‘I love every minute of what we do,’ says Plan A Algoma owner (2 photos)

Sault Ste. Marie has a growing number of seniors and other vulnerable people who need personal care, and a new company has recently stepped in to play a role in meeting that need.

Plan A Algoma is an expanding, Sudbury-based healthcare staffing agency, which opened an office in Sault Ste. Marie in January 2017.

“We help staff long-term care facilities when they’re short-staffed,” explained Sheri-Ann Morin, Plan A Algoma owner/operator. 

“Typically, on an average day, there are about eight to 10 sick calls… so we hire PSWs, RNs and RPNs to lend their talent to these long-term care facilities,” Morin said.

Long-term care homes already have an existing pool of on-call casual employees, but “these calls sometimes don’t get answered,” said Amanda McBain, Plan A Algoma recruitment and marketing manager.

McBain said because of labour union involvement with each of the homes, long-term care home management officials consult with the unions before calling Plan A.

“Once they’ve exceeded their pool, they’re able to seek elsewhere,” Morin said.

Morin said Plan A Algoma currently has four homes in the Sault which it serves, adding the company hopes to build up a clientele in other Algoma communities such as Blind River and Elliot Lake.

“We can do home care (in the private residences of clients) on a case-by-case basis, and we’re looking forward to doing our first in Algoma,” Morin said.

Starting up a Plan A chapter in the Sault wasn’t a problem, Morin said.

“Healthcare agencies have been around for many years in southern Ontario, but it is new to the north, and it’s been needed for many, many years. When they exceed their pool, the homes have that backup plan and know they’re going to get those hours covered.”

Plan A Algoma has 130 active healthcare workers in its Sault staffing pool, with each having to commit to three shifts a month, with the potential to work many more shifts a month.

“We really screen them professionally and personally, asking for three to five professional references,” Morin said.

“They’re able to pick their own hours and make their own schedule, it works great for retired workers or students in a PSW program.”

“It’s a great opportunity, especially for new healthcare workers… we go into different homes and get to know the residents. All of our employees are excellent,” said Tammy Starzynski, Plan A Algoma’s recruitment manager, who worked as a PSW for 15 years. 

Plan A Algoma has a program called StaffStat, a shift-filling app available on smart phones.

“If a home needs a PSW for instance, they would simply say ‘PSW,’ the home’s name is there and which shift, and our employees can click on ‘accept’ or ‘decline’ so when they accept it we know the shift is filled, the employee knows and the long-term care home knows,” Morin said.

“The homes are grateful for that extra hand to help them…and we’re always asking our employees for their input as well,” McBain said.

Morin, a Sudbury native, comes from a business background, and is a former Algoma District School Board (ADSB) employee.

Upon learning of Plan A, Morin said she “fell in love with the whole process, and here we are.”

McBain is a Sault native who holds postsecondary degrees in subjects such as sociology.

“We don’t have healthcare backgrounds, but like Sheri, I saw an increasing need in this field and I grew really passionate about it. Sheri is such a positive and encouraging person, that what we do just makes me happy to wake up and go to work in the morning,” McBain said.

“I love every minute of what we do.”

“It’s important to me to help out the vulnerable (aging) population that is increasing as time goes on,” Morin said.

“Having a loved one in a long-term care home, I don’t get to see her as often as I wish, so knowing we have staff who are experienced, knowledgeable and compassionate makes a difference to me,” McBain said.

Plan A Algoma, which offers competitive wages for its workers, started in Morin’s home a year ago, the company relocating to a pleasant upstairs office space overlooking the downtown at 527 Queen Street East last month.

“It’s been quite the exciting year.”

“The office is bright, we can look outside and see what’s going on. Some really interesting things happen on Queen Street sometimes,” Morin laughed.