COVID-19 UPDATES
We will generally inform you by SMS if there are any major updates to check here, but encourage you to check from time to time regardless. Please take appropriate precautions.
Reminder of Important COVID-19 Minimisation Stategies:
- mask wearing is still mandatory during shifts (ideally minimum KN95 or equivalent)
![KN95 is Preferred Mask](https://www.jotform.com/uploads/careform/form_files/kn95-vs-3-ply-face-masks preferred.6231457a238c89.64063146.jpg)
- hand & infection control hygiene measures (see useful YouTube tutorials below)
- vaccinations/boosters
- symptom monitoring (see below)
- isolation if symptoms OR positive test result (RAT or PCR)
Please monitor NSW Health Factsheets for the latest COVID-19 information:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/self-isolation-and-testing.aspx
Each Factsheet relates to following scenarios:
- For people exposed to COVID-19
- Getting tested for COVID-19
- People with COVID-19
- COVID-19 self-isolation guidelines
You are required to contact us IMMEDIATELY should you be advised that you or family/close contacts have been (or potentially) exposed to COVID-19.
Staff are still required to wear masks and appropriate PPE during all shifts.
Please contact us if you require masks. It is critical that masks are regularly replaced.
As there is increasing concern that COVID-19 is transmitting frequently when people are asymptomatic (without awareness or visible symptoms), please remain vigilant.
- Please continue to get tested, even if you have the mildest of symptoms.
- Reminder - please notify us if concerned about client symptoms or expectations (e.g. mental health wellbeing, isolation or clients ignoring mask wearing rules etc.)
Please always refer to NSW Health public health orders page for the latest gov. updates.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx
Infection Control & PPE Tutorials
Please see helpful links below for the correct PPE and infection control techniques and procedures:
- Hand-washing Steps Using the WHO Technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IisgnbMfKvI
-Hand Rubbing Steps Using the WHO Technique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3eq5fLzAOo
-PPE for combined contact, droplet and airborne precautions. This video briefly outlines the principles and steps for putting on and taking off PPE when applying contact, droplet and airborne precautions in addition to standard precautions.: https://youtu.be/tfITL694UAQ
-Donning & Fit Checking of Respirator in NSW Healthcare Settings: Duckbill style P2 or N95 Respirator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OloUcaHPKSQ
-Donning & Fit Checking of P2 or N95 Respirators in NSW Healthcare Settings: N95 Foldable Respirator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzaEOY345q4&t=51s
-How to don and doff a face shield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M4DCqN_ky8
Proof of Employment
- We have emailed all workers Proof of Employment letters indicating essential services, in case you are questioned by any authority.
If clients need shopping support and online shopping is an option, we recommend you support them in this process. Please remember privacy in relation to any shared credit card and related personal information. If ordering Click & Collect, please ensure you select curbside pickup.
COVID-19 testing clinic locations:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics
Got symptoms? Get tested.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms must be tested (this is mandatory for Only Care and Connect Care staff).
>=37.5 degree temp
cough or sore throat or runny nose
body aches (muscle or joint)
difficulty breathing
loss of smell or loss of taste
fatigue
nausea/vomiting
diarrhoea
loss of appetite
other cold/flu symptoms
Staff MUST ask clients about flu symptoms or any risk of exposure upon arrival at EVERY shift. If confirmed, or you have any personal concerns, please contact us.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS - YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Reinforcing the need for your dilligence in ensuring safe service delivery and safety of clients, their informal supports, fellow-workers and the community in general.
Client health
If you are (potentially) contagious as a result of any health/medical matters, you are required to immediately notify and then stay away from work and provide a medical clearance certificate to the office before being rostered back for service.
We expect all staff to adhere to particularly important hygiene and infection controls (and other notification requirements).
Client general wellbeing
As support workers, you have responsibilities in notifying us in relation to any concerns about the wellbeing of our clients e.g. risk of physical, emotional or other forms of abuse, risk of isolation, risk of health, risk of general life distress.
Should you have any concerns about the wellbeing of our clients, or even the wellbeing of others who might be directly or indirectly affected (e.g. children), you have a responsibility to notify our office, or (if any immediate and urgent concerns) appropriate authorities.
Shift Duties/Client Attendance Reminders
When attending clients, please ensure maximum hygiene and infection controls are maintained. Note, staff should always clean hands thoroughly (with soap and water using correct handwashing techniques – see video link further down) upon arrival at any private premises. In some cases, where clients with high intensity needs (and potentially particularly compromised immune systems) are concerned, we are in direct communications with staff and/or clients (and/or their informal supports) to ensure additional precautions and/or infection controls are in place. Please contact us if you have any concerns.
All staff MUST wash hands thoroughly upon arriving at a client's home...
...and where appropriate and accepted, we encourage our staff to support our clients and their informal supports in education by example in:
Hygiene (where workers have concerns that the client is at risk, ignoring or unable to follow recommendations, please urgently discuss with our office)
Assistance with understanding hygiene and infection control protocols e.g. explaining/demonstrating to clients:
how to clean hands – with soap & water see: https://youtu.be/IisgnbMfKvI
or where appropriate wash facilities are not as accessible, how to clean hands – with hand sanitiser see: https://youtu.be/4xC-_7ZiQoY
Hand washing should not be done in kitchen sinks where food might be washed and prepared, or in other areas where washing conditions might be unsanitary.
Disposable paper towels are recommended for drying hands, particularly where many persons might be using the facilities. If paper towels are unavailable, hand towels can be used, but should be encouraged to be regularly washed. Some staff might choose to carry their own hand towels.
Regular cleaning and wiping of commonly used and touched surfaces and door handles.
Bins should be emptied regularly.
Sneeze or cough – cover mouth/nose with tissue. If no tissue, sneeze/cough into the elbow. Do not sneeze/cough into the hand. Always clean hands thoroughly (as per above) after using a tissue.
Mobile phones should (apart from not being during shifts) be cleaned regularly (they are an obvious source for bacteria, viruses and other germs) – disinfectant wipes are useful, although bear in mind that some phones might not be properly sealed against moisture.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – PPE includes items such as gloves, shoe covers, shower aprons, masks (sometimes disposable gowns and headwear).
Most of our clients have Consumables budgets for them to purchase items required to be used for their personal care. Where clients are requesting that we provide PPE for their personal care, please contact us so that we can discuss with them.
For staff PPE use for general hygiene purposes (e.g. food prep, house tidy) during shifts, please contact our office for supply.
There are times and situations where we might provide our staff some PPE such as masks, particularly during any heightened infection control concerns. Provision of PPE will also be selectively considered based on potential infection risk to staff during transit to/from clients, or to clients/staff during shifts and will be dependent upon other factors e.g. the client’s level of intensity of care and susceptibility to infection based on lower immunity. Please contact us for further details.
If you have any questions, please email admin@onlycare.com.au. Most of our staff have direct contact details of our office personnel, but if unsure, or anything is urgent, you can call 0434403546.
Please check this webpage regularly for any relevant updates.