Orientation and Induction

A thorough orientation and induction is provided to all Care Community staff prior to commencement of Community Care duties. This process is designed to ensure that all Carers are able to perform their duties in a safe and competent manner, whilst fully aware of the policies and procedures that guide their practice.

Uniforms

Care Community takes pride in providing a high quality, professional service to all Clients. As such, staff are provided with a Care Community uniform. Carers are expected to uphold the professional image of the service by maintaining a dress code that is safe, clean, neat and well maintained. Appropriate footwear must be worn at all times for safety purposes. Closed toe, flat navy coloured shoes with non-slip soles are to be worn. Open toe/sling back shoes are not permitted.

Team Meetings

All care staff are required to attend regular team meetings facilitated by the Care Manager. Team meetings are an opportunity for Carers to meet with their colleagues and discuss Client and service issues and resolve problems. In-service education may be provided as part of the meeting. Overall, team meetings assist in maintaining and improving service standards through a team-focussed approach to Client care.

Occupational Health & Safety

Care Community recognises its obligation to provide as far as is practicable, a safe working environment for all care staff. Care Community also acknowledges the right of the Client to maintain their home in the manner to which they are accustomed. To this end, Care Community will work with the Client to ensure that as far as is practicable, risk to either Carer or Client safety is minimised. This will be achieved by a thorough assessment of the home environment being performed by the Care Manager prior to commencement of services. Any potential risks will be identified and where possible eliminated. It is not unusual for the Client’s home environment to change over time. Care Community therefore encourages Carers to report potential risks or hazards as they arise.

Security and Safety

Working in the Community Care environment carries an inherent risk to personal safety and security. As a result Care Community assists and supports Carers in minimising risk in the following ways:

• Provision of personal protective equipment;
• Provision of a first aid kit;
• Provision of a Resuscitation Barrier;
• Provision of a Residual Current Device;
• Provision of a fire blanket;
• Provision of a comprehensive Occupational Health & Safety Manual;
• Manual Handling training;
• Maintenance of a No Lift Policy;
• Provision and access to Policies and procedures related to personal safety and home visits;
• Check in, check out calls for Carers attending Clients with known behaviours of concern;
• Personal identification badges

Complaints

Care Community acknowledges the right of all Clients and staff to register complaints and/or concerns and have their matter dealt with in a timely and professional manner, without retribution. Complaints are integral to the success of the service and assist in identifying opportunities for improvement across all areas of the service. All complaints will be managed in a confidential manner and will be dealt with in the first instance by the Care Community Consultant. Where matters cannot be satisfactorily resolved in an informal manner, they will be escalated to the National Business Manager for Care Community Nursing Services.

Continuous Improvement

Care Community adheres to the policies and procedures that are based on the Commonwealth Community Care Guidelines and Quality Outcomes and other relevant regulatory and legislative requirements. Care Community is constantly striving to improve our service delivery model. The success of our service model, compliance with Department regulations and subsequent continuous quality improvement, is reliant upon the active involvement of staff and Clients at all levels. As such, logging of Suggestions/Concerns/Compliments by Clients/Representatives and Staff is encouraged. This can be achieved by contacting the Care Community Allocations Representative on 13 11 48 to register your comments.