Covid - 19 Advice for Home Support and Personal Assistant Professionals to be provided to staff in direct client contact 1 CONTAINMENT PHASE- maintain existing practices - all staff to be aware of existing guidance from Public Health in relation to self protection and the protection of others. Please refer to : www.hse.ie/coronavirus It is essential to continue to implement the WHO Five moments of Hand Hygiene, the HSE procedure for Hand Hygiene for Staff and to follow the HSE Respiratory Etiquette. Please also refer to the following Infection Prevention and Control advice for healthcare Workers: if you have any of the following symptoms: Fever, Cough or Breathlessness, you should not go to work and call your line manager. Recommendations to prevent the spread of infection  Try to avoid touching your mouth and nose  Regular hand washing -You should wash your hands:  after coughing or sneezing  before and after you prepare food  before eating  after using the toilet  when caring for the sick  when hands are visibly dirty  after handling animals or animal waste  handwashing on entry to each home and before leaving each home is essential  Use soap and running water to wash your hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsgLivAD2FE  Respiratory Etiquette: Cover your mouth and nose with a clean tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and then promptly dispose of the tissue in a bin. If you do not have a clean tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow instead. Wash your hands immediately after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.  Avoid close contact with anyone showing signs of respiratory illness such as coughing or sneezing. Please follow the advice as outlined below relating to you as a Health Care Support Assistant and your clients: 1 Staff Related Scenarios: 1.1 In the case of a Health Care Support Assistant/ Personal Assistant who has returned from an area with presumed ongoing transmission. Before returning to work, contact your Line Manager and initial contact is with Public Health and follow advice on HSPC website www.hspc.ie 1.2 In the case of a Health Care Support Assistant (HCSA)/ Personal Assistant who complains of symptoms during working hours please use the following steps: – Before your next client contact, please contact your line manager via phone and your GP (and/or helpline). Follow the advice provided to you. 1.3 In the case of an off duty Health Care Support Assistant (HCSA)/ Personal Assistant who advises their line manager that that they have been informed by Occupational Health or Public Health of their contact with a known diagnosed case: The Line manager advises the HCSA/ Personal Assistant to remain off duty and refers them to Occupational Health for further advice. 1.4 In the case of an on duty Health Care Support Assistant (HCSA)/ Personal Assistant who advises their line manager that they have been informed by Occupational Health or Public Health of their contact with a known diagnosed case: The Line manager advises them to return home and refers them to Occupational Health for further advice. 1.5 In the case of a HCSA/ Personal Assistant who arrives at a client’s home and is advised that either the client or a member of the client’s family residing in the property is in selfisolation: Do not enter the premises and contact line manager to establish next course of action. A risk assessment of HCWs with potential workplace exposure to Covid -19 will be undertaken. https://www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/occupationalh ealthguidance/Healthcare%20Worker%20Risk%20Assessment%20Algorithm%20V4.pdf Client Related Scenarios: 1.6 Client and/or family member in self isolation in house - HCSA/ Personal Assistant arrives at client’s home and is advised that either the client or a member of the family residing in the property is in self- isolation. Do not enter the premises and contact your line manager. The line manager will establish next course of action following consultation with Public Health and the client’s Primary Care team. A risk assessment of HCWs and/or Personal Assistant with potential workplace exposure to Covid -19 will be undertaken. https://www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/occupationalh ealthguidance/Healthcare%20Worker%20Risk%20Assessment%20Algorithm%20V4.pdf Please refer to the website https://www.hpsc.ie/az/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/occupationalhealthgui 2 dance/ for further information for Health Care Workers on the prevention of the transmission of Covid-19. The following topics are addressed:    Returning HCW - Contact Information Leaflet returning from areas with presumed ongoing transmission of Covid -19 HCW Covid -19 Close contact information leaflet HCW Covid -19 Casual contact information leaflet 3