Dear Imagine friends and family,
Imagine's Year of The Caregiver continues. SLS staff working awake shifts will be receiving wage increases as of right now.
We also scheduled the first Caregiver Get Togethers. Based on the feedback I received when I asked last month, of which I there was none, I chose Thursday, March 23 at 1 and at 6pm. There will be food and drink and we want to share Imagine caregivers we appreciate them. But the main agenda is an opportunity for our colleagues to ask questions or share concerns (while eating and getting glowed at.) If you work at Imagine, you will be very welcome.
Left over from last month, here is the new pay system:
SLS Caregivers who have spent less than three years with Imagine will be considered Home Support Specialist Level 1 (HSS I) and receive $17/hour for awake shifts and $15.50 for sleep shifts. Those who have been with Imagine for three full years as of March 1 will be considered HSS II and receive $18.15/hour for awake shifts and $17 for sleep. Those with eight years with Imagine or more will be considered HSS III and receive $20/hour for awake shifts and $18.15 for sleep. Lead staff will receive $2/hour on top of their tenure level and awake overnight shifts will also receive an additional $2/hour on top of their awake rate. For the person who asked at the holiday party and anyone else interested, for those who have worked at Imagine, left and come back, we will consider the total time working at Imagine rather than just the most recent tour.
Note, staff working in self-determination and FHA have a different pay system and although wage increases are planned, these happen on a different schedule.
With regard to the future Assistant Director of Services, The plan to do the second round of interviews in February did not occur due to so many things. We are still moving forward, and now I am hoping to introduce someone in that position Aprilish.
March Madness a Month preMature.
Just for transparency and to help everyone be aware, February was one of those months. You may find your favorite Facilitator and/or admin team member panting or looking doubtful. That was true for a lot of direct care staff as well. Let's have mercy on one another and support each other. Since the pandemic got a little less scary, the pattern seems to be a couple kind of rough months followed by one of "you have to be kidding." We're hopeful March gets us back to the cozier pace.
Further down, this month's newsletter includes the following:.
Patty Lopez, Imagine's Assistant Director of Human Resources talks about the importance of house meetings and trainings.
In The Service Sector,this month's topic is reforming the on-call system.
In Community Connections, parent and board member Susan Douglass assesses my expertise in self-determination and promises a plan next month.
Our usual stuff in the columns around advocacy, self-determination, the Imagine Endowment and Transparency.
The Person-Centered Evolution this month describes the "Decision Making Profile" tool.
This month we have spotlights on Alan and Melanie.
Also, we have a new calendarer. Alina Parra is a caregiver who deigned to temporarily hang out with the office Riff-raff. She made this month's calendar and is helping a bunch of us catch up with our hopeless task heaps. Plus, she's a real balm to our spirits. Aline worked diligently until she'd found an event for every day in March.
As ever, if you have any questions, feedback or concerns, please don't hesitate to get in touch. You can write me here. I look forward to hearing from you.
Gratefully yours,
Doug
|