Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
Become the change
Baptistcare’s value of courage and justice in our actions, brings to mind the concept of advocacy. This is about standing up for what is right on behalf of those people who are not able to speak for themselves. As supporters of our elders, people with disabilities, and people with a mental illness, Baptistcare is in a position to defend and protect some of the most marginalised people in our society. How do we go about doing this?
I was in a restaurant and took advantage of their feedback form to bring attention to the lack of disability access. A simple example. As we put ourselves in the place of the people we serve and begin to recognise discrimination, ignorance, or fear of difference in our society, it becomes harder to keep quiet.
Ghandi said: We must become the change we wish to create.
I was in a restaurant and took advantage of their feedback form to bring attention to the lack of disability access. A simple example. As we put ourselves in the place of the people we serve and begin to recognise discrimination, ignorance, or fear of difference in our society, it becomes harder to keep quiet.
Ghandi said: We must become the change we wish to create.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Nazareth Manifesto
The third of Baptistcare’s values reads: "in fulfilling our mission we are person-centred and embrace courage and justice in our actions."
It is appropriate that we consider the matter of courage and justice in the same month that we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the One who stood for courage and justice in both his life and his death.
A part of the Bible that has been special to me tells about one of the first public events performed by Jesus. He went to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue where he was handed a scroll. In what has become known as the Nazareth manifesto Jesus read the following words:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
To live such a manifesto requires courage and justice.
It is appropriate that we consider the matter of courage and justice in the same month that we celebrate Christmas, the birth of the One who stood for courage and justice in both his life and his death.
A part of the Bible that has been special to me tells about one of the first public events performed by Jesus. He went to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue where he was handed a scroll. In what has become known as the Nazareth manifesto Jesus read the following words:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
To live such a manifesto requires courage and justice.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Integrity and Respect
We continue to look at Baptistcare’s values, and will spend some more time looking at the statement: Integrity and respect in personal and organisational behaviour.
I’ve tried my hand at juggling on a number of occasions, but in most cases have failed to keep two balls in the air, let alone three. Yet when you watch a professional juggler it looks so easy. In most workplaces we find it necessary to keep several balls in the air and just when you’ve got the pattern going nicely someone throws in another ball or two just to keep you on your toes.
When the pattern of juggling falters and your ability to look like a professional is not going as planned, both integrity and respect come under a great deal of pressure. If we are not people of integrity when the juggling becomes too hard, we will not only depend on sleight of hand and other circus tricks to get us through, but at the first sign of failure the greatest threat comes to the people who are nearest to us.
People of integrity recognise that respect for those around us, whether they be family, friends, colleagues or clients, is of the highest priority, along with our ability to respect ourselves, not allowing our personal values to be compromised.
I’d love to hear your comments about how you maintain integrity and respect in a world of juggling balls.
I’ve tried my hand at juggling on a number of occasions, but in most cases have failed to keep two balls in the air, let alone three. Yet when you watch a professional juggler it looks so easy. In most workplaces we find it necessary to keep several balls in the air and just when you’ve got the pattern going nicely someone throws in another ball or two just to keep you on your toes.
When the pattern of juggling falters and your ability to look like a professional is not going as planned, both integrity and respect come under a great deal of pressure. If we are not people of integrity when the juggling becomes too hard, we will not only depend on sleight of hand and other circus tricks to get us through, but at the first sign of failure the greatest threat comes to the people who are nearest to us.
People of integrity recognise that respect for those around us, whether they be family, friends, colleagues or clients, is of the highest priority, along with our ability to respect ourselves, not allowing our personal values to be compromised.
I’d love to hear your comments about how you maintain integrity and respect in a world of juggling balls.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Respect in our behaviour
Baptistcare’s second value is “integrity and respect in personal and organisational behaviour”.
I have been watching over a number of years the growth of a programme called “Choose Respect” that was developed by a friend of mine. “Choose Respect” has been introduced into a number of schools in Western Australia. A study that was conducted at Boddington District High School in 2007-2008 in conjunction with Murdoch University showed that referrals for serious disruptive behaviour were reduced by 90 percent during the time the “Choose Respect” programme was implemented.
Schools that adopt “Choose Respect” also adopt a code of behaviour which reads: To choose respect is to make a conscious effort to:
• Treat others with Respect, no matter how they treat you;
• Treat yourself with Respect;
• Forgive others who do not treat you with Respect;
• Resist your natural desire to pay back or take revenge;
• Apologise when you do not treat others with Respect;
• Support others who are not being treated with Respect;
• Ask for support when others do not treat you with Respect.
It’s a little word, but it holds a wealth of meaning. What does respect mean to you and what sort of behaviour do you expect from people who are showing you respect in the workplace?
I have been watching over a number of years the growth of a programme called “Choose Respect” that was developed by a friend of mine. “Choose Respect” has been introduced into a number of schools in Western Australia. A study that was conducted at Boddington District High School in 2007-2008 in conjunction with Murdoch University showed that referrals for serious disruptive behaviour were reduced by 90 percent during the time the “Choose Respect” programme was implemented.
Schools that adopt “Choose Respect” also adopt a code of behaviour which reads: To choose respect is to make a conscious effort to:
• Treat others with Respect, no matter how they treat you;
• Treat yourself with Respect;
• Forgive others who do not treat you with Respect;
• Resist your natural desire to pay back or take revenge;
• Apologise when you do not treat others with Respect;
• Support others who are not being treated with Respect;
• Ask for support when others do not treat you with Respect.
It’s a little word, but it holds a wealth of meaning. What does respect mean to you and what sort of behaviour do you expect from people who are showing you respect in the workplace?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Homeless Connect 2010
A group of Baptistcare employees volunteered their time to assist Perth's Homeless Connect 2010.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Integrity in behaviour
The second of Baptistcare’s values is integrity and respect in personal and organisational behaviour.
I’ve flown in a few light aircrafts in my time, but the most memorable was a flight in a Lake Buccaneer, which is a very small (four seater) amphibious aircraft. The flight from Derby to Cockatoo Island in the far north of WA was not without some trepidation but the most frightening part was trying to land and take off from the crocodile infested ocean around Cockatoo Island. People in the industry describe the Lake Buccaneer as having the aerodynamics of a dead cat when the power goes, and it’s probably just as well that I didn’t find out till after the flight that it had sunk on two previous occasions in its life.
I wouldn’t describe the aircraft as having integrity, but it worked. It got me to Cockatoo Island and back without crashing, sinking or falling apart, although the way it rattled and roared I had my doubts on a number of occasions.
The way we behave in the workplace or for that matter, in our family and social life, may be acceptable by some standards. We can get things done that are expected of us and generally speaking we get by without any major problems. But can we described as having integrity in our behaviour?
Quite often integrity isn’t obvious until there is a crisis. When the storm breaks or the seas are rough I think we can judge a person’s integrity by the degree to which they display a wholeness of character that doesn’t resort to defensiveness, anger or blame.
I’d be interested to hear your comments about how we can show integrity in our personal and organisational behaviour.
I’ve flown in a few light aircrafts in my time, but the most memorable was a flight in a Lake Buccaneer, which is a very small (four seater) amphibious aircraft. The flight from Derby to Cockatoo Island in the far north of WA was not without some trepidation but the most frightening part was trying to land and take off from the crocodile infested ocean around Cockatoo Island. People in the industry describe the Lake Buccaneer as having the aerodynamics of a dead cat when the power goes, and it’s probably just as well that I didn’t find out till after the flight that it had sunk on two previous occasions in its life.
I wouldn’t describe the aircraft as having integrity, but it worked. It got me to Cockatoo Island and back without crashing, sinking or falling apart, although the way it rattled and roared I had my doubts on a number of occasions.
The way we behave in the workplace or for that matter, in our family and social life, may be acceptable by some standards. We can get things done that are expected of us and generally speaking we get by without any major problems. But can we described as having integrity in our behaviour?
Quite often integrity isn’t obvious until there is a crisis. When the storm breaks or the seas are rough I think we can judge a person’s integrity by the degree to which they display a wholeness of character that doesn’t resort to defensiveness, anger or blame.
I’d be interested to hear your comments about how we can show integrity in our personal and organisational behaviour.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Dignity and Compassion
In my last blog we talked about dignity in our relationships, but it is worth noting that the first of the values espoused by Baptistcare is dignity and compassion in our relationships. What is the significance of having these two words (dignity and compassion) coming together in the same sentence?
The dictionary describes compassion as: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. The question is, where does the emphasis lie: With me or with you? We can place the emphasis on me as the provider of compassion, or on you as the recipient of compassion.
As the provider of compassion I most likely want something in return, at the very least thanks or gratitude. As the provider of compassion, I will most likely assign some value to the compassion I am providing. In other words, I will sum up whether some situations or people are more eligible or more worthy of my compassion than others. The result is that there is a power imbalance. The provider of compassion has the power and is using that power to his or her advantage.
If the focus is on the receiver of compassion, the situation changes quite significantly. Now I will be trying to find out what the needs of the person are, rather than thinking about my own needs; I will be concerned about how the person feels about my involvement in his or her life, rather than imposing something against their will; I will treat that person with dignity so that compassion is not something that is imposed but something that is shared.
I’d love to hear some examples of how dignity and compassion work together.
The dictionary describes compassion as: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. The question is, where does the emphasis lie: With me or with you? We can place the emphasis on me as the provider of compassion, or on you as the recipient of compassion.
As the provider of compassion I most likely want something in return, at the very least thanks or gratitude. As the provider of compassion, I will most likely assign some value to the compassion I am providing. In other words, I will sum up whether some situations or people are more eligible or more worthy of my compassion than others. The result is that there is a power imbalance. The provider of compassion has the power and is using that power to his or her advantage.
If the focus is on the receiver of compassion, the situation changes quite significantly. Now I will be trying to find out what the needs of the person are, rather than thinking about my own needs; I will be concerned about how the person feels about my involvement in his or her life, rather than imposing something against their will; I will treat that person with dignity so that compassion is not something that is imposed but something that is shared.
I’d love to hear some examples of how dignity and compassion work together.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Dignity in our relationships
In future blogs I want to reflect on Baptistcare’s values. These are the behaviours that we expect to see as we go about our mission and strive to reach our vision: To transform and enrich lives.
I will never forget the time I went into a real estate agency to assist an Aboriginal woman in her search for secure housing. The woman’s dress was dirty and she had sores on her face, but she had a basic right to housing. I had listened to her stories of repeated rejection and mistrust and offered to go with her, thinking (rather self-righteously) that my advocacy would help to overcome some of the barriers of race. I was a middle class Caucasian male who previously had no problems with negotiation, but as I stood alongside this woman to advocate on her behalf it was as if my skin colour had suddenly changed and my dignity was crushed by the words and attitudes of the person at reception.
In contemplating how to treat another person a question I like to ask myself is: “How would I expect this person to treat me?”. I would like to be treated with dignity, and no matter who I am or what I have done, or what my relationship with the person is, I would like to think that my basic humanity is respected. The least I can do is to return that respect.
One of the great poets of our time, Bob Dylan expressed the view of so many when he said:
So many roads, so much at stake;
So many dead ends and I’m at the edge of the lake;
Sometimes I wonder what it’s gonna take to find dignity.
What are some ways that you would express dignity in your relationships?
I will never forget the time I went into a real estate agency to assist an Aboriginal woman in her search for secure housing. The woman’s dress was dirty and she had sores on her face, but she had a basic right to housing. I had listened to her stories of repeated rejection and mistrust and offered to go with her, thinking (rather self-righteously) that my advocacy would help to overcome some of the barriers of race. I was a middle class Caucasian male who previously had no problems with negotiation, but as I stood alongside this woman to advocate on her behalf it was as if my skin colour had suddenly changed and my dignity was crushed by the words and attitudes of the person at reception.
In contemplating how to treat another person a question I like to ask myself is: “How would I expect this person to treat me?”. I would like to be treated with dignity, and no matter who I am or what I have done, or what my relationship with the person is, I would like to think that my basic humanity is respected. The least I can do is to return that respect.
One of the great poets of our time, Bob Dylan expressed the view of so many when he said:
So many roads, so much at stake;
So many dead ends and I’m at the edge of the lake;
Sometimes I wonder what it’s gonna take to find dignity.
What are some ways that you would express dignity in your relationships?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
A symbol
Baptistcare is spread widely around the southern half of Western Australia. We’ve got about 1300 staff and we work from more than 20 different office or service locations as well as providing services in more than 200 private homes around the state. How do we establish a sense of unity in such diversity?
One way is to have a symbol that we can use in each of our locations that reminds us that we are not alone but are part of a bigger family. I heard about one organisation that uses a teapot to remind them of their role of hospitality. I like the idea of a watering can because of our vision to transform and enrich lives – there seems to be some synergy with gardening.
Have you got any ideas? Add your thoughts to the comments at the bottom of the blog and join the conversation.
One way is to have a symbol that we can use in each of our locations that reminds us that we are not alone but are part of a bigger family. I heard about one organisation that uses a teapot to remind them of their role of hospitality. I like the idea of a watering can because of our vision to transform and enrich lives – there seems to be some synergy with gardening.
Have you got any ideas? Add your thoughts to the comments at the bottom of the blog and join the conversation.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Champions of Freedom #3
This is the third in a series on Baptist Champions of Freedom.
Thomas Helwys championed religious freedom for people of all religions, including no religion at all, in 17th century England when the government made the rules about what people could believe. Roger Williams took the same principles with him to America where he was the founder of the state of Rhode Island and championed the cause of separation of church and state, ultimately influencing the US Constitution. Our third Baptist Champion of Freedom is Martin Luther King.
King was a Baptist preacher and co-pastored the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta with his father. His grandfather had served as pastor of that church from 1914 to 1931 and his great grandfather had also been a Baptist preacher. Martin Luther King’s commitment to social justice and freedom stemmed from his Baptist heritage and belief in religious liberty. He became a civil rights activist quite early in his life and in 1964 became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end racial segregation and racial discrimination. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Why did I tell these three stories of Baptist Champions of Freedom? Simply to say that the roots of Baptistcare are intertwined with a long heritage of people who have championed freedom and have stood up for the rights of individuals. I hope that in some way we can maintain the courage of our forebears.
I'd love to hear your comments about these stories.
Thomas Helwys championed religious freedom for people of all religions, including no religion at all, in 17th century England when the government made the rules about what people could believe. Roger Williams took the same principles with him to America where he was the founder of the state of Rhode Island and championed the cause of separation of church and state, ultimately influencing the US Constitution. Our third Baptist Champion of Freedom is Martin Luther King.
King was a Baptist preacher and co-pastored the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta with his father. His grandfather had served as pastor of that church from 1914 to 1931 and his great grandfather had also been a Baptist preacher. Martin Luther King’s commitment to social justice and freedom stemmed from his Baptist heritage and belief in religious liberty. He became a civil rights activist quite early in his life and in 1964 became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end racial segregation and racial discrimination. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president. King's efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Why did I tell these three stories of Baptist Champions of Freedom? Simply to say that the roots of Baptistcare are intertwined with a long heritage of people who have championed freedom and have stood up for the rights of individuals. I hope that in some way we can maintain the courage of our forebears.
I'd love to hear your comments about these stories.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Champions of Freedom #2
This is the second in my three stories about Baptist Champions of Freedom
In my last blog I mentioned King James 1 who was persecuting Catholics and Puritans, including burning heretics at the stake. He was replaced in 1625 by King Charles 1 who began another campaign of persecution against the Puritans.
Roger Williams was a Church of England minister who left the Church of England to become a Puritan because he became convinced in his beliefs of separation of church and state, so after Charles began his campaign Williams and his wife Mary sailed to America. After challenging the government in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 about the way it tried to regulate religious matters and its appropriation of land from Native Americans, Roger and Mary Williams were banished from the colony.
They headed south from Massachusetts to Rhode Island where they purchased land from the local Naragansett Indians and founded Providence where Williams organised the first Baptist Church in North America. In 1652 Williams wrote a pamphlet entitled “The Bloudy Tenent yet More Bloudy” which discussed the separation of church and state. His work on this subject has been credited by US Presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as providing the original influence for the first amendment of the US Constitution.
Just as Helwys, who I described in my last blog, was critical to English thinking about religious freedom and freedom of conscience, so Roger Williams, another Baptist, provided the impetus for fresh thinking about religious tolerance in North America and as a result influenced the decision-makers.
In my last blog I mentioned King James 1 who was persecuting Catholics and Puritans, including burning heretics at the stake. He was replaced in 1625 by King Charles 1 who began another campaign of persecution against the Puritans.
Roger Williams was a Church of England minister who left the Church of England to become a Puritan because he became convinced in his beliefs of separation of church and state, so after Charles began his campaign Williams and his wife Mary sailed to America. After challenging the government in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 about the way it tried to regulate religious matters and its appropriation of land from Native Americans, Roger and Mary Williams were banished from the colony.
They headed south from Massachusetts to Rhode Island where they purchased land from the local Naragansett Indians and founded Providence where Williams organised the first Baptist Church in North America. In 1652 Williams wrote a pamphlet entitled “The Bloudy Tenent yet More Bloudy” which discussed the separation of church and state. His work on this subject has been credited by US Presidents, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as providing the original influence for the first amendment of the US Constitution.
Just as Helwys, who I described in my last blog, was critical to English thinking about religious freedom and freedom of conscience, so Roger Williams, another Baptist, provided the impetus for fresh thinking about religious tolerance in North America and as a result influenced the decision-makers.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Champions of Freedom #1
Since the organisation we work for carries the name Baptistcare I thought it appropriate to reflect on the roots of our name. Over the next few blogs I want to tell some stories about three significant Baptists who I call champions of freedom. One of the distinctives of the Baptist Church since it began in the 17th century has been religious liberty and freedom of conscience. I hope these three stories will be helpful.
Born in England around 1550, Thomas Helwys joined an independent church at Gainsborough in England at a time when independence was not looked upon favourably by the church-controlled Government. In 1607 the High Court of Ecclesiastical Commission began putting intense pressure on independent churches and a group of people, including Thomas Helwys, made their way to Holland where the first Baptist Church was established by John Smyth.
After some time Helwys became concerned at the persecution of both Catholics and Puritans that was occurring in England under King James (the guy who authorised the translation of the Bible we now call the King James Version) and in 1612 he decided to return to England shortly after Edward Wightman, a Baptist, became the last person in England to be burned at the stake for heresy. Helwys found a publisher for his book, “A Short Declaration on the Mystery of Iniquity” and dedicated a copy of it in his own handwriting, to King James. The Mystery of Iniquity was the first exposition in the English language to fully express the concept of liberty of conscience and religious liberty for all people, including those who claim to have no religious attachment. Helwys was imprisoned for his efforts and probably died in prison.
Born in England around 1550, Thomas Helwys joined an independent church at Gainsborough in England at a time when independence was not looked upon favourably by the church-controlled Government. In 1607 the High Court of Ecclesiastical Commission began putting intense pressure on independent churches and a group of people, including Thomas Helwys, made their way to Holland where the first Baptist Church was established by John Smyth.
After some time Helwys became concerned at the persecution of both Catholics and Puritans that was occurring in England under King James (the guy who authorised the translation of the Bible we now call the King James Version) and in 1612 he decided to return to England shortly after Edward Wightman, a Baptist, became the last person in England to be burned at the stake for heresy. Helwys found a publisher for his book, “A Short Declaration on the Mystery of Iniquity” and dedicated a copy of it in his own handwriting, to King James. The Mystery of Iniquity was the first exposition in the English language to fully express the concept of liberty of conscience and religious liberty for all people, including those who claim to have no religious attachment. Helwys was imprisoned for his efforts and probably died in prison.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Serenity
Baptistcare’s mission statement says: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Some more thoughts about emotional well being:
I can still clearly remember a time when I was having difficulties in relation to my work environment. As time went on I found myself getting frustrated and angry about a number of things, including the attitude of my boss and fellow workers. After some time, I had a conversation with myself about the situation and came to a decision that if I continued in the way I was going the situation would become unmanageable and I would probably end up resigning in disgust.
As I discussed the situation with myself, we (that’s myself and me) agreed that I needed to accept that there would always be situations that I couldn’t control and people who would have behaviours and attitudes that I couldn’t control. I needed to accept the situation and set about making the best of the situation and change what I could for the better.
That decision represented a significant watershed for me as I took a fresh approach to my work and the environment in which I worked.
I don’t think I processed this thought at the time but American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr had the same thought in the early 20th century when he wrote his Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Some more thoughts about emotional well being:
I can still clearly remember a time when I was having difficulties in relation to my work environment. As time went on I found myself getting frustrated and angry about a number of things, including the attitude of my boss and fellow workers. After some time, I had a conversation with myself about the situation and came to a decision that if I continued in the way I was going the situation would become unmanageable and I would probably end up resigning in disgust.
As I discussed the situation with myself, we (that’s myself and me) agreed that I needed to accept that there would always be situations that I couldn’t control and people who would have behaviours and attitudes that I couldn’t control. I needed to accept the situation and set about making the best of the situation and change what I could for the better.
That decision represented a significant watershed for me as I took a fresh approach to my work and the environment in which I worked.
I don’t think I processed this thought at the time but American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr had the same thought in the early 20th century when he wrote his Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Smell the Roses
Baptistcare’s mission statement says: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing.
My wife and I took an hour on Sunday afternoon to visit the Carmel Rose Farm where the expansive gardens, ornamental lake and coffee shop provide a great opportunity to clear the mind and appreciate the Perth hills.
I have found that taking a break like this on a regular basis is important to maintaining emotional wellbeing.
That’s OK on the weekend, you may be saying, but how do we achieve emotional wellbeing in the stressful work-day world of aged and community services and then, if we can achieve, it how do we support others to also achieve emotional wellbeing?
Keeping mentally healthy is the focus of a very successful programme called Act Belong Commit. Check out their website http://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/ for some great ideas.
In my last blog I talked about being spiritually healthy, and for me that is the first step in becoming mentally healthy. When my work is not just a means to survive, but an opportunity to use my gifts and abilities to serve my Creator I find I am in a much better place to serve other people.
... and don’t forget to smell the roses.
http://www.melvillenurseries.com.au/index.php
My wife and I took an hour on Sunday afternoon to visit the Carmel Rose Farm where the expansive gardens, ornamental lake and coffee shop provide a great opportunity to clear the mind and appreciate the Perth hills.
I have found that taking a break like this on a regular basis is important to maintaining emotional wellbeing.
That’s OK on the weekend, you may be saying, but how do we achieve emotional wellbeing in the stressful work-day world of aged and community services and then, if we can achieve, it how do we support others to also achieve emotional wellbeing?
Keeping mentally healthy is the focus of a very successful programme called Act Belong Commit. Check out their website http://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/ for some great ideas.
In my last blog I talked about being spiritually healthy, and for me that is the first step in becoming mentally healthy. When my work is not just a means to survive, but an opportunity to use my gifts and abilities to serve my Creator I find I am in a much better place to serve other people.
... and don’t forget to smell the roses.
http://www.melvillenurseries.com.au/index.php
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Make a comment
I would love to have people interact with my jottings as a way of encouraging ongoing discussion. To make a comment follow these steps:
1. Click on “comments” at the bottom of the blog
2. Write your comment in the space provided
3. You will see a drop down menu that asks “comment as ... select profile”.
If you don’t have a google account scroll down to “anonymous”. Otherwise use
your google account, or open a google account so that other readers are
aware of who has commented.
4. You will be asked for “word verification”. Copy the letters you see into
the box provided
5. Click “post comment”
1. Click on “comments” at the bottom of the blog
2. Write your comment in the space provided
3. You will see a drop down menu that asks “comment as ... select profile”.
If you don’t have a google account scroll down to “anonymous”. Otherwise use
your google account, or open a google account so that other readers are
aware of who has commented.
4. You will be asked for “word verification”. Copy the letters you see into
the box provided
5. Click “post comment”
Monday, September 6, 2010
Spiritual Wellbeing
Baptistcare’s mission statement says: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. Having looked at what working individuals, families and communities may involve, we move on today to discuss how we can achieve spiritual wellbeing.
Spiritual wellbeing probably means completely different things to different people. For me spiritual wellbeing means living at peace with God, at peace with my neighbour and at peace with myself. I think Jesus summed that up when he was asked by a teacher of the law which was the greatest commandment. His reply was: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
One of the tools that I use to nurture spiritual wellbeing is a website produced by the Irish Jesuits. What’s a nice boy from an Irish Protestant background doing reading something from the Irish Jesuits?, you may ask. I make use of the Bible, prayer, meditation and the support of other people to help in my spiritual growth, but this website, www.sacredspace.ie is a simple and quick way of pausing on a daily basis to nurture my spirit. I encourage you to take the time to find ways to do likewise.
Spiritual wellbeing probably means completely different things to different people. For me spiritual wellbeing means living at peace with God, at peace with my neighbour and at peace with myself. I think Jesus summed that up when he was asked by a teacher of the law which was the greatest commandment. His reply was: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
One of the tools that I use to nurture spiritual wellbeing is a website produced by the Irish Jesuits. What’s a nice boy from an Irish Protestant background doing reading something from the Irish Jesuits?, you may ask. I make use of the Bible, prayer, meditation and the support of other people to help in my spiritual growth, but this website, www.sacredspace.ie is a simple and quick way of pausing on a daily basis to nurture my spirit. I encourage you to take the time to find ways to do likewise.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Supporting communities
Baptistcare’s mission statement says: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. Over the last few weeks we have discussed what we mean by the love of Jesus, and have explored what it means to be working with individuals and families.
But why on earth is the word “communities” mentioned in Baptistcare’s mission statement?
There are a whole range of communities that link in some way with Baptistcare. Where we have residential aged care services or retirement villages, we are building a community of people who are relating to each other by virtue of the fact they live together in the same location. In regional towns and suburbs, Baptistcare services are a part of the local geographic community and have a part to play in building a community spirit. We find at various times that we contribute to church communities, school communities, and groups of people with different interest groups that often see themselves as a community.
Just as individuals and families can experience seasons when their spiritual, emotional and physical health is not what they would like it to be, so too, communities can experience times of poor health. Please contribute to this blog by using the “comments” button below to express your thoughts about how Baptistcare can positively contribute to the health of the communities that we impact.
But why on earth is the word “communities” mentioned in Baptistcare’s mission statement?
There are a whole range of communities that link in some way with Baptistcare. Where we have residential aged care services or retirement villages, we are building a community of people who are relating to each other by virtue of the fact they live together in the same location. In regional towns and suburbs, Baptistcare services are a part of the local geographic community and have a part to play in building a community spirit. We find at various times that we contribute to church communities, school communities, and groups of people with different interest groups that often see themselves as a community.
Just as individuals and families can experience seasons when their spiritual, emotional and physical health is not what they would like it to be, so too, communities can experience times of poor health. Please contribute to this blog by using the “comments” button below to express your thoughts about how Baptistcare can positively contribute to the health of the communities that we impact.
Monday, August 23, 2010
No one is an island
Baptistcare’s mission statement is: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing
I have been doing some ancestry research in recent times and have come to a bit of a roadblock in terms of tracing my dad’s family in Northern Ireland. However, it has been interesting to find out more about my wife’s family and to learn something of their involvement at Vasse (Busselton) soon after this area was first settled. Tracing the family tree certainly confirms the words of John Donne (1572-1631): “No man is an island.”
While Baptistcare has a responsibility to work with individuals, and the funding we receive from different government departments both State and Federal is usually focussed on “the client” and not their family, we have to ask the question, how does Baptistcare effectively incorporate the family members into the way it works with individuals? In many cases the way we support families to cope with the issues that have caused their loved one to receive services from Baptistcare will take up as much time and energy as the individual support.
We have deliberately included families in our mission statement because we believe that no one is an island. I would value your thoughts and contributions about how we can be more effective in supporting families within the overall service of Baptistcare. Please make use of the comments button at the bottom of this blog to share your thoughts.
At the bottom of the blog there is the word “comment”. Click on this and there will be a place where you can put in your comment. Click on the “post comment” button when you are finished and your comment will be there for others to read. The more people who use this method, the more it becomes like a conversation that helps to inform our thoughts about these matters. Please be respectful and thoughtful of others in your comments.
I have been doing some ancestry research in recent times and have come to a bit of a roadblock in terms of tracing my dad’s family in Northern Ireland. However, it has been interesting to find out more about my wife’s family and to learn something of their involvement at Vasse (Busselton) soon after this area was first settled. Tracing the family tree certainly confirms the words of John Donne (1572-1631): “No man is an island.”
While Baptistcare has a responsibility to work with individuals, and the funding we receive from different government departments both State and Federal is usually focussed on “the client” and not their family, we have to ask the question, how does Baptistcare effectively incorporate the family members into the way it works with individuals? In many cases the way we support families to cope with the issues that have caused their loved one to receive services from Baptistcare will take up as much time and energy as the individual support.
We have deliberately included families in our mission statement because we believe that no one is an island. I would value your thoughts and contributions about how we can be more effective in supporting families within the overall service of Baptistcare. Please make use of the comments button at the bottom of this blog to share your thoughts.
At the bottom of the blog there is the word “comment”. Click on this and there will be a place where you can put in your comment. Click on the “post comment” button when you are finished and your comment will be there for others to read. The more people who use this method, the more it becomes like a conversation that helps to inform our thoughts about these matters. Please be respectful and thoughtful of others in your comments.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Invisible Individual
Baptistcare’s mission statement is: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing
The three words individual, families and communities are deliberately articulated, because each of them is important in the way we go about the business of caring. Why should we specifically mention individuals? Isn’t it just common sense that we will have a focus on individuals?
I would suggest there are three ways it is possible for us to lose the individual focus:
Fear of the unknown: Just talk to someone who has a disability about what happens when a stranger meets them for the first time. Instead of talking to the person with the disability, it is more common that the person will have their conversation with the carer or family member and the person with the disability becomes invisible.
Dependance on the task: Even the most caring and compassionate person can be distracted from the individual by the demands of the job they are doing. The task of caring, and all that goes with it, can at times become all consuming and the individual becomes strangely invisible.
Self Interest: It has been said that when you are introduced to someone for the first time, the only name you remember is your own. It takes a little work and discipline to hear and remember the name of the person to whom we are introduced. Often we are so focussed on the sound of our own name, that is, our own needs and issues, that the individual in front of us becomes invisible.
The three words individual, families and communities are deliberately articulated, because each of them is important in the way we go about the business of caring. Why should we specifically mention individuals? Isn’t it just common sense that we will have a focus on individuals?
I would suggest there are three ways it is possible for us to lose the individual focus:
Fear of the unknown: Just talk to someone who has a disability about what happens when a stranger meets them for the first time. Instead of talking to the person with the disability, it is more common that the person will have their conversation with the carer or family member and the person with the disability becomes invisible.
Dependance on the task: Even the most caring and compassionate person can be distracted from the individual by the demands of the job they are doing. The task of caring, and all that goes with it, can at times become all consuming and the individual becomes strangely invisible.
Self Interest: It has been said that when you are introduced to someone for the first time, the only name you remember is your own. It takes a little work and discipline to hear and remember the name of the person to whom we are introduced. Often we are so focussed on the sound of our own name, that is, our own needs and issues, that the individual in front of us becomes invisible.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Jesus - our role model
Baptistcare’s mission statement is: Reaching out with the love of Jesus we work with individuals, families and communities to achieve their spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing This week and in future blogs let’s look more closely at what we are saying:
As we develop our own way of doing things throughout life we have a tendency to look to people who can model the type of behaviour that resonates with our thinking on life. Not everyone follows a Christian approach to life, but as an organisation with its roots in Christianity it is appropriate to look to Jesus as the model for the way we approach our work. If we put aside issues of religion or belief and simply see Jesus as an historical figure we see someone who modelled a lifestyle that was focussed on the needs of individuals and exhibited love and compassion in a way that had no comparison in its time and has influenced people for centuries since. Jesus stepped across religious, cultural, gender and social barriers to show genuine love and as a result suffered at the hands of the religious hierarchy who were incensed at his refusal to be tied down to their traditions. As someone who accepted people of different faiths in a predominantly Jewish environment, who accepted women in a strongly patriarchal society, and who had a distinct bias towards powerless and excluded people I can’t think of a better role model for our work within Baptistcare.
As we develop our own way of doing things throughout life we have a tendency to look to people who can model the type of behaviour that resonates with our thinking on life. Not everyone follows a Christian approach to life, but as an organisation with its roots in Christianity it is appropriate to look to Jesus as the model for the way we approach our work. If we put aside issues of religion or belief and simply see Jesus as an historical figure we see someone who modelled a lifestyle that was focussed on the needs of individuals and exhibited love and compassion in a way that had no comparison in its time and has influenced people for centuries since. Jesus stepped across religious, cultural, gender and social barriers to show genuine love and as a result suffered at the hands of the religious hierarchy who were incensed at his refusal to be tied down to their traditions. As someone who accepted people of different faiths in a predominantly Jewish environment, who accepted women in a strongly patriarchal society, and who had a distinct bias towards powerless and excluded people I can’t think of a better role model for our work within Baptistcare.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Leadership
I had the privilege of attending a workshop this week with some staff within Baptistcare who were reflecting on the spirit and practice of leadership. I shared with them this legend about a monastery in France well-known throughout Europe because of the extraordinary leadership of a man known only as Brother Leo. Several monks began a pilgrimage to visit Brother Leo to learn from him. Almost immediately the monks began to bicker as to who should do various chores.
"On the third day they met another monk who was also going to the monastery and he joined their party. This monk never complained or shirked a duty, and whenever the others would fight over a chore, he would gracefully volunteer and simply do it himself. By the last day the other monks were following his example, and they worked together smoothly.
"When they reached the monastery and asked to see Brother Leo, the man who greeted them laughed. 'But our brother is among you!' And he pointed to the fellow who had joined them late in the trip." (Michael Josephson www.charactercounts.org)
"On the third day they met another monk who was also going to the monastery and he joined their party. This monk never complained or shirked a duty, and whenever the others would fight over a chore, he would gracefully volunteer and simply do it himself. By the last day the other monks were following his example, and they worked together smoothly.
"When they reached the monastery and asked to see Brother Leo, the man who greeted them laughed. 'But our brother is among you!' And he pointed to the fellow who had joined them late in the trip." (Michael Josephson www.charactercounts.org)
Monday, August 2, 2010
...or client-centred?
Is person-centred the same as client-centred? Are we simply talking about good customer relations when we say we are person-centred? Let’s take, for example, the nice guy at Harvey Norman who asks so pleasantly if he can help, then takes you to the toaster section and gives you a great explanation of the different types of toasters, their respective advantages and disadvantages and how much they cost. He even offers to reduce the price for you because he has been given advice from his superior that there is enough fat built into the system to make people feel that the discount he is offering is just for them.
Really, you are just another sale, and he couldn’t care a fig if you are wanting to buy a toaster for your aunty who is sick at home and can’t get out to go shopping, or you’re needing a second toaster because you’ve just married this nice guy with five children and you don’t have enough toasters to meet the needs of your growing family.
Being person-centred in the health and welfare sector has to be more than taking a special interest in people so that we can sell them our product, even if that product is care, compassion and a nice cup of tea. It’s about putting that person at the centre of our attention, so that they have a choice about the service they receive and can make real decisions about how that service is provided. Client-centredness is simply good customer relations that is ultimately about the organisation that is providing the service or product. Person-centredness is about putting the person first.
Please feel free to use the comment section in this blog to express your views on my comments. Also use the facility at the bottom of this blog to share by email, facebook or twitter.
Really, you are just another sale, and he couldn’t care a fig if you are wanting to buy a toaster for your aunty who is sick at home and can’t get out to go shopping, or you’re needing a second toaster because you’ve just married this nice guy with five children and you don’t have enough toasters to meet the needs of your growing family.
Being person-centred in the health and welfare sector has to be more than taking a special interest in people so that we can sell them our product, even if that product is care, compassion and a nice cup of tea. It’s about putting that person at the centre of our attention, so that they have a choice about the service they receive and can make real decisions about how that service is provided. Client-centredness is simply good customer relations that is ultimately about the organisation that is providing the service or product. Person-centredness is about putting the person first.
Please feel free to use the comment section in this blog to express your views on my comments. Also use the facility at the bottom of this blog to share by email, facebook or twitter.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Person-centredness
What do we mean when we say we are person-centred. This is a question that Baptistcare staff will be encouraged to ask more and more in the future. This morning a group of our staff met with representatives of Curtin University’s Centre for Research into Disability and Society, to hear about plans for a research project that will seek to develop Baptistcare’s person-centred culture and practice. The project will include both Honours and Masters level research and will help us to jointly develop an approach to person-centredness that reaches across the ageing, disability and mental health sectors within the organisation.
Professor Errol Cocks presented a summary this morning of what person-centredness is in health and human services. This is a good starting point and I hope that it provides opportunity for us to develop this question more effectively in the future.
Person-centredness is a focus on the person that emphasises:
• Providing support to the individual that closely reflects the person’s needs and preferences;
• Responding to the person by acknowledging and working through his/ her strengths;
• Enabling the person and/or those close to the person to have a strong influence over that support;
• Promoting informal relationships as much as possible.
Where is person-centredness to be seen in a service?
• In an organisation culture
• In relationships within and outside the organisation;
• In the manner in which the organisation plans for the people it serves;
• In the manner in which the organisation provides its services;
• In the manner in which the organisation supports its workers and other key stakeholders such as families.
Professor Errol Cocks presented a summary this morning of what person-centredness is in health and human services. This is a good starting point and I hope that it provides opportunity for us to develop this question more effectively in the future.
Person-centredness is a focus on the person that emphasises:
• Providing support to the individual that closely reflects the person’s needs and preferences;
• Responding to the person by acknowledging and working through his/ her strengths;
• Enabling the person and/or those close to the person to have a strong influence over that support;
• Promoting informal relationships as much as possible.
Where is person-centredness to be seen in a service?
• In an organisation culture
• In relationships within and outside the organisation;
• In the manner in which the organisation plans for the people it serves;
• In the manner in which the organisation provides its services;
• In the manner in which the organisation supports its workers and other key stakeholders such as families.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Transform and Enrich
As new mission and vision statements go up on the walls of Baptistcare services around Western Australia people may well ask what is meant by the vision statement: To transform and enrich lives.
A vision statement is not so much a statement about where we are now but about the direction the organisation plans to go in the future. It is developed to help keep us on track in both our dreams and our planning for the future.
It is relatively easy to see how people’s lives can be enriched through the types of caring services offered by Baptistcare for older people who require support through some very difficult aspects of the ageing process, for people with disabilities, for people who have a mental illness and those who are in need of other forms of emotional support. Through the provision of various accommodation options and other types of physical, emotional and spiritual support, Baptistcare is able to do quite a bit that could be seen as providing enrichment to people’s lives.
But what about transforming? Are we in the business of transforming or simply helping to make people’s lives a little more comfortable when nothing else is available?
There is nothing like hope to bring about transformation. Individuals who have experienced hope have been able to see past the despair of the present to a better world in the future; they have been able to find ways to overcome a whole range of difficulties and find meaning and purpose in life. Communities have used hope to galvanise unity against common enemies and to develop creativity that leads to a new future.
As Baptistcare seeks to deliver slices of hope into people’s lives our vision is that people’s minds will be transformed as they gain a glimpse into a new perspective on life.
Make sure you take a look at our new blog about the campaign to find an aged care solution: Get the FACS!
A vision statement is not so much a statement about where we are now but about the direction the organisation plans to go in the future. It is developed to help keep us on track in both our dreams and our planning for the future.
It is relatively easy to see how people’s lives can be enriched through the types of caring services offered by Baptistcare for older people who require support through some very difficult aspects of the ageing process, for people with disabilities, for people who have a mental illness and those who are in need of other forms of emotional support. Through the provision of various accommodation options and other types of physical, emotional and spiritual support, Baptistcare is able to do quite a bit that could be seen as providing enrichment to people’s lives.
But what about transforming? Are we in the business of transforming or simply helping to make people’s lives a little more comfortable when nothing else is available?
There is nothing like hope to bring about transformation. Individuals who have experienced hope have been able to see past the despair of the present to a better world in the future; they have been able to find ways to overcome a whole range of difficulties and find meaning and purpose in life. Communities have used hope to galvanise unity against common enemies and to develop creativity that leads to a new future.
As Baptistcare seeks to deliver slices of hope into people’s lives our vision is that people’s minds will be transformed as they gain a glimpse into a new perspective on life.
Make sure you take a look at our new blog about the campaign to find an aged care solution: Get the FACS!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to Transform and Enrich. As I commence my new role in Baptistcare as Leader Mission and Service I want to use this forum to begin discussions about a range of issues which will include the mission, vision and culture of Baptistcare. Watch out for some interesting reflections.
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