Contact EVERY client and help them assess their critical needs, supports and ability to manage if/when it all goes pear shaped.
Here are the
questions (reworded from our internal slightly to take out my swearing and add
a few things I missed) our team are talking to our clients about.
- Do
they know what this is all about – have families/carers explained the current
situation? Here’s an easy English resource: https://www.thegrowingspace.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Easy-English-Coronavirus-TheGrowingSpace-2020.pdf and a social story: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf
- Do
they understand the risks for them (ie: are they at greater risk – smoker, lung
concerns, diabetes, immunosuppressed for example – not an exhaustive list) – point
them to official information sources https://www.health.gov.au/ and the COVID hotline: 1800 020 080
- Are
they considering self-isolating and if so, what preparation has been done?
- Do
they have a week or two of essential supplies – food, hygiene, cleaning
- Do
they have a month of prescription medication and over-the-counter medication
(don’t forget laxatives!)
- Do
they have enough consumables – continence aids, wipes, catheters, feeling tube
gear to last a month or so?
- What
are their CRITICAL (could die without) support needs, and do the providers of
these supports have a plan in place to support them?
- If
they have significant critical support needs, is there a way a worker could
move in a self-isolate with them?
- Can
their family/informal supports cover if support workers are no longer available
– what is the back-up plan if they’re not available?
- What
are their plans for support if/when day options/ADE/school closes, or if
someone in their group home gets sick?
- Have
they consider having support workers doing as much work as possible outside
with participants, keeping well apart if possible, and have they considered all
the ways a support worker can help remotely to reduce risk (obviously this
won’t be possible for everyone!)
- Do
they have a cleaner and do they want to keep them on – consider only allowing
the cleaner to use the participant’s cloths, mop, duster and vacuum to reduce
the chances of spread.
- Handwashing
– do they understand the protocol, and are they confident to demand this of
workers – if self employing or contracting, do they know about the free
training on offer – https://covid-19training.com.au/login.php and https://training.disabilityservicesconsulting.com.au/products/infectionfree and, could they put up a poster https://www.thegrowingspace.com.au/a-sign-for-your-door-or-workplace-covid-19/, and set up a handwashing station
outside to use before anyone even enters the house? (no-one should share the
handtowels which should be washed daily in 60deg water, or they could use paper
towels potentially)
- NDIS
– do they know about the changes – ability to rollover plans etc? Make sure you
are well across the daily updates at https://www.ndis.gov.au/understanding/ndis-and-other-government-services/ndis-and-disaster-response#faq
- Check
in on their mental health – this is a very stressful time for many – ask how
often they’d like you to check in, and potentially refer/suggest support from mental
health professionals
- Follow
up with an email for those for whom it might be useful – outline the stuff
they’re already doing to prepare, they stuff you talked about that they could
action, and the things you’re going to do for them, as well as when you will
contact them next (this email could likely work as your casenote).
Please don’t
assume you know the answers to above without that direct conversation (where
possible). I have been surprised by the gaps, and our support and ideas have
been appreciated.
At The
Growing Space, we have worked to assign each participant a risk level (A-D) to
help us know when things get really bad, who is most at risk, based on the
answers to these questions – it also means that if one of our team can’t
work, someone else should be able to
quickly and easily pick up and follow up with those who need it the most.
And don’t
forget – what is *your* plan for maintaining your mental health, and what is
*your* back-up plan if you can’t look after your clients yourself?
Support
Coordinators are not medical or legal professionals, so don’t cross those
boundaries – be aware of your limitations and refer out as needed.
All the best during these tough
times!
Copyright of The Growing Space 2020 – please share, but with credit and no edits. And remember – this is not medical or legal advice, and is very time sensitive – things are changing very quickly – seek professional advice if you need it! March 20, 2020
pic desc: an illustrated green virus icon with an open mouth and scared looking eyes.
