the Job: Winter Shovelling TipsWinter Shovelling TipsWinter Shovelling TipsWinter Shovelling Tips

What’s your technique?