How BaptistCare is innovating despite workforce pressures

BaptistCare’s Innovation Manager, Petrina Greenwood spoke with the Innovate for Impact podcast this month, sharing how the organisation is innovating despite workforce pressures.

While innovation is not new for BaptistCare, Petrina shared there have been some positive leaps forward for the organisation as it continues on its innovation journey.

“What’s different to 12 to 18 months ago is that the organisation made a commitment to focus in the innovation space. We recognised that if we didn’t do that, and really amp up some of the work, we would simply get left behind.”

In the podcast, Petrina outlined the steps BaptistCare took to define innovation, focusing on the concept of change that adds value, and identifying key focus areas.

In an organisation that is people and care focused, business efficiency was named a key focus area, including looking at end-to-end processes, optimising, digitising and removing wasteful processes.

Petrina shared with Innovate for Impact that over 55% of BaptistCare’s staff named their desire to genuinely care for people as their top reason for wanting to work with BaptistCare.

But without business efficiency and optimised systems, processes and approaches, care and interaction can be reduced.

“The reason we’re focusing very heavily in that area is there are definitely systems and processes and approaches that weigh us down. We’ve got workforce pressures and shortages there, people are just getting through the day, and outdated, non-optimised processes take away from that meaningful time you can have with clients and residents.”

“The working theory is that if we can focus on optimising processes, making people’s jobs easier, it frees them up to actually do what they come to work for an organisation like this doing, that is, caring for people and having a meaningful time.”

Petrina also shared an important realisation for the organisation: when the project or idea starts from within the organisation, rather than at the senior management level, it sets it up for success, with examples such as going paperless in the home care business and recycling in residential aged care.

These examples also reflect the second focus area for BaptistCare, of creating a culture of innovation from the frontline up. The organisation’s innovation projects involve diverse cross-functional teams and always include the staff member who has suggested the idea.

“Engaging [this group of people away from their regular jobs] in the project takes a big commitment and real support from the executive, which we are really fortunate to have in BaptistCare.”

“Because by doing that, [we are] putting people in the room together and giving them the freedom and the space, to actually ask, ‘Let’s look at this, what are our processes like?’”

“I call it the unearthing, ‘what are our pain points here, let’s unearth what all the pain points are, let’s start with that as a basis before we move to solutions’ and taking them on that journey, using tools they’ve not used before. It’s really one of the most exciting things I’ve had the privilege of witnessing in my work life.”

You can listen to the full chat with Petrina, including more innovation examples from BaptistCare, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Innovate for Impact is a podcast for leaders in the social sector who want to deliver more impact through innovation. The bite-sized podcast gives busy leaders practical ideas on how they can achieve their mission and deliver big on impact.