Covid-19: Tips for staying safe

Any individual who is receiving care in their own home should follow the general advice which is provided by NSW Health to the public. This is regarding physical distancing and infection prevention and control. NDIS providers should consider which services are essential to provide. Providers should temporarily suspend services which can be in order to limit contact and exposure. If a client has any COVID-19 symptoms it is important to request that they stay in their room. Moreover, assist them with seeking health advice. This can be from either their GP or the National Coronavirus Health Information Line (1800 020 080).

Some tips to stay Safe

Visitors

• Symptomatic visitors should be discouraged from attending if they are unwell.
• Staff and visitors who have travelled overseas or disembarked from a cruise ship must not attend the home for 14 days from the time they returned from overseas or disembarked from a cruise.

Infection Control

• Provider staff should wash their hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water, most importantly on arrival at a participant’s home.
• Exclude staff members where symptoms are minimal.
• Providers should support clients in order to exercise physical distancing at home where appropriate. This can be through video and phone, the type of support clients require and considering what is essential and what can be temporarily suspended.
• Where a positive COVID-19 client who is clinically well enough to stay home isolated. A provider should consider plans to maintain support. This can be done through promoting the annual influenza vaccine and enhanced infection prevention and control procedures. 

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• NDIS providers and self-managing participants should use PPE. Where they cannot access PPE supplies through usual means, it is important to contact the National Medical Stockpile by emailing NDISCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au.
• If there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 within the client’s home setting. Providers should wear: a gown, surgical mask, eye protection and gloves.

Staff

• Providers must ensure that staff are aware of any new or worsening symptoms for each of their residents with complex health conditions. This is to ensure that early signs of illness or deterioration are treated promptly. This is very important for clients who are non-verbal or have communication difficulties.

How Help to You keeps you safe during Covid.

We understand that many clients may be apprehensive towards contact with providers. At Help To You, we are doing our part to keep both our clients and staff safe. We aim to keep contact minimal between providers and clients and we ensure our providers wear the appropriate protective equipment whilst carrying out services. Also, we ensure that there is accurate communication between us to our staff and clients. Moreover, we ensure that our operations follow all NSW Government COVID-19 procedures in order to keep both our clients and staff members safe.