Elderly care home’s boss to be replaced

An elderly care home that failed numerous safety standards and raised the ire of the community is recruiting an interim CEO.

Warrnambool's Lyndoch Living is actively recruiting while the current CEO, Doreen Power, takes leave.

It comes amid a WorkSafe inquiry that is underway after allegations of bullying and intimidation of staff and residents were levelled against Ms Power.

South-west MP Roma Britnell used parliamentary privilege to accuse Ms Power of acting with subterfuge and arrogance Ms Britnell told the Legislative Assembly that the aged care provider's board should remove her.

The senior management of the aged care provider has had more than 200 staff leave over the past couple of years, despite claims of bullying and intimidation from the upper management that has created a toxic workplace, Ms Britnell said.

I believe Ms Powell is responsible for many of these problems, especially the toxic workplace environment.

I fear residents' wellbeing is at risk. Community unrest has been growing since Ms Power began his tenure in Warrnambool in 2015.

Over 700 members were counted in a community action group called Keep Lyndoch Living in recent years.

The Facebook site said it was created to give people in the Warrnambool region a space where they can discuss the future prosperity of our primary community-based aged care facility, Lyndoch Living. Jim Burke, a group member, said the situation had continued to deteriorate.

The group wants the federal government to remove the board and chief executive and appoint an administrator.

They need to find a more representative board that is accountable to the community. They elect themselves at the moment. More than 100 local applications for membership from community members were denied in 2021 with no explanation.

Prior to her seven-year Warrnambool stint, Ms Power was CEO of Plenty Valley Community Health for two years and CEO of Seymour Health from 2007 to 2014, and CEO of Seymour Health from 2007 to 2014.

Ms Power was contacted by the ABC for comment.

Lyndoch Living board President Susan Cassidy said Julie Bertram - the current director of innovation and organisational development - would lead the executive team until an interim CEO was appointed.

She told 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.

We thank each and every one of our staff members for their dedicated service. Lyndoch Living has failed numerous safety standards in three consecutive aged care commission audits.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission told the ABC an unannounced audit in April this year at Lyndoch's hostel and nursing home found the hostel non-compliant in seven areas and the nursing home non-compliant in five areas.

The commission conducted a second unannounced site visit to Lyndoch's May Noonan Centre from July 19 to 22 and is compiling a report now.

If consumers are at risk of serious harm, we will not hesitate to act immediately and without delay to protect consumers. The commission had received 43 complaints about Lyndoch since July of last year, according to the federal counterpart, Liberal MP Dan Tehan.

The Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Colin Brooks told the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission he had written about Lyndoch Living.

I am aware of the concerns of the community regarding Lyndoch and have written to the commission to ask for their continued support in working with Lyndoch, Mr Brooks said.