01/04/2020 –
Level Four Rules and Regulation – Amended Lockdown Procedures
Government Notice
27/03/2020
Iris House Social Workers on call
Having to lockdown and stay inside your home is challenging. Iris House would like to support our families over the lockdown, we are here for you. If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious our social workers are available on WhatsApp or calls between 9am and 4pm daily during the lockdown. Shakira can be reached on 076 866 2811 and Mcdonald on 066 205 6816. You are not alone! We will get through this together #StoptheSpread
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25/03/2020
Yes you can walk your dog and go for a jog during lockdown:
Article by businesstech.co.za
READ HERE
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25/3/2020
IRIS HOUSE IMPLEMENTS HEALTH ADVISE LINE FOR PERIOD OF LOCKDOWN
Dear families, as we prepare for lockdown on Thursday evening I am sure some of you are nervous about the health care of your special child. We all know that caring for a special needs child can be challenging under everyday circumstances, a lockdown is not something any of us have experienced before. In order to assist you in these uncertain times, Nurse Michaels will be available daily from 9am to 4pm on the number 071 680 8022 (calls and WhatsApp) to provide advise and support for you and your child. We look forward to assisting you ! Stay Safe
The information given by Nurse Michale’s is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for your doctor or hospital advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. … Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. The information and materials provided by Nurse Michaels should not be used as a substitute for the care and knowledge that your physician or hospital can provide to you.
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24/3/2020 News from the leader of the DA John Steenhuisen – (CORONA_CAST)
CLICK HEAR TO VIEW
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23/3/2020: President Ramaphosa’s address to the nation – Lockdown for South Africa
21 Days starting Thursday 26th of March – Midnight
CLICK HERE TO READ
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22/3/2020: Update from Denzil Cowley of the Department of Social Development
CLICK HERE TO READ
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16/3/2020: Update sent re all services rendered by Iris House, to the Department of Social Development / Board – Sent by: Sue van der Linde Chairperson / Founder
Please find below the measures we at Iris House are taking regarding infection control of the Coronavirus and the effect on our DSD outcomes, our families, staff, fundraising team and board members.
1. Community Care:
Information Considered
Iris House Children’s hospice carers provide respite care in the homes of our children. Carers visit more than one family in the line of their duties. Carers make use of public transport to get to and from respite care sessions in the community. Carers are equipped with hand gel and are all trained on best practise hygiene. Over 80 % of our carers have children in school’s which will be closed as from Wednesday. Over 70% of the children in our care are already compromised in regards to their health. We have no control over the level of hygiene at parents homes. Some of our parents work, we have no control over infection control measure at their places of work. Some of the families in the North and South do undertake international travel. Iris House is only short 4 community care session for the month of March and has matched or bettered all other targets for the year regarding community care.
Decision Made
Effective immediately Iris House Childrens Hospice will cease all community based care and delivery of food and nappies into our communities. We will inform all families of this decision during the course of the day and assist with any Corona related needs they may have by way of signposting to the designated hospital and advice via the telephone. We will provide telephone support to families as well as regular updates on WhatsApp, giving advice on hand washing techniques written by Nurse Michaels. The interruption of services will at this stage be in effect from today till the 31st of March. Staff/ Carers are requested to self quarantine from today of March till the 31st of March
2. Hospice Based Care:
Information Considered
Iris House Children’s Hospice is well equipped with infection control measures. All staff at the hospice are trained in infection control. All areas, toys and equipment at the hospice are throughly cleaned before and after each session. The Iris House 7 seater vehicle is equipped for infection control. The Iris House 7 seater vehicle is carrying vulnerable children and staff members to and from hospice session. Some children in the Northern Suburbs are brought in by their parents. Iris House has invested in additional infection control by way of masks and additional gloves and hand sanitiser. Iris House carers and staff make use of taxis to arrive at work. Many of our syndrome and cerebral children often present with fever and cold like symptoms due to their conditions. It would be impossible to differentiate these symptoms from Coronavirus symptoms without blood test and or swabbing. Over 70% of the children in our care are already compromised in regards to their health. Iris House has to rely on the parent of the child to disclose any illness which is not immediately evident on collection or arrival at the hospice. Schools will be closed from Wednesday. Some of our parents work, we have no control over infection control measure at their places of work. Some of the families in the North and South do undertake international travel. Iris House has overachieved its DSD target for March and overachieved its annual target
Decision Made
Effective 17th of March we will cease hospice sessions. Permeant staff will undertake through cleansing of the hospice today. Visitors will not be permitted on the hospice grounds from today. Families will be supported to the best of our ability as noted in point one above. Woolworths collection of food items will cease from today (Monday the 16th of March). Staff are requested to self quarantine from Tuesday the 17th of March till the 31st of March. Carers and leads must submit or necessary documentation to admin staff in order to facilitate timeous delivery of DSD reporting. Please note financial information may not be available from our accountants if they decide to close their offices, I am awaiting their decision on this and will inform the DSD members included in this email as soon as I have confirmation from the accounting officers. No fundraising or social events will take place at the hospice as from today. March Fundraising and Board meetings will not take place in March. All meetings will recommence on previously agreed dates in April. Skeleton ground staff will ensure our animals are cared for during the shutdown period. The interruption of services will at this stage be in effect from tomorrow till the 31st of March.
3. Assessment, therapeutic and developmental services
Information Considered
Iris House Children’s hospice provides assessments, therapeutic and development. Services are delivered on an individual basis and in groups at either the hospice or community venues such as libraries . Social Workers and staff are in contact with more than one family in the line of their duties. Carers, families and some staff make use of public transport to get to and from assessment, therapeutic and development sessions in the community and at the hospice. Social workers and staff are equipped with hand gel and are all trained on best practise hygiene. One of our two social workers has children in school’s which will be closed as from Wednesday. We have no control over the level of hygiene used by parents or outside venues. Some of our parents who attend our groups sessions work, we have no control over infection control measure at their places of work. Some of the families in the North and South do undertake international travel. Iris House has overachieved it DSD target for this output for the month of March and the year.
Decision Made
Effective 16th of March we will cease all Assessment, therapeutic and developmental services both in the community and at the hospice. Permeant staff will undertake through cleansing of the hospice today. Visitors will not be permitted on the hospice grounds from today. Families will be supported to the best of our ability as noted in point one and two above. Staff are requested to self quarantine from Tuesday the 17th of March till the 31st of March. Social Workers and staff must submit or necessary documentation to admin staff in order to facilitate timeous delivery of DSD reporting. Please note financial information may not be available from our accountants if they decide to close their offices, I am awaiting their decision on this and will inform the DSD members included in this email as soon as I have confirmation from the accounting officers. All meetings/ support groups will recommence on previously agreed dates in April. The interruption of services will at this stage be in effect from today till the 31st of March.
4. Training of Parents
Information Considered
Iris House Children’s hospice provides assessments, training of parents both in the community and at the hospice. Training services are delivered on an individual basis and in groups at either the hospice or community venues such as libraries . Social Workers, medical staff and the CEO are in contact with more than one parent in the line of their training duties. Families and some staff make use of public transport to get to and from training sessions in the community and at the hospice. All trainers are equipped with hand gel and are all trained on best practise hygiene. Our Nurse has a child in school which will be closed as from Wednesday. We have no control over the level of hygiene used by parents or outside venues. Some of our parents who attend our training sessions work, we have no control over infection control measure at their places of work. Some of the families in the North and South do undertake international travel. Iris House has overachieved it DSD target for this output for the month of March and the year.
Decision Made
Effective 16th of March we will cease all training services both in the community and at the hospice. Permeant staff will undertake through cleansing of the hospice today. Visitors will not be permitted on the hospice grounds from today. Families will be supported to the best of our ability as noted in point one, two and three above. Staff are requested to self quarantine from Tuesday the 17th of March till the 31st of March. Our nurse and training staff must submit or necessary documentation to admin staff in order to facilitate timeous delivery of DSD reporting. Please note financial information may not be available from our accountants if they decide to close their offices, I am awaiting their decision on this and will inform the DSD members included in this email as soon as I have confirmation from the accounting officers. All training groups will recommence on previously agreed dates in April. The interruption of services will at this stage be in effect from today till the 31st of March.
5. Doggy Day Care Protective Workshop
Information Considered
Currently our doggy day care has 18 dogs attending the day care. Dogs are delivered by their owners. The owners are working, we have no control over infection control at their workplace. We have no control over the owners exposure to the virus. No dogs have been documented to carry the virus. The doggy day care manager has a child in school, the schools are closing on the 18th of March. The additional staff member at the day care will move onto the premises on the 17th of March. The young adult at the workshop is not physically compromised, he is in good health. The young adult at the workshop does not have his own transport, he is currently relying on his Father or the day care manager for transport. The staff have been trained on infection control and have the necessary items for hand washing and infection control. Contact with the owners is limited to drop off and collection, there is no need for close contact with the owners. The staff member at doggy day care uses public transport if he comes from home to work. The manager has her own transport. The day care has running water and electricity. The day care has a portable chemical toilet and no bathroom. The day care has suitable buildings for living in but not kitchen or bathroom. The day care is well within walking distance of our hospice. The hospice has a cottage on the grounds which is fully equipped with a bathroom. The hospice kitchen has all cooking equipment needed. The managers husband will be working from home on some days between now and April. It is possible for the managers daughter to join her at the day care. The manager works part time from 6.30am till 12.30pm.
Decision Made
The Doggy day care, protective workshop will remain open at this time. The permanent staff member will move onto the property. The staff member will be given access to Iris House cottage and kitchen for cooking and bathing facilities. The manager will work as normal at the day care. Our nurse will ensure all day care staff and our workshop member are fully aware of hand-washing procedures and infection control today by giving training to each person today. Daily communication between the staff members and the CEO will take place via whatsapp or phone. The staff are to ensure that they limit contact with dog owners when dogs are delivered or fetched. The continuation of service will be assessed daily by the CEO on receiving feedback from the staff. Additional disposable gloves and wipes will be allocated to the day care. All staff are to report for duty, leave must be taken if time off is needed. The young workshop adult can consult with is family re attendance. His decision to attend the workshop or not will be respected by Iris House.