Covid Safe Practicies at ELS
Objective
To ensure that ELS is up to date with the health data for Covid 19 situations in australia and takes necessary precautions and preventions to avoid risking any of its personnel including staff and clients. The procedures followed will ensure all ELS Personnel are trained competently in performing safe practices.
Monitoring & Preparation
ELS is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving state of COVID-19 in the community. The office team is doing everything possible to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our participants and employees and to ensure our staff are fully supported in their roles.
​
Procedures
ELS has policies and procedures in place to maintain high standards of infection control at our sites and in clients home at all times. This helps to avoid the potential spread of coronavirus and other infectious diseases for our participants and also provides a safer workplace for our employees
​
Overseas Travel
Given some of our employees and participants may be more vulnerable to the virus, it’s vital that we take appropriate precautions where the likelihood of an exposure is significantly increased:
The Australia Government currently lists these countries to be a higher risk for coronavirus:
-
Mainland China
-
Iran
-
Italy
-
South Korea
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Visitors to ELS
All visitors, including family, friends and contractors, must wash their hands or use a hand sanitiser on entering (Hand sanitisers will be available on main entry door) of any ELS home or site. All visitors are asked a covid 19 check questions and expected to answer truthfully about any of the symptoms they may be experiencing, we may need to determine if it is safe for them to enter and, if necessary, reschedule visits or planned work.
If you have travelled to, or are returning from, any of the countries deemed ‘higher risk’ in recent times and are planning to attend a ELS site please call the office team on 1300 323 399 before you visit.
​
​
ELS Employees
You are required to have completed Covid 19 certification from Department of Health website so that you are fully aware of the symptoms and precautions to take for your and clients safety, while providing supports.
​
If any of our employee have returned from a country or region that is at higher risk for COVID-19, we expect them to monitor their health for the next 14 days.
​
If you become aware that you or one of your participants may have been exposed directly to COVID-19 or have seen any other employee or client developing or producing symptoms similar to cold, flu or sneezing, immediately inform your manager.
​
Additionally, all our employees are expected to undergo a health check with their immediate supervisor. This will be in the form of completing a declaration each week to report their health related symptoms.
ELS services are still running
As you are no doubt aware, the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is continuing and public health authorities are actively working to prevent the spread of the virus.
​
ELS is taking a proactive approach in line with the Australian Government’s health advice and guidance around the current outbreak, and actions we can all take to prevent the spread of the virus.
​
While COVID-19 is of concern, it is important to remember that most people displaying symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or tiredness are likely suffering with a cold or other respiratory illness—not coronavirus.
​
The primary recommendation from the Department of Health at this stage is to practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your face. As always, if you are sick, particularly with flu-like symptoms including a sore throat and fever, please do not attend work or your ELS service and seek medical advice.
ELS is an essential service and will remain open
Disability Services are officially an essential service. We are working on ensuring that we continue to provide services and make sure that our participants and staff remain safe and healthy. We are listening to NSW Health and following their advice. Please be aware that this might change at short notice, so this page will be kept up to date with new information.
We are open for business – all of our services are still running. These include:
We have had to change the way we run some of our services to help keep our participants and staff safe and healthy. So, we are doing things such as:
-
Limiting the number of people who come into our office and group homes.
-
Screening people before they are allowed to enter our premises.
-
Cleaning our centres, offices and homes more often.
-
Making sure participants do not share food, drink, cutlery, plates and cups, equipment and toys.
-
Assessing and changing some of our community and group activities to avoid large crowds of people and to follow the rules around social distancing.
​
​
Cancelling your service
If you need to cancel your service, please tell us as early as you can. We can change the service to a time that suits you better.
Late cancellations may mean you have to pay a fee. Check your service agreement to see what the rules are for you.
If you are worried about visiting ELS or going out, talk to your Support Worker or Support Coordinator.
Download the official government apps to stay up to date and protected.
​
Stay up to date with official information and advice about the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
Download the official government apps to stay up to date and protected.
Australian Government WhatsApp channel
Join COVID-19 WhatsApp channel to learn the latest on Australia's response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Download the official government apps to stay up to date and protected.
If you suspect, you have Coronavirus
Symptoms of Coronavirus range from mild flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath) to pneumonia.
​
Some people will recover easily, while others may get very sick, very quickly. If you are sick and think you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek medical attention. Contact your doctor or the Coronavirus Health Information Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 020 080.
More Information
​