Author: micheller

Good Morning Everyone,

Yesterday afternoon we had advice that a staff member had tested positive for COVID. As a precaution we completed screening, including a RAT for residents, and communicated with the Public Health Unit. Everyone remains well and staff will continue to monitor.

Usual visiting arrangements remain in place and all visitors are reminded to follow all the screening requirements, including wearing a mask when visiting the home.

We thank you for your support and understanding and will keep you updated as needed.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Whiddon Easton Park care employees,

Following our last correspondence with you on 9 February 2023 in relation to the Easton Park care roster review, we write to advise that the proposed roster change will recommence effective today, 30 March 2023.

Below are the links to documentation, it is important to thoroughly review all the information that is provided here:

• Change Impact Statement
• Access EAP Employee Assistance Program

Change Proposal Letter Pack:

Whiddon will commence distribution of the change proposal letter pack to employees from Thursday 30^th March. These letter packs can be collected from your building’s administration team.

In the letter pack you will receive:

• A letter outlining any proposed changes which may impact the employee.
• A copy of the employee’s proposed roster
• A Changes Feedback Form for return

The Changes Feedback Form askes you to complete three sections and return the form via email to Amalie Fraser via email to A.Fraser@whiddon.com.au by Monday 3 April 2023.

Consultation Process:

As outlined in the Change Impact Statement and the Changes Feedback Form employees have an opportunity to attend individual consultation meetings with their manager where you can talk through the pack provided to you, the changes and any suggested solutions or impact these proposed changes have to you. Booked individual consultation meetings will be for 15 minutes in duration so please come prepared with your questions and feedback.

We welcome employees to attend the consultation meetings with a union representative or a support person.

Whilst we understand that you may wish to speak with your manager as soon as you receive your change proposal letter pack, we encourage you to follow the consultation process as outlined in the changes feedback form. As you would appreciate there are many employees your manager will need to speak to and so to ensure all employees can discuss their feedback and solutions, we have scheduled dedicated times across three days as outlined in the form.

Casual Care Employees:

Whilst we acknowledge that the proposed care roster will predominately impact our permanent care employees, the roster change has been communicated with you as a casual employee as there is likely to be a level of change to you in relation to available hours and shifts once the roster has been implemented. Please be advised that there is no change proposal letter pack for you to collect at this stage.

We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation during this roster review process.

We wish to advise all families of the following COVID compliance requirements, including updated information on visitor numbers and a change in the requirement to pre-book visitation.

Visitors to a Care Home:

Visitors cannot enter a care home if they have tested positive for COVID in the last 10 days and until they are symptom free. The NSW Government’s recent changes  to self-isolation periods do not apply to Aged Care facilities.

Visitors are required to return a negative test immediately prior to entering the home. Visitors who provide essential care and visit the home every day, may undertake second daily testing. However, in the event of an outbreak at the home testing will need to be conducted daily.

Limitations on Numbers of Visitors

During periods of low community transmission and when the home does not have an active outbreak, visitors no longer need to make bookings in advance. We are also pleased to let you know that there is no longer a restriction on the number of visitors that your loved one can have each day. However, Whiddon recommends that group bookings are planned ahead, and that visitors contact the service so that you can reserve an area to accommodate your group size.

• Where possible, visits should be held outdoors or in well-ventilated areas away from other residents. This is particularly important for gatherings of more than 2 visitors.
• All visitors over 12 years of age must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while visiting indoors.
• As a precaution we ask that visitors maintain social distancing to help maintain resident safety.
• Visitors should remain with their loved one and not move between different areas of the facility. We ask that you remain in your loved one’s room or at the same outdoor location during your visit.

In the event of a COVID Outbreak at your loved ones care home, changes to visitation may occur, including the requirement to pre-book visits in advance.

We take this opportunity to thank all our residents, families, and staff for your continued support.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families

Please be advised that we currently have a COVID outbreak in our Dudley Wing at Whiddon Redhead.

Please ensure that the following visitation guidelines are followed through out this outbreak for all visitors to the Dudley Wing.

• Visitors will be required to wear full PPE, gown, gloves, facemask and face shield when visiting anyone on the Dudley Wing
• Visitors are preferred to be the nominated primary carer but other visitors may attend if limited to one person.
• Visitors must sign-in, take their temperature, complete a negative RAT test and wear an N95 mask and shield to enter.
• All visits must be pre-booked with administration between the hours of 8.30am- 4.30pm

Thanks in advance for your patience.

The Whiddon Team

Dear families

I am very pleased to confirm that the COVID situation at Kyogle has settled and we are now moving through the last days required for the outbreak. At this stage it is expected the RED Zone will be ceased at 6am on Friday 30 December and the COVID positive residents in Richmond and Lindsay will also finish their individual room isolation.

This will mean the current visiting requirements will also cease and we can return to NON-Outbreak visiting. This requires a Negative RAT and successful screening questions prior to entry. All visitors will continue to be required to wear a Facemask and Face Shield for another 7 days until Friday the 6 January 2023 due to the ongoing escalating Community COVID cases.

A further COVID update will be issued on Friday 30 December to confirm the above has taken place.

Again, thank you so much for your support and understanding!

Dear Families and Friends,

Over the past 24 hours there have been more residents tests positive to COVID 19 and in such Ground Floor Cedars has been declared a RED Zone. To date all residents who have tested positive to COVID have mild symptoms and are receiving Antiviral medication to support their speedy recovery.

What does a RED Zone mean for visiting?

Visitors will be required to wear full PPE, gown, gloves, facemask and face shield when visiting anyone within the RED Zone. This is also the requirement when visiting a COVID positive resident in First Floor Lindwall.

Visitors to the RED Zone are preferred to be the nominated primary carer but other visitors may attend but limited to one person.

Guidelines for visiting still continue as in Negative RAT prior to entry, completion of screening questions, wearing a minimum of a N95 facemask and face shield unless visiting in the RED Zone and then full PPE is required. Bookings prior to visits is essential to assist the staff in managing our current circumstances.

NON-COVID positive residents are free to go out of the home but those residents who are COVID Positive should maintain their 7 day isolation before they go out into the community.

Should you have any questions or would like further information please feel free to contact me directly on my mobile 0437 375 889 or speak with the Registered Nurse at the home on 02 6632 5600.

Dear Families and Friends,

Please be advised that we have had some Residents and Staff test positive for COVID-19 today 26/12/22 and as such, Whiddon Casino now meets the definition for a COVID 19 Outbreak.

We are hopeful this will only be for the minimum time indicated which is 7 days from now, however, residents who have tested positive or have mild symptoms and have been placed into isolation with full precautions.

Please note, visiting residents can continue under these guidelines:

• Please refrain from visiting unless necessary
• All visits need to be booked prior to arrival
• Visits of maximum of 2 people to the residents’ room or external garden
• Negative RAT prior to entry
• Screening Questions completed prior to entry
• Facemask and Face Shield to be worn at all times when inside the home including the residents’ room.

Please be mindful of the additional requirements on the staff during an Outbreak and be patient during this time, especially on days when there is limited administration support at the front door.

Further update will be issued towards the end of the week.

The Whiddon Team

Please be advised that we are currently experiencing problems with our telephone system at Whiddon Kelso. Staff are able to answer incoming calls from one phone and we have someone dedicated to this when possible. However, our ability to transfer calls to other phones is not working.

Our IT Team are investigating this issue and we will keep you updated. We sincerely apologise for the timing of this issue and thank you for your support and understanding.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families

Please be aware that 2 residents in Keppel House have returned positive Rapid Antigen Tests this morning.

Merewether East Wing is now declared a Red Zone with all residents in this wing having precautionary PCR testing today.

The Public Health Unit will be notified and  “exposure” protocols for the Home have commenced.

Residents in Merewether East are confined to the Red Zone with 1 partner in care encouraged to visit. In- room isolation is not required for negative tested residents.

All visitors to the top floor of Keppel House are required to wear full PPE / Face Shield and N95 masks.

We thank you for your understanding and patience at this time.

The Whiddon Team

Dear Families

Further to our last update, all residents remain at Whiddon Moree and are safe and well.

Currently, our phone line is down and we are working with Telstra to resolve the issue.

If you do need to urgently contact the site today, you can call our Regional General Manager, Sally Renshaw, on 0436 659 935. From tomorrow, you can call 1300 738 388.

We will continue to keep you updated as the situation evolves.

The Whiddon Team