Q and A’s for questions and concerns
that were raised March 26 and 27 2020 from the Communication Gathering Groups.
1. There is a provision for
testing for “long term and congregate care facilities and “other similar
facilities”. Currently it is my understanding this only applies to those
who are funded and have AHS staff. It is under the “other similar
facilities” I believe we should be included. We are working with a
population that is complex and will not always follow the protocols that are
set out by AHS. Ordinarily our staff are working with young people that can be
violent, aggressive, and can have extreme behaviours. It
is difficult for young people to follow these guidelines currently. It is even
more when we have young people who are at times unable to regulate their
emotions due to abuse, neglect and past trauma.
We are aware of the ongoing concern
expressed by staff in group and residential care facilities. We are
working with Community and Social Services as well as Alberta Health to
identify some solutions.
2. We need clear provisions for what
we should do with high extreme behaviours that are
putting our staff at high risk. We had a child on the weekend who was to
be isolating. During this period, he climbed out of his window and ran to the
community. Although his symptoms from last week are no longer present, it is
these behaviors that put our staff and communities at risk. In addition,
he has spit at staff, licked staff, and clogged the toilet and flooded the
bathroom so staff would clean it up.
We are aware of the ongoing concern
expressed by staff in group and residential care facilities. We are
working with Community and Social Services as well as Alberta Health to
identify solutions.
3. We have received directions from
multiple caseworkers that our staff (Edmonton) are to be calling police or
NACIS if our youth are showing symptoms and refuse to contact 811,
self-assessment or self-isolate. Have you heard this? Are others
hearing this or is it similar to the misinformation out there?
Please follow the guidelines in the
“Information For Contract Service Providers (Covid-19) CI Practice Response
document posted on the ALIGN WEBPAGE Under Childrens
Services Directives or found here March 26 CS Contract Service Providers Practice Guide.
4. Agencies are very nervous about
the costs they are incurring. They would like to have something in writing
that says that their costs will be covered. Both for the CI system and the DFNA
systems.
Work is underway to ensure
appropriate tracking and documentation of costs incurred by agencies in
delivering services during the pandemic. Contract managers will begin
reaching out next week to work with you on how best to track your costs.
5. I had a member agency call me
yesterday and they provide services in two communities – one community was
saying court order visits will be done by face-time or other electronic means;
and the other was insistent on them taking children to visit. I said that if
there was a very specific court order they needed to copy until the caseworker
was able to get it changed, but if it says by any means possible, they likely
were ok with face-time. But the point being is that 2 communities were telling
them two different messages.
– Should any face-to-face
family or home visitation with staff be happening right now? If yes, what are
the parameters?
Please follow the guidelines related
to court ordered access in the “Information For Contract Service Providers
(Covid-19) CI Practice Response document posted on the ALIGN WEBPAGE Under Childrens
Services Directives or found here: March 26 CS Contract Service Providers Practice Guide
6. The biggest worries from Foster
Care are:
a. Respite, people need to find
respite and is there a reprieve on the CRC expectations so people can just use
their family and close friends within reason;
b. PRAT investigation – what is
happening? Often there is a requirement for enhanced supervision for a while
and increase responsibility on caregivers. Is someone working on
this? c. Approval of special rates and support plans. Can those just
be through electronic methods or email?
d. Special rates if they need to be
renewed will /should be extended for a few months for now. Correct?
e. Foster Care protocols – are there
going to be some? Should we start with a draft like we did with group
care? ALIGN is prepared to assist in developing.
Work is underway to support
caregivers in a flexible use of respite and relief given the requirements on
physical distancing etc. More guidance on this will be forthcoming.
The newest practice guidances found here: March 26 CS Contract Service Providers Practice Guide
and directs staff to extend special rates for two months if the circumstances
for the caregiver and/or the child have not changed and that this can be done
electronically.
PRAT has also been identified as an
area where further guidance is required. A caregiver group is being
established to address COVID related issues arising for caregivers.
7. We will also need clarification
around PICs for new staff and those needing renewals. NOTE: The Back Check
is a bit confusing. CAC is accepting it but government hasn’t agreed to
that?
Is there something that can be done
to help support agencies in getting Criminal PIC’s done more efficiently at
this time; i.e. like using systems like Back Check?
The Ministry is working on processes
to support screening checks in circumstances where formal criminal record
checks are not possible. Guidance on these processes will come out next week.
8. Answers to questions put forth to
the Canadian Accreditation Council last week are as follow:
Can agencies be given leniency
regarding staff training?
Yes, CAC is giving leniency for all
training offsite and onsite.
Regarding training; once we are
through Covid-19, CAC will then give a reasonable timeline for
organizations to catch up on their training. In the meantime, I have asked
organization to put a Covid note on staff files that
are getting gaps in their training.
For the onsite that are being
affected due to Covid-19, CAC is giving extension. What we are asking the organization
to do is to send an email, to CAC Director, Deridre
Gerro at dgerro@cacohs.com for her files
requesting extensions.
In answer to your question about
Back Check ?
Yes, of course we will accept Back
Check during this time of Covid-19. Then once things are back to normal we will get back into the swing of things. Our
organization needs to do what they need to do to keep our kids and staff
safe and healthy.
CAC assures ALIGN that they will
give agencies all the support they need with absolutely no pressure. If
you have any questions regarding accreditation contact Dee at 780 424-4498.
9. Insurance: With the City of
Edmonton declaring a local state of Emergency on Friday, I know this will
affect many organizations in the nonprofit sector (and some for profit with
similar operations) as the operations many or most of you carry out, will be
deemed essential creating a different kind of possible risk.
Everyone’s services are different,
however can still come with common risk when needing to deliver essential
services to those that are going to need it most around our City and Province.
If there are any changes to
operations, please reach out to ensure you have properly reported these changes
to your insurer as it could be a change of risk that needs to be reported.
Changes could be:
– Government requirements
to assist with carrying out services at additional facilities.
– Expanding services,
will medical services be provided when previously they were not? Is this mandated
by the Government?
Work is underway to address concerns
about liability in circumstances where a child or staff contracts COVID through
an interaction with a facility or an agency. All agencies should be
talking to their own insurance providers for advice specific to their
particular policy.
10. Will group care staff be able to
get access to the child care that the health professionals are getting? This is
an issue for some of the facilities and would be very helpful.
The first round of child care spaces
that is being created is for medical staff only. Should that process be
expanded, consideration may be given to Child Intervention staff and agencies
who operate facilities; however that is not yet
confirmed. Will provide more information as it becomes available.
Please remember that staying current
regarding information from Alberta Health Services and Government is
necessary in this pandemic and you can find all the current information you
need at this link https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx.
Thank you,
Rhonda Barraclough, Executive
Director