Communities are enriched through the inclusion of all people

Far North Community Services
COVID-19 Information

Latest Information COVID-19 

We know a lot more about Covid than we did two years ago. Our Covid Management Team meet weekly and we have a dedicated PPE team to ensure we have adequate supply of PPE. Our staff are trained in infection control and donning and doffing PPE. Every person we support has a Covid Care Plan. We are here to support you during Covid.

What is COVID-19? (Coronavirus)?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new form of coronavirus.

Other coronaviruses include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

COVID-19 Information

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation. This means that the virus has spread around the world and has the potential to cause high levels of morbidity and mortality and to disrupt Far North Community Services (Far North), people accessing services, their families, our staff and the community socially and economically.

We’ve compiled a list of useful resources and outlined the steps we’re taking to ensure the health and safety of all people who access services, their families, our staff and the broader community in response to the impact of COVID-19.

What we’re doing

The health and safety of all people accessing our services, their families, our staff and the community is our highest priority. Far North is committed to taking effective and proactive steps to minimise the risk of contracting COVID-19 for people who access services, their families, our staff and the community. We are taking the following measures to ensure continuity of essential services and employment for staff.

 

Infection Prevention & Early Detection

Social Distancing

Far North teams take the following steps

  • Social distancing
  • Avoid close contact where possible
  • Do not attend large social gathering
  • Think about community access alternatives such as visiting outdoor spaces instead of shopping centres
Keep Environment Clean
  • Use Far North Site Cleaning Procedure Checklist to thoroughly clean the environment.
  • Cleaning to be conducted at least twice a day if no Covid-19 is detected at site.
  • Follow Far North Waste Management Policy.
Hand Hygiene & Appropriate use of PPE
  • Practice thorough Hand-washing
  • Use gloves as required
Monitor Symptoms
  • Monitor body temperature of service user on entry to Far North sites, and every 4-8 hours whilst on site using Far North Body Temperature Measurement Procedure.
  • Watch for symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, or shortness of breath.
  • Place the COVID-19 resources and posters up in your workplace.

Infection Management

Isolation

If person is unwell/showing symptoms isolate them to separate room with a closed door.

  • Minimise contact with others.
  • Prevent spread of illness (noting it may not be COVID-19).
  • If a residential service, service users should be monitored and medical attention sought as required (see COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool for guidance on if test for COVID-19 is needed).
  • If the person is taken to hospital by Ambulance, call your coordinator or if after hours, phone the On Call number.
Temperature

Follow the Far North Body Temperature Measurement Procedure and the COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.

Escalation
  • Escalate all cases to your Coordinator / Manager/On-Call of any suspected cases of COVID-19 or other illness.
  • The Coordinator must immediately advise the District Service Manager who will advise the emergency response team and CEO
  • Staff should return home if they are not required to support other residents.
  • Staff to seek appropriate debrief and EAP if required.
If the Department of Health confirms case of COVID-19
  • Continue Infection Management & Prevention & Early Detection (above) and increase CLEANING SCHEDULE
  • Far North expects cleaning to be conducted:
  • At least 4 times per day (every 4-6 hours) if COVID-19 has been detected at the site
  • Items/surfaces touched by individuals with confirmed case of COVID-19
Emergency Response Team
  • The Far North Emergency Response Team will be activated to support the local team if any cases of COVID-19 are confirmed.
  • The Emergency Response Team work with the local team to create a tailored plan.
  • This will include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to enable safe practices in the workplace.
Isolation / No Visitors
  • A No Visitor Policy will be put in place.
  • The Health Department will be notified, and management will proceed as they advise.

Stay Informed

Far North employees, volunteers and clients need to be vigilant to identify symptoms (respiratory issues, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath and or fever) and take preventative action to reduce potential spread of the virus. We have outlined the steps we’re taking to ensure the health and safety of staff and service users in response to the impact of COVID-19.

If you have questions or would like to know more information please contact us directly on (08) 9193 5207 or email INFO@FARNORTH.ORG.AU

Keep up-to-date with daily snapshots from the WA State Government

Employee / volunteer experiencing symptoms NOT AT WORK
  • Stay home do not attend work
  • Get tested for COVID-19 at a Covid clinic, a regional public hospitals and health services, remote health clinics (where COVID clinics are not available) and, private pathology centres. For locations and opening days and times please see link below.
  • Self-isolate until you have received the result of your Covid test
  • Take sick
  • Inform line manager of result of Covid test
  • Line Manager to inform CEO
  • Work with line manager to identify if there may be any infection risks and take action appropriately.
Employee / volunteer experiencing symptoms AT WORK
  • Inform line manager
  • Leave work immediately and get tested for COVID-19 at COVID clinics, regional public hospitals and health services, remote health clinics (where COVID clinics are not available) and, private pathology centres
  • Travel home by the safest route possible and self-isolate until you have received the result of your Covid test
  • Inform line-manager of Covid test result
  • Line Manager to inform CEO
  • CEO -Devise local response plan identifying any potential
  • Line Manager to inform CEO
  • CEO -Devise local response plan identifying any potential
  • CEO to ensure appropriate staffing to maintain safe conditions for clients
Client or member of the community presenting with symptoms

Ensure Posters or Signage requests that people do not enter Far North sites if they experience symptoms Employees to be vigilant for presentation of symptoms, if symptoms present:

  • Request that client leave premises and return home by safest way possible, and get tested for COVID-19 at COVID clinics, regional public hospitals and health services, remote health clinics (where COVID clinics are not available) and, private pathology centres
  • Inform clients
  • Inform line manager
  • Line Manager to inform CEO
  • CEO to devise local response plan identifying any potential exposure
Trigger Event - School/Childcare/Institution Closure

Should COVID-19 spread further in our communities, there is a high likelihood that schools and other services and institutions will close. This will impact those who have childcare responsibilities. Where child care is not available to employees it will be determined if an employee can do their usual work from home and in the instance that is not possible alternative arrangements may be made.

Trigger Event - Rapid Spread of Virus in Local Area

We aim to support limiting the spread of COVID-19 in our communities:

  • No Government Lock Down – Encourage people not to attend impacted workplaces, may opt to close certain workplaces, depending on circumstances to support safety, health and wellbeing.
  • Government Lock Down – Employees will be directed not to attend work.

 

Useful Resources

We’ve compiled a list of useful recourses about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and how to look after your metal health and stay up-to-date on the latest information about COVID-19.

You are at the core of everything we do

We understand people are faced with real challenges, that’s why we do what we say we will do and are accountable for the outcomes. We work to the strengths of all people and are flexible in delivering the best outcomes for people and their families. We’re here to help you and your family and we’re sensitive to the impact we have on the lives of people we support.

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