WA has moved to Level 2 public health and social measures from 3 March 2022.

With the introduction of WA Level 2 public health and social measures, SCC has adopted the following entry restrictions at all of our residential care homes and Community Options:

• Visitors must return a negative Rapid Antigen Test prior to entry.
• Residents may only receive 2 visitors per day in our Residential Aged Care Homes for the purpose of a care and support visit.
• Please help us by booking using the Zipline booking system.
• Visiting can occur between 10am to 4pm, seven days a week if you call ahead to book.
• Visitors need to wear a mask, provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination and proof of identification, in addition to existing screening precautions.

You will not be able to enter our care homes if you:

• Are experiencing a fever or symptoms (cough, sore throat, fever, loss of taste or smell, headache, shortness of breath), or
• Have been to a COVID-19 hot spot and health advice is to test and isolate, or
• Have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 7 days, or
• Have returned from interstate or overseas in the past 7 days, or
• Do not have an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination.

Masks are Mandatory:

• Surgical grade masks are mandatory for all visitors, contractors, and staff in our care homes.
• Visitors must wear a mask in residents' rooms and communal areas, keeping a distance of at least 1.5 metres from any other person if it is practicable for the person to do so.

Screening and Check-in:
Visitors, staff, volunteers, and contractors must comply with SCC screening requirements to enter our care homes by reporting to Reception and using Zipline:

• Use Zipline to check in including using the QR code on their ServiceWA App (or SafeWA app) or sign the contact register.
• Provide a valid COVID-19 vaccination certificate and identification.
• If you use the ServiceWA app, visitors do not need to provide additional identification.
• Visitors who have recently arrived in WA in the past 7 days cannot enter our sites.
• If you have been isolating and are now clear to visit our home, please have your evidence ready to show our staff.
• Have a temperature check to confirm it is 37.5 degrees or less.
• Declare you do not have any cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Provide evidence of a valid 2021 flu vaccination.

 

Thank you for your understanding of our ongoing COVID-19 screening and safeguarding measures, designed to help protect the health and safety of our residents, staff and our community.

COVID-19 remains a serious risk to the elderly and those with a chronic medical condition. Our primary concern is for the health and safety of our clients and residents, their families and our staff who provide essential care support services.

If you have been to any of the high-risk hotspots at the specified times outlined, you must get tested immediately and complete 14 days of self-quarantine regardless of test result.  If you have not yet been contacted by Public Health Operations call 13 26843.

 

Please regularly review the COVID hotspot locations as they are changing regularly.

Department of Health WA Confirmed Locations:

https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus/Locations-visited-by-confirmed-cases

 

If you wish to know more about the policies and directions being placed on aged care and community care providers by State and Federal Governments, please check these links:

WA Department of Health Aged and Community Care Information - link

Commonwealth Department of Health Aged and Community Care Information - link

 

Residential Care

We are available to assist with admissions to our residential care homes, subject to an application meeting our COVID-19 admission procedures.

For families that would like to contact loved ones in a Southern Cross Care aged care facility, please contact the receptionist at the care home to arrange a video or phone call.

As our staff will be required to support our residents to use Skype or other online meeting methods, we will need to follow a strict appointment process to ensure that all clients and families have equitable access to online meetings.

Only essential staff will be able to attend our residential care homes at this time and contact tracing technology and registers are in place.  If medical appointments are required, we will establish Telehealth options where practical.

Our managers and nursing staff will provide all families additional support where required for compassionate reasons, advocacy and end of life care.  Please contact your site manager directly to discuss your circumstances.

Southern Cross Care’s Residential Care Homes Visitor Policy aligns with State and Federal COVID-19 Health requirements and restrictions.  It is based on the Industry Code for Visiting Residential Aged Care Homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Home Care

If you attended any of the COVID-19 hotspots during the times advised on the Government’s website, you must declare this when we call you to confirm your service – please let us know if you are awaiting test results or have had a negative test result.

Any clients who have attended a COVID hotspot can continue to receive services, however our staff will be required to deliver the services in required personal protective equipment (PPE).

We are asking that you contact us before a scheduled service visit if you are feeling unwell in any way or if you or anyone in your home is self-isolating, being tested or diagnosed with COVID-19. We can deliver services; however we will do so with the required PPE.

Our support workers will continue to wear a mask during all services in your home and whilst in the community.  We ensure hand hygiene is undertaken between each client visit and when in the community.  We aim to keep at least 1.5m away from you where possible while in your home.

Our support workers will be contacting all clients ahead of their scheduled visit to see how they are and to screen for exposure to the COVID virus.

Both you and your support workers should adhere to the requirement to wear a mask in public and maintain 1.5m social distancing when out in public, wherever possible.

If you go out into the community, please ensure you have the SafeWA app on your mobile phone and check in as required or sign the tracing register at the venue you visit.

We encourage clients to consider if Telehealth is a suitable alternative for medical appointments, please speak with your medical practitioner and let us know if we need to assist you with this.

If clients prefer to not have visitors to their home, they are welcome to cancel services by phoning 1300 669 189 during office hours.

Communications with your Wellness Partner and our scheduling team will continue as normal over the phone 1300 669 189.

This policy applies to all home care services in the Perth and Peel Metro Area.

 

Community Respite Centres

Our community respite centres at Donovan House and Tony Quinlan will continue with the usual program of services during the week.

If you attended any of the COVID hotspots during the times advised on the Government’s website, you must declare this when we call you to confirm your service – please let us know if you are awaiting test results or have had a negative test.

Our staff will continue to wear a mask during all services in our centres and whilst in the community.  All staff and clients are required to complete contact tracing and COVID-19 screening declarations upon arrival.  We aim to keep at least 1.5m away from you where possible.

Please note that visitors are currently not permitted into our community respite centres.

 

Retirement Living

Residents in our villages may receive visitors.  Visitors at our villages are required to wear masks and must maintain social distancing of 1.5m.  Please ensure that you complete contact tracing at check in to our villages.  For the safety of our residents in our villages, please do not visit if you are feeling unwell in any way.

If you attended any of the COVID-19 hotspots during the times advised on the Government’s website you must observe the appropriate isolation period requirements.  Please do not visit until it is safe to do so.

 

Community Option Homes

For families that would like to contact loved ones in one of our Southern Cross Care Community Options homes, please contact the supervisor at the home to arrange a video or phone call.

As our staff will be required to support our clients to use Skype or other online meeting methods, we will need to follow a strict appointment process to ensure that all clients and families have equitable access to online meetings.

Clients of our Community Options homes can continue to leave their home as needed and in line with the WA Government restrictions. They must wear a mask and use the COVID Safe WA app. Clients and staff who are leaving the sites are to record their movements in the relevant sign in and out sheets located at the entrances at each site, including completion of COVID-19 contact tracing and screening when returning.

No visitors (other than essential services such as nursing staff) can attend the Community Options Houses, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as to provide emergency support. Where medical appointments are required, we will establish Telehealth options where practical.

All Community Options staff are always to wear masks whilst at work.

All essential services are always to wear masks and limit their movement within the homes and follow responsible hand hygiene procedures.

 

Helpful links

Perth and Peel Lockdown - link

State of Emergency WA Government - link

Regional travel restrictions - link

Interstate and overseas travel restrictions – link

WA Department of Health Aged and Community Care Information - link

Commonwealth Department of Health Aged and Community Care Information - link

Vaccine information in your language - link

 

 

COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout

The Australian Government in conjunction with the WA State Government is prioritising residents in aged care homes to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  This is occurring in all Southern Cross Care and Southern Plus residential aged care homes over the course of the next 3 months.

Residential aged care residents

Residential aged care residents can access COVID-19 vaccination in the first phase of Australia’s vaccine rollout (Phase 1a).

You can receive your vaccination at your residential aged care facility.  We will be communicating with next of kin or family decision makers as we are advised of information from the Commonwealth Government regarding COVID vaccinations.

Learn more about what to expect on vaccination day at your facility.

Home and community aged care recipients

People receiving Commonwealth-funded home and community aged care will be able to access a COVID-19 vaccine through vaccination clinics or GP practices as they meet priority eligibility.

For the latest advice, information and resources for COVID-19, go to www.health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.

Mental Health and Disability

If you reside at Community Options home, you will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Phase 1a of the rollout. You can receive your vaccination at Community Options or via your GP.  We will be communicating with next of kin or family decision makers as we are advised of information from the Commonwealth Government regarding COVID vaccinations.

If you experience a mental health disability you will be offered the vaccine as part of Phase 1b of the rollout including:

• People with disability with a specified underlying medical condition
• People with disability attending centre-based services such as day programs or supported employment

For the latest advice, information and resources for COVID-19, go to www.health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450.

Auslan videos and easy to read resources and further information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines can be locate by using this link.

 

Last Updated: 4 March 2022