We hope you are all keeping well and staying safe. As the numbers are increasing of positive COVID-19 cases across our state, we do ask that you be very vigilant when attending work and even when not with ensuring you are regularly sanitising, advising the agency should you present any symptoms and DO NOT GO TO WORK IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL.
Thank you to all of our staff that are picking up extra shifts at the moment even when they are not down as available, the facilities most definitely appreciate it at the moment as do we. We do need to highlight some very important things that we are finding staff are becoming increasingly challenging around, and they are as follows:
– Given the COVID case numbers at the moment, we can not control you arriving to a shift only to find out that the patient is SCOVID suspected covid or awaiting results, or that there are COVID cases in the area you are working. Particularly if you are only picking up work in the hospital settings at the moment, this is a very likely case and out of our hands. You are being provided with full PPE and providing you are not compromising this you are not in a position where you are at risk. If you do hold concerns around this our suggestion is to NOT work in a hospital setting as we can’t do a thing about it and if you do arrive and refuse to stay, we are then also in no position to pay you a cancellation fee as the hospitals are making this point very clear to all agencies at the moment.
– Please do not speak in an abusive tone to our friendly allocations staff on the phone. We are receiving an increasing number of staff who are being very rude and abrupt to our staff on the phone at the moment. I can make this very stern statement This behavior is NOT ACCEPTABLE and in breach of your code of conduct agreement signed when you joined our firstcall HEALTH team. Please do note that should this continue to occur even after being asked to not speak in this manner the phone call will be disconnected and you will then be referred to the Team Leader to speak with.
Please know that we are doing all we can to resolve your issue at the point of you phoning through and if we are questioning you as to why you are withdrawing from a shift then we are well within our rights to do so as most of the time you are being given shifts far in advance at the moment. It becomes increasingly difficult to replace you on the day and further to that, the clients may then not want to pre-book you in future.
– Most of you should have your APP up and working now so please ensure that unless it is after hours/weekends where sometimes you may receive a text message rather than a push notification, please ensure that you are checking your app regularly for any changes to shift times, ward departments or hospital locations as this can occur when they are trying to allocate on some occasions
– If you are being deemed a close contact, the rules and regulations around this has changed for healthcare workers however we are still asking that you monitor for symptoms and should you have any please stay home, and we are also asking that you return a negative RAT test or a PCR if you are unable to access a RAT test prior to your returning to work on the wards or in aged care. See the following link for further details around close contacts and their definitions Checklist for COVID contacts | Coronavirus Victoria
COVID-19 Vaccine – Third Dose
For those of you who have already received your booster, can you please send through this information via email to admin@firstcallhealth.com.au. Please see the following link for further information about the booster shot and its benefits COVID-19 booster vaccine advice | Australian Government Department of Health
Third dose vaccination requirements
Under new pandemic orders that came into effect on 12 January 2022, workers in key sectors who are already required to be fully vaccinated with two doses must get their third dose before being permitted to work on site.
This applies to healthcare, aged care, disability, emergency services, correctional facilities, quarantine accommodation and food processing and distribution workers (excluding retail).
Workplaces must sight and record proof of vaccination. This does not apply to workers who have a valid medical exemption.
Workers eligible for a third dose on or before Wednesday 12 January will have until?Saturday 12 February?to get their third dose. There is a guide directing you to when you are eligible for your third dose depending on when you had your second vaccination. See these details at COVID-19 vaccine third dose | Coronavirus Victoria
See more information on Worker vaccination requirements.
We are very grateful to each and every one of our dedicated staff and we ask that you all be very certain that we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of each of you is priority. We ask that you follow the same principles and with that in mind should you be feeling unwell or have met the close contact definitions as on the above link that you follow the health advice at all times and ensure the safety of those you are caring for and working with are of the same importance to those you live with.
Following links for further information relating to COVID-19 in Victoria and your obligations as a health care worker
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria | Coronavirus Victoria
Victorian COVID-19 data | Coronavirus Victoria
