When is it time to invest in professional assistance with your service?
Asking for help is challenging for many of us at the best of times. We like to think we have things under control, and maybe with just a little time and some patience from others, we will deliver everything required.
We are often so focused on achieving business requirements at the lowest possible cost that we don’t even consider spending money on sourcing external assistance. But is this a good way to operate over an extended timeframe? What if we admit to ourselves that it really is time to invest in professional assistance to help reach our business goals?
Seeking professional help can reduce the pressures associated with running a business. In an industry such as aged care, where government regulations are in a period of transition, professional assistance with navigating reforms and changes are extremely beneficial. External assistance can also support your organisation when the labour resources necessary to plan for the future, exceed the available labour. In other words, no matter how competent a manager may be, there is a finite amount of work they can do to plan the future, especially whilst they manage ‘business as usual’.
A useful way of considering whether to invest in professional assistance is to use the acronym TIME because, ultimately, that is what we are buying. The more pressing your responses to these considerations, the more likely it is time to invest in some extra support.
T – Too much to do?
Do you find yourself or your team working long hours, working on weekends, or stressing about what needs to be done? Even when we are completely focused and efficient at our work, if it gets to the point that we cannot feasibly get everything done, it is an opportune moment to invest in professional assistance. This might look like outsourcing work to a professional (eg funding applications), investing in a consultant to assist you with time management, or purchasing resources that save you time.
I – Ideas and intentions not being actioned?
Nothing snuffs out new ideas like work overload! If you find yourself internally resisting new ideas, ask yourself if it’s because of the idea, or because you and your team cannot handle one more ‘thing’ at the moment. It is common for new ideas to be put on the backburner in a business that is time-poor. However, not implementing new ideas decreases the ability for your service to grow! When good intentions and ideas are not being actioned, calling for some professional assistance to work through competing priorities will free up time and resources to begin implementing growth opportunities.
M – Mistakes being made?
A classic indicator of work overload is ‘unforced errors’ being made. When we are rushed and overwhelmed, mistakes will be made and ‘red flags’ can be missed. No matter how competent and committed your team are, if there is too much to do and not enough time, there is a risk of mistakes. This in turn can lead to poor results and even catastrophic outcomes. Similarly, not having adequate expertise in your organisation also commonly leads to mistakes being made. This is where the services of a trained industry professional can support your organisation to minimise risks and errors.
E – Expertise is lacking?
Keeping on top of changing regulations and in-home aged care industry updates is basically a full-time job in itself! Providers who don’t invest in planning for reform changes and upskilling their staff are at risk of being left behind when the landscape reaches post-reform in 2024. Investing in professional assistance to lead your organisation through reform will ensure that your business not only survives, but thrives in the changing environment.
So, is it TIME to invest in some professional assistance?
LPA is excited to announce our new LPA Advantage Packages, a premium service offering designed in partnership with providers to develop and implement a plan of action to support organisations with the know-how to navigate the changing aged care environment and legislative requirements confidently. We can also assist with the workload in terms of ‘business as usual’ such as reviewing clinical indicators, financial results and other data to minimise risks and maximise performance.
Each LPA Advantage Package addresses agreed priority areas ensuring resources are targeted to meet the needs of each business. This means you have the choice of which area of your business your investment is going towards! This might be governance, staffing, client management, clinical care, feedback, finances and environment, or general reform readiness.
