LLN… Not an afterthought TOOLKIT
In the Aged Services Sector, it is critical that workers have the necessary competence in language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) to undertake their jobs effectively and efficiently. Having the appropriate skills enables people to fully participate in the workforce, enjoy their job and better contribute to quality services.
Effective communication is central to a functional workplace and is especially important when working with the more vulnerable in our community, including older people.
For the purpose of this toolkit, LLN skills are defined as the range of learning, reading, writing, oral communication, numeracy and digital literacy skills required to participate in work.
Sometimes LLN Skills are thought of as the basic skills of being able to read and write, or they can be associated with entry-level positions in the workforce. However, LLN skills underpin all areas of work in the aged services environment. From CEO to carer to hospitality roles, LLN skills can influence the performance of workplace tasks. Everyone at all levels within an organisation can improve their LLN skills and we all have a role to play to create a culture of learning and improvement in the workplace.
Aged & Community Services Tasmania (ACST) supports the development and delivery of projects to build the essential skills of the Aged Services Sector in Tasmania. Through participation in previous 26/TEN LLN projects our Sectors has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting staff to develop the language, literacy and numeracy skills necessary for providing quality service to clients.
The intent of this Toolkit is to support Aged Services Sector employees to enhance and develop their existing LLN skills. It contains practical information for aged services employers, training providers and managers to strengthen existing employment and recruitment processes by ensuring that LLN skills requirements are aligned with job roles.
By embedding the essential skills of LLN into our everyday work, we will ensure a cycle of continuous quality improvement in the sector and, most importantly, in the delivery of quality services to our clients.
We hope you find this toolkit both practical and helpful.
What is in the TOOLKIT
This Toolkit is made up of information, templates and resources to help your organisation consider the essential skills of language, literacy and numeracy in its everyday operational processes. It recommends a methodical approach that encompasses the employment cycle from the point of recruitment. However, sections or individual tools from the Toolkit can be adapted and used independently.
The information, templates and tools are available in both PDF and Word format so they can be modified to your organisation’s requirements and context. They can be used to implement new procedures or to modify existing practices to address the LLN needs within your workplace.
The Toolkit is designed to be flexible to allow organisations to implement the whole process, pick up relevant parts, or customise it to meet their own needs.
The kit comprises:
How to use the TOOLKIT
In the Aged Services Sector, it is critical that workers have the necessary competence in language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) to undertake their jobs effectively and efficiently. Having the appropriate skills enables people to fully participate in the workforce, enjoy their job and better contribute to quality services.
Effective communication is central to a functional workplace and is especially important when working with the more vulnerable in our community, including older people.
For the purpose of this toolkit, LLN skills are defined as the range of learning, reading, writing, oral communication, numeracy and digital literacy skills required to participate in work.
Download the Tools
Position Descriptions and Job Roles
Language, literacy and numeracy skills underpin all areas of work in the Aged Care Services Sector. All positions in every organisation are dependent upon appropriate LLN skills. The quality of these skills influence the performance of all workplace tasks. Job Role Profiles document the LLN standards and expectations against job role tasks listed in position descriptions.
LLN Policies
The policy documents listed below form the basis of the Toolkit. The policies provide a framework to help bring LLN into your day to day activities of people management. The policies are provided as templates that can be adapted to your organisation’s requirements.
LLN Tools
The LLN Toolkit contains resources to help your organisation to modify and improve its practices to ensure LLN is embedded into its day to day activity.