A local nursing home is looking at its staffing to determine if changes need to be made to help with an operational deficit.
Valley View Villa administration released a statement Friday saying the nursing home is challenged by operational deficits on a budget that allocates 83 per cent of funding to salaries.
The home’s administration says it has become more efficient with non-staffing costs, but it also consulted with departmental directors to find solutions.
As a result, the suggestions included redefinition of work assignments, shift definitions and the staffing plan both in the care and operational departments.
Now the home must look at how these possible solutions will impact their employees and, in order to do this, it is in the process of reallocating employment status based on a revised staffing plan.
The administration said it will determine what changes are needed and will work to minimize the impact on staff where possible.
It is now in the early stage of this process, holding discussions with staff and their union.
“The administration is however subject to fiscal realities and the terms of a collective agreement that imposes certain seniority privileges that may impose the burdens of change on casual or the least senior staff,” the statement read.
Peter Baxter, national representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents some of the staff at Valley View Villa confirmed this week that talks are taking place between the administration and the union.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure members are represented under the collective agreement and proper layoff procedures are in place,” he said. “We have to do the best we can to assist.”
