Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

However PPE, for example, gloves, gown or protective eyewear, should still be used for hands-on support whenever there is a risk of splash or exposure to blood or body fluids. This applies to all service settings including residential accommodation.

Guidance on the DHHS website has not yet caught up with this advice and will be updated shortly.

Last step for Centre-based disability services

DHHS has released a Last step factsheet for providers. In particular, the factsheet sets out the requirements for centre-based disability services.

Indoor settings where physical distancing is difficult, ventilation is less than outdoor spaces, or where a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 through airborne droplets are still considered high-risk environments. Therefore, indoor centre-based disability services may operate with a maximum of 150 people indoors, including clients, support workers and other staff. A maximum of 20 people in a group, room or designated space is allowed as long as density and other COVIDSafe requirements are met. Density requirements include consideration for the various settings and facilities used for day activities. Providers should make individual site assessments.

Groups of participants, either indoors or outdoors, still need to maintain social distancing. Sessions should be scheduled to minimise the numbers of participants inter-mingling, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Screening

Centre-based providers are required to temperature check all staff upon commencement of their shift in addition to completing a health status declaration. Providers are also required to maintain documentation for all participants, carers and staff related to health status and contact with any person from a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 outbreak location.

Other requirements

All centre-based services must have in place cleaning processes and documentation, signage, hand washing or sanitising facilities, social distancing requirements on transport, density and catering directions.

Onsite support through Infection Prevention Control Out-Reach Nurse Squads (IPCON)

Day or Centre-based service providers are encouraged to take advantage of the support of a DHHS IPCON site visit. The IPCON team will review your infection prevention and control preparedness with you, whether participants have resumed activities or not.

A self-assessment tool has been developed to use across a variety of disability settings. The IPCON team will advise you prior to their visit if this needs to be completed and will provide it to you.

To request a visit please email DRRG@dhhs.vic.gov.au

DHHS Infection Prevention and Control Training Package available now

A free, three hour, face-to-face Infection Prevention and Control training package will be rolled out across Victoria from Monday, 7 December.  The aim is to support disability organisations to start 2021 with infection prevention and control training Champions embedded. While not mandatory, this training will enhance organisational capacity to address and review existing processes and practices, and help ensure providers can reduce the risk of outbreaks and confidently deliver their services. All service providers are encouraged to consider taking up this opportunity.

Please complete the registration and email to submit enquiry/feedback"> submit enquiry/feedback as soon as possible.

The EOI includes additional details about why this training has been developed and is being rolled out now.

The EOI also invites organisations to identify whether there would be further interest in the package if this were to be offered to more Champions in the New Year.

The training has been funded by DHHS through the NDS Safer and Stronger Project and will include a contribution of $50.00 per staff member (2 max) per organisation.