General News
17 August, 2022
Lyndoch announces new CEO as allegations mount
LYNDOCH Living has appointed a new acting chief executive officer after allegations of workplace bullying and mismanagement have rocked the troubled aged care provider.
LYNDOCH Living has appointed a new acting chief executive officer after allegations of workplace bullying and mismanagement have rocked the troubled aged care provider.
Lyndoch Living, the provider of the May Noonan Centre in Terang, issued a statement on Monday morning this week stating Jamie Brennan had been appointed as acting chief executive officer.
Mr Brennan joins Lyndoch Living on secondment from South West Healthcare, where he has served as an executive director since 2013.
“I am looking forward to meeting as many staff and residents today as possible, to understand where things are at,” MrBrennan said.
“My first priority will be to ensure staff have the support they need to provide outstanding care to residents."
“There is a lot of work to be done but I am completely focused on putting residents first and ensuring they receive the care they deserve.”
Lyndoch Living board president Sue Cassidy said she appreciated the flexibility South West Healthcare offered for Lyndoch Living to second one of its senior executives and leading aged care experts.
“We are pleased to have Jamie join our team and lead our mission of providing quality care for our residents at Lyndoch,” she said.
“It’s important we have stability and Jamie’s appointment provides us with that."
“It will allow our staff to focus on whattruly matters."
“We thank each and every one of our staff members for their dedicated service.”
The sudden absence of outgoing-chief executive officer Doreen Power comes as public pressure mounted amid allegations of workplace bullying and a toxic working environment for staff, first reported by independent investigative journalist Carol Altmann.
The allegations reached fever pitch earlier this month after South West Coast MP Roma Britnell delivered a scathing condemnation of Ms Power in Parliament on August 2.
“The aged care provider has had more than 200 staff leave over the past couple of years amid claims of bullying and intimidation from upper management that has created a toxic workplace,” she said.
“These are allegations I believe."
“Lyndoch Living has failed numerous safety standards in three consecutive commission audits."
“The latest audit found non-compliance in areas including falls, choking and unexplained weight loss.”
Ms Britnell told Parliament more than 40 complaints had been made to the commission about Lyndoch Living in recent years, causing the community to have “lost faith” in the board.
“Despite the damning and concerning issues that have been consistently raised, Lyndoch Living chief executive officer Doreen Power’s subterfuge and arrogance remains on display for all to see,” she said.
“I believe Ms Power is the source of many of these problems, especially the toxic workplace environment."
“Her position as chief executive officer is no longer tenable. She must resign, and if she will not resign, the board must remove her."
“I fear residents’ wellbeing is now at risk, through no fault of the dedicated and brilliant staff but because of the environment created by Ms Power.”
Lyndoch Living issued a statement last Wednesday confirming an interim chief executive officer was being recruited, but only confirmed Ms Power was taking leave without additional information.
“We assure the Lyndoch and broader communities that our priority is the care and safety of our residents and staff, as we face continued challenges caused by workforce shortages in our region,’ Ms Cassidy said in the statement.
“We thank each and every one of our staff members for their dedicated service.”