4.13 Pandemic Policy and Procedure

Given the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on business activities on an international scale, Choice Community Health understands the need to have a plan on how to function during any resurgence or similar situation in a way which doesn’t affect the delivery of essential services but is also built to minimise adverse health impacts.

Policy

Choice Community Health is committed to perform its essential activities during a pandemic situation in a way that complies with government regulations and minimises the possibility of any transmission. Choice Community Health decides the level of activity for its business operations based on the severity of any situation and prioritises the health and safety of its clients, employees and the community. Choice Community Health implements the best possible protocols to prevent transmission or any other harmful effects while performing care provision services.

Procedure

To ensure management of any other hazard, Choice Community Health will approach this risk by undertaking activities to:

Ensure we are prepared to meet the health requirements of the clients of Choice Community Health, should a pandemic occur;

Respond promptly and effectively to minimise the pandemic’s impact; and

Contribute to the rapid and confident recovery of individuals, communities, and services.

Support staff in the provision of care and services safely.

The activities required to support Choice Community Health during a pandemic will involve state and territory governments, the Australian Federal Government, and many other health sector parties. Choice Community Health will monitor daily information updates about the pandemic issued by these bodies and respond appropriately. The Directors will be responsible for making decisions on all pandemic related activities.

Appropriate changes to the Risk Register and Care plan will be made considering the added risks that come with the pandemic.

Essential Measures

There are a variety of ways in which Choice Community Health can prevent the spread of a pandemic by implementing basic prevention measures that limit the spread of infection. By ensuring all persons attending Choice Community Health adhere to basic prevention measures, such as general hygiene and cleaning protocols, Choice Community Health can ensure there the premises of Choice Community Health’s service is clean.

These basic prevention measures include:

Thorough cleaning of communal areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and lounge areas on a daily basis.

Maintaining hand hygiene by washing hands with disinfectant soap regularly.

Ensuring all waste is disposed of in the appropriate and safe way that minimises contamination.

Ensuring all persons attending Choice Community Health maintain respiratory etiquette.

In addition to this, social distancing is an essential requirement that must be implemented and enforced within Choice Community Health’s daily practices and procedures to further limit the spread of infection. Social distancing requires individuals to ensure they are a certain distance away from another person, thus limiting movement and the maximum capacity of persons within a room. When enforcing social distancing restrictions, Choice Community Health will ensure to apply the rules to all persons involved with Choice Community Health including staff, workers, visitors, clients, and management. By doing so, Choice Community Health can ensure the social distancing rules implemented are effective when in practice.