Community Services Industry Communique (COVID—19 Recovery)
19 January 2022 Ros Atkinson — YFCC • Shared care arrangements — visibility of vulnerable clients. • Shorter timeframe appointments. • Outdoor venues where possible. • Didn’t foresee requirements regarding RATs — timing and direction. o Staff complete RAT or PCR if symptomatic or contact of symptomatic staff. o Complete between days 3-5 and days 6-7. If both negative, allowed to return to work. o Access made this difficult — supply shortfalls. o Biggest risk with supported accommodation youth services. First case — contact Public Health. Advised clients staying in accommodation were not close contacts due to Public Health, mask, social distancing practices in place. • Concerned with this advice, but it meant able to continue delivery without shutting down — where else would our clients go? o Continuity success has come down to staff being willing to show up, find safe solutions and support clients in best way possible. o Flexible, communication, support. • Exemptions — concern about increased risk and potential for exposure. o Organisations would be required to assess risks and practicalities. o Penny — in our NSW services we assess the risk and only allow people to continue to work if it means the difference between staying open or having to close. Do you have capacity to fill staff positions when they may be out of action due to COVID-19? Some limited capacity — we recruited some additional casuals pre-15 December, anticipating need for backfill. We haven’t got as much as we’ve ended up needing due to changes in outbreak scenario/people leaving. Matt Rowell — Lady Gowrie • 570 staff — mandatory vax order announced mid-Dec, 8 Jan deadline. o Logistical nightmare. • Updated COVID-19 Safety Plan for every service, as well as vaccine policy shift. o 6 staff/570 exited due to that order. • No impact before summer break — re-opened 4 Jan with start of cases. o Friday 7 Jan — started staff and children in centres. 15 staff tested positive. 12 children, including small clusters. 50 designated close contacts. o Difficulty meeting mandatory ratios — getting by on quiet time of year for services. • Definition of close contact in workplace changed significantly in short time. Advice changing every day. o Communication problem, frustration in applying this consistently and delivering to families. • Media/social media — highlighting conflict, causing concern and anxiety. o Reassuring all that our sole interest is the best interest of children to ensure we can deliver care and ensure families can go to work. • COVID-19 Safety Plans and Outbreak Management Plan — always missing things, having specific materials, communication to families, checklist for staff to ask questions necessary by Public Health. • Formed response team — senior leadership, key managers, communications team member. 1
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o Helpful in allocating roles to investigated needs — cleaning, RATs. Sourced tests to get to staff if unsure of contact/symptoms. To get workforce through the door and ensure we keep service up for children and families Need for authorising environment. o Pandemic leave for staff (many part-time, casuals without much sick leave) — quick turnaround, supportive of staff.
COVID-19 Modelling/Expectations / Outbreak Management and Business Continuity >>> Click here to view Public Health responses to FAQs from the industry <<< Support for Isolated/Vulnerable People in Community (The Salvation Army and Department of Communities) How does someone access the emergency COVID-19 Care Packages? • What does this include? Who delivers it? • Can you register particular needs for inclusion? • COVID@Home says if you need anything but don’t have support (family and friends) website says call the COVID@Home team, fact sheet says call Public Health Hotline to access social and welfare support. Which is it? • Are contingencies in place for when/if staff shortages impact on deliveries? The Salvation Army delivering part of Community Care Packages: o Delivering since March 2020 — continuation of provision of food, essential items, medication to those in isolation due to COVID-19. o Referral from COVID@Home or Public Health hotline — make contact within 24-48 hours. Ensure they get what they need, dietary requirements then arrange delivery. o Arrangement in place since start of pandemic. Been available for those isolating or going into quarantine initially. Heavy demand with border opening and and increase in cases and close contacts. o COVID@Home might refer on if individuals need additional supplies or support. o The Salvation Army coordinates with local partners. Brokerage in King Island, Flinders, Cape Barren. East, West Coast and Peninsular. o Information in preparation, to be distributed on COVID-19 Care Packages.
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