Author: Belinda Howell

10 March 2022

We want to provide you with an update on our Whiddon Redhead service.

Sally Martin, Whiddon Redhead’s Director Care Services, has recently resigned from this position. We thank Sally for her contributions to Whiddon Redhead, and to Whiddon Hornsby prior to her joining the Whiddon Redhead team.

We are pleased to announce, and welcome, Vicki Campbell into this role. Vicki will join the team at Whiddon Redhead next Monday 14 March, to complete her orientation. Vicki is looking forward to meeting everyone soon.

Please note that we are continuing the recruitment process for the position of Deputy Director Care Services at Whiddon Redhead and we do hope to have an update on this soon.

If you have any questions, as always, please contact the Care Manager.

We are excited to welcome Vicki to the team on Monday.

10 March 2022

We want to advise you of a further road closure in place today. It is expected that the entrance to Victoria Terrace will be closed until lunchtime today and entry to Whiddon Moree will be through Edward Street due to this closure.

 

11 March 2022

You may recall our Everyday Heroes program that we launched last year, to recognise the many amazing people at Whiddon. We had a whopping 716 nominations, which just goes to show how many superstars, or everyday heroes as we like to call them, we have in the Whiddon family.

Based on the success of our very first Everyday Heroes recognition program, we’re not only bringing it back, we’re making it even better! Nominations are open now and can be made right up until the end of April.

What is the Everyday Heroes program? 

Our new Whiddon annual recognition program. We want to recognise our people more often via a program that shines a light on our incredible everyday heroes whilst reinforcing to our people, just how valuable they are, and how proud we are of our exceptional people. That’s how this program came to life at Whiddon.

So, what’s changed this year? 

The Everyday Heroes program will become a year-round recognition program, replacing our Above and Beyond initiative. It will also feed into the annual Board of Directors nominations process, so this program is very important to us, as we know it will be to our employees.

The program will be values driven, to align with the core values that we uphold at Whiddon. That means you can nominate someone at any time during the program, under any of these core value areas:

• Creating exceptional impact
• Nurturing relationships and communities
• Being innovative and progressive

What are the benefits of this being our primary recognition program? 

The Everyday Heroes program will focus on peer-to-peer recognition. Our teams are working amongst so many heroes every day, which makes this type of recognition so important and meaningful.  It’s super easy to nominate someone!

The refreshed program will see increased visibility of the achievements of our people, as we plan to shine a bright light on these, to recognise and honour our nominees for living the Whiddon Way, every single day. There will also be team celebrations along the way to pay tribute to our everyday heroes.

How will it work? 

Our new Whiddon Everyday Hero Recognition program will open for nominations three times a year via a campaign which will focus on one of our Values. The winners from each campaign will feed into our Annual Board of Directors Awards. We will share more detail on this with you soon. For now, we are excited to get started recognising our people with our first campaign opening soon.

What’s the first value the program will focus on? 

Creating exceptional impact! As an aged care provider, making a difference to the lives of the people we care for is aligned to our purpose. No matter how big or small, our people achieve this each and every day. From picking fresh blooms for a resident who always loved gardening, to arranging a special birthday lunch for a client with their bestie, or taking the time to teach your colleague something new, there are so many ways that we can create exceptional impact. Even just being there each day to support residents, clients and each other, through turbulent times, takes an everyday hero.

You’ll see so many around you at Whiddon – just take a quick look and you will be sure to spot one! They may not be wearing a cape, but they are certainly among some of the greatest heroes.

How do I nominate?  

Nominating is easy! All you have to do is answer a few simple questions on how this person has displayed the relevant Whiddon value.  CLICK HERE to nominate. Let us do the rest!

 

Dear Team,

It’s impossible to ignore the fact that there are many unfortunate events happening at the moment, both in Australia and around the world, which are difficult, emotional and which might be affecting us all in different ways, either directly or through our families and friends.

We’re conscious that this may be a stressful time and you might need additional support right now.

Being proactive with our mental health and wellbeing in times of difficulty is very important and we have a range of tools and supports you can access right now.

Alyson and I will be travelling together over the coming weeks to see firsthand impacts of the floods to our sites and the community and to hear more about the impacts to our people so to understand what support is needed in the coming weeks and months.

Immediate support available:

• Natural Disaster Leave – if you have been affected by the floods and can’t attend work, you can apply for paid leave through our Natural Disaster Leave offer
• Requests for Hardship – we know that many of our people have been personally impacted by the floods with damage and loss to households and property. Please reach out to your Manager if this is the case so that we can assess what support might be required.
• Free counselling – You can call our Employee Assistance Line (EAP) on 1300 818 720 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential phone counselling

As an organisation, we have shown through the pandemic how resilient we can be and together, we can rise above challenges.

We will update you next week on further plans to provide financial and practical support for our sites and people.

In the meantime, please look out for each other and if you have any concerns, you can speak with your Manager, or our P&C Team.

Take care,

Chris & Alyson

8 March 2022

We are pleased to advise you that we have not had any further employees test positive to COVID-19, and rapid antigen testing of residents has returned negative results.

Pleasingly, we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Moree, however, we do ask that you follow our visitation guidelines and stay vigilant at this time. We are continuing to monitor the situation and are working closely with the local Public Health Unit.

Please be reminded of the following guidelines when visiting:

• Visits must be pre-booked
• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to get a booster vaccine if they are eligible for one
• Refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result
• Refrain from visiting if  you been exposed to COVID-19 unless you completed your self-isolation and testing requirements. People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Refrain from visiting if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• Please practice good hand hygiene and socially distance. Do not meet in common areas

We thank you for your support and understanding.

7 March 2022

Further to our update this morning to advise you that an employee at Whiddon Moree had tested positive to COVID-19, the local Public Health Unit has since advised that visits to Whiddon Moree should be limited to essential caring, or on compassionate grounds, as a precaution at this time. This is a temporary measure for 48 hours, until we know more about the situation.

We will provide a further update to you over the next few days, once testing of residents and employees has been completed.

Please speak to the Care Manager if you wish to arrange a visit for essential caring (which allows for one visitor per day, per resident), or under compassionate grounds.

7 March 2022

An employee at Whiddon Moree has tested positive to COVID-19. As a precaution, employees are wearing appropriate PPE and we have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Also as a precaution, residents are staying in their rooms at this time and we are undertaking COVID-19 testing of employees and residents. Pending the results, we hope that residents will be able to leave their rooms once the test results have been returned.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit, and our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care home. Our highest priority is to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

Visitors are still welcome to attend Whiddon Moree at this time, however, we do ask that you follow our visitation guidelines and stay vigilant at this time. If we receive any further advice from the local Public Health Unit around visitation, we will provide another update to you.

Please be reminded of the following guidelines when visiting:

• Visits must be pre-booked
• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Visitors are strongly encouraged to get a booster vaccine if they are eligible for one
• Refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are awaiting a COVID-19 test result
• Refrain from visiting if  you been exposed to COVID-19 unless you completed your self-isolation and testing requirements. People who have had high risk exposures should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• Refrain from visiting if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• Please practice good hand hygiene and socially distance. Do not meet in common areas

We thank you for your understanding and support.

4 March 2022

This week, it was mandated that all aged care employees in NSW are required to have the booster vaccine by 12 April.

This is following National Cabinet’s recent endorsement of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s (AHPPC) recommendation to mandate COVID-19 booster vaccinations in residential aged care facilities. As such, all Whiddon employees must have their booster vaccine, regardless of their role or location.

To help us reach the mandatory requirements, until 12 April, every employee who has, or does, provide evidence of their COVID vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au will go into the draw to win one of three weekly $100 vouchers. All you need to do is send evidence of your vaccine booster to Payroll to go into the draw. Winners will be contacted each week with the good news and we’ll share regular updates on our MyStaffroom page.

What does the mandate for NSW mean?

All employees, health practitioners and students entering a residential aged care facility must have three does of a COVID-19 vaccine, unless the person has received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and it is not after the later of the following:

• 12 April 2022 or
• 6 weeks from the due date of the persons third dose (due date is 13 weeks after the persons second dose)

On very rare occasions, there may be a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination. A COVID-19 medical contraindication certificate is required in this circumstance.

What does this mean if I’m in Queensland?

For employees in Queensland, we ask that you have your booster vaccine, if eligible, as soon as possible, to ensure that you are fully vaccinated. We await further advice from Queensland Health regarding the booster dose deadlines.

Who is eligible?

Booster shots are recommended for anyone who has completed their primary dose course of COVID-19 vaccination at least 3 months ago.

What are the benefits of having the booster dose?

A booster dose will make sure the protection from the first two doses is even stronger and longer lasting, to help prevent the spread of the virus.

A booster dose increases your protection against:

• infection with the virus that causes COVID-19
• severe disease
• dying from COVID-19

A booster dose will continue to protect you, your loved ones and your community against COVID-19.

How do I access a booster shot?

Find a location near you here: Vaccine Finder

Whiddon Easton Park is hosting a clinic next Thursday 9 March. Easton Park employees have been sent the details of how to book into this clinic.

We will be arranging additional clinics and will provide another update soon, once we have further information on this – so please keep an eye out for these dates.

Don’t forget – once you have received your vaccine, please send your evidence to payroll@whiddon.com.au as soon as possible to be in the running to win a $100 voucher!

We thank you for your support, ongoing efforts and dedication in keeping residents, clients and each other, safe.

8 March 2022

Dear Team,

The NSW Government has announced that All Aged Care Staff have must have had 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine by the 12 April. This means that all Whiddon staff, regardless of their position, must have received their 3rd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before this date.

To help support our team, we will be hosting a vaccine clinic on Wednesday 9 March in the function centre. To book, please follow the below link.

URL: https://portal.companymedicalservices.com.au/onsiteregistration/whiddon

Referral code: whid123

If you have already had your vaccination, please forward evidence of this to EP.Vaccinations@whiddon.com.au

Thank you

Easton Park Management

4 March 2022

We wanted to advise you that due to Moree Plains Council undertaking works, there will be a road closure on Victoria Terrace from 6am to 4pm this Saturday 5 March and Sunday 6 March. Please note entrance to Whiddon Moree will be through Edward Street only during this period.