Samaritans initiated an agency-wide strategic planning process in 2000 and the overall Plan has been thoroughly reviewed for 2006 through to 2011. The plan was developed through a comprehensive process involving the Samaritans Senior Management Team and Board and having been communicated to all staff.
The development of the plan has been informed by the Agency mission, vision and values of compassion, integrity and justice. All key goals are designed to ensure that the mission, vision and values are explicitly and implicitly realised in all aspects of Agency operations.
Strategic Priorities have been identified for all areas of service delivery across 5 key result areas. An effective volunteer recruitment, screening, placement, training and management programme will be in place which provides a greater number of volunteers with increasing opportunities to engage with Samaritans services and make a difference in our local community.
- Quality Caring Services - A culture of excellence and continual improvement will permeate all activities. We will implement cutting edge programmes focused on client outcomes and develop a cost effective, robust system which defines, measures and reports on the quality of delivered services. Samaritans will research and demonstrate the best practice for each service and make explicit the models of service used by the Agency with emphasis on unfunded needs and other innovative forms of care and intervention.
- Leadership - Samaritans will continue to strengthen the integration of the mission, vision and values into the daily activities of its staff (paid employees and volunteers). Samaritans will develop clear points of differentiation for the organisation in the workplace by strengthening Agency capacity to develop and publish its public advocacy and social justice role within the mission, vision and values framework. We will develop and nurture effective parish and community partnerships by redefining and strengthening the role of Parish Links, consulting every Deanery regarding local needs and conducting community building forums and social justice workshops on local, global and indigenous poverty in conjunction with the Diocese.
- Organisational development - Samaritans will work towards enhancing Agency culture to support strategic directions. It will be seen as a great and safe place to work by all staff (paid employees and volunteers). Employees will be focussed on OH&S to proactively manage and reduce OH&S risk and Samaritans will implement wellness programmes to provide a safe and happy workplace. We will develop skills and competencies to enhance service delivery to meet quality expectations of clients, partners and funding bodies through core training plans and modules and extending the supervision and skill development programme. Volunteers will be provided with improved opportunities to engage with Samaritans services and make a difference in their local community.
- Sustainable growth - Samaritans will have developed core competencies in, and actively pursue growth opportunities in early intervention, Out of Home Care, community development and alternative models of disability services. Samaritans will undertake and access research and planning to achieve sustainable growth to pursue development opportunities in Disability services, Attendant care and Mental Health. The organisation will explore appropriate opportunities for surplus income generation by maximising donor engagement and enhancing effective fundraising efforts. Samaritans will identify and establish strategic partnerships and external networks with local Indigenous groups, early intervention partners, mental health providers and other AngliCare Agencies.
- Effective resource management - Samaritans will have financial and management systems and processes in place that assure effective and sustainable operations. Samaritans will enhance effective decision making models across the agency by developing and implementing effective IT and communication capabilities, enabling the internal capacity to manage funding growth and changes, and incorporate organisational risk management processes into business systems.
Please click for the Strategic Planning report in PDF format.
