OUR CAPITALS

Our Human Capital

OUR CAPITALS

Our Human Capital

5. Investing in the future

At SANBS, we recognise the importance of proactive planning for the future. This includes ensuring a smooth leadership transition and developing the necessary talent to meet our evolving needs.

Succession Planning:

We are committed to building a strong leadership pipeline. Discussions at senior management levels are ongoing, and we have recently refreshed our succession dashboards to include not only the CFO position but also the broader team. This ensures comprehensive planning for future leadership roles.

Strategic Workforce Planning:

We are actively engaged in a strategic workforce planning project. This project has already made significant progress by collecting baseline qualification data for all employees. By analysing these qualifications, we can anticipate future skill requirements and identify potential talent gaps. This proactive approach allows us to invest in developing our existing workforce and attracting new talent with the skills necessary for SANBS' continued success.

Revamped Recruitment:

Our recruitment process has been redesigned to enhance the experience for both applicants and line managers. This aligns with our strategic workforce planning efforts to attract highly specialised skills.

Dual Career Pathways Programme:

This innovative programme provides opportunities for employees to explore alternative career paths within SANBS, leveraging their existing skills and supporting long-term career growth.

The Evolving RAD Academy:

Our RAD Academy learning experience portal has been updated with a user-friendly app, encouraging a more self-directed learning approach. We remain committed to enhancing employee skills and ensuring they are equipped for the future.

Digital Learning Platform

Wits University Digital Campus

Progress
  • Retention Rate: Achieved a 100% retention rate for 2024, reflecting high employee engagement
  • February 2024 Intake: Approved 49 applications, with 47 candidates sitting for exams in April 2024, resulting in an 89% pass rate
  • May 2024 Cohort: Included 24 employees scheduled to complete their exams by the end of July 2024
Digital Learning Platform

Udemy

Progress
  • Licenses Allocated Issued 14 licenses, bringing the total to 97 out of 100 available licenses
  • Course Enrolment: 92% of users are enrolled in a course
  • Main Topics: Business skills, technology skills, personal development skills
Digital Learning Platform

Bookboon

Progress
  • The following data shows that the platform is a valuable source for self-learning:
    • Total contents used: 943
    • Total eBooks used: 272
    • Total audio learning used: 562
    • Total virtual classrooms used: 109
Digital Learning Platform

Learning Experience Platform (LXP)

Progress
  • The platform underwent extensive maintenance and testing in Q4 of 2023 and was reactivated in April 2024. There are plans to upgrade this interface during 2024 to enhance the learning experience and reporting capabilities
  • The SANBS Academy (Moodle instance) has remained available for internal employee use
Phlebotomy Learnership

The Phlebotomy learnership was implemented by SANBS to contribute to the country’s National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) in equipping people with the skills necessary to succeed in the global market and to offer opportunities for individuals who were previously disadvantaged.

SANBS enrolled ten students on the Phlebotomy learnership and they achieved a 100% pass rate in the April 2024 board exam. These students faced multiple challenges during their learnership but managed to perform extremely well with two students being in the top ten performers nationally (3rd and 4th place respectively). The group also produced three distinctions among them.

Remaining at the Forefront of Medical Technology and Healthcare Service

At SANBS, our commitment to developing and empowering our workforce has resulted in significant achievements over the past year. Through our dedicated Study Assistance Programme, we successfully supported 13 of our Qualified Technicians in their journey to become certified Medical Technologists. After five years of part-time study, these individuals demonstrated remarkable resilience and dedication by passing the Medical Technologist board exam.

To further enhance our medical capabilities, we have appointed 18 new Intern Medical Technologists. We are also excited to welcome our first two Immunohematology Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), representing a notable milestone for SANBS. Strong collaboration between the various teams in SANBS, ensures that we meet the annual intake requirements for Intern Medical Technologists. This close coordination allows us to align our training and development programmes effectively with operational needs.

In addition, our partnerships with Universities of Technology (UoTs) are pivotal in facilitating the successful placement of interns. Advisory meetings with institutions such as Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Durban University of Technology (DUT), and Nelson Mandela University (NMMU) have underscored our joint efforts. In a recent advisory meeting with TUT, it was reported that 37 interns are currently awaiting placement. However, until we secure the HPCSA accreditation certificate, we are unable to appoint new graduates. We are actively working to resolve this challenge.

These accomplishments reflect our commitment to cultivating a skilled and capable workforce, ensuring that SANBS remains at the forefront of medical technology and healthcare services.

6. Engaged Employees, Stronger SANBS

At SANBS, we encourage an open and collaborative work environment. One way we achieve this is through our regular CEO Family Meetings. These meetings provide a platform for direct interaction between leadership and employees, allowing for a free exchange of ideas and concerns.

These meetings are well-attended, demonstrating employees' interest in open communication. Additionally, a feedback loop is in place to ensure employee concerns are addressed. In cases where topics require further clarification or have not been adequately addressed during the meeting, follow-up information or explanations are provided to employees. This two-way communication approach enables trust and transparency within the organisation.

7. Building a Culture of Ethics and Diversity

At SANBS, we are committed to the highest ethical standards and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Dedicated Ethics Committee: We have established a dedicated Ethics Committee to oversee the implementation and progress of our Ethics Strategy Management Plan. This committee plays a vital role in ensuring that our ethical principles are embedded throughout the organisation.

Empowered Ethics Ambassadors:

Our network of Ethics Ambassadors serves as a critical resource for employees. These ambassadors are readily available to answer questions, provide guidance, and address any concerns related to ethical conduct.

Accessible Ethics Help Desk:

We have established a dedicated ethics help desk to provide employees with a confidential platform for reporting any potential ethical violations.

Equal
Opportunities:

We strive to create a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

By investing in our people – their expertise, purpose, well-being, and engagement – we are not just enriching individual careers, we're building a stronger, more sustainable future for SANBS. This commitment to our human capital is the foundation for continued success in delivering on our life-saving purpose.

#We are the pulse.
Save lives