COVID-19 Policy

Coronavirus Policy

(Updated 17.04.21)

The health and safety of the Building Blocks to Success community (clients, their families, and our staff team) is paramount as we seek to protect them from Coronavirus exposure through safe and responsible practice.

 Teletherapy services will continue to be offered (for either safety or convenience) in addition to face-to-face assessment and treatment.

 To help protect all individuals, to be clear and transparent in our communication with our clients, and to navigate the multitude of conflicting information about the Coronavirus and its appropriate management, Building Blocks to Success applies the following guidelines in onsite therapy services following the CDC guidelines.

 Our CLIENTS

Physical Center  Attendance

• Illness or Overseas Travel: Clients who have returned from overseas recently, are feeling unwell with a cough or fever, who have had exposure to someone with a suspected/confirmed case of the virus in the last 14 days, or who have attended a COVID ‘hot spot’ as updated daily are asked to not attend the centers.

• Mobile Waiting Room (Car): Where possible, clients are asked to wait in their cars. Our staff will willingly greet clients at the external doors rather than waiting in a shared waiting room.

• Teletherapy: For clients who do not wish to attend face-to-face treatments will happily be altered to Teletherapy.

Waiting Rooms

 Limited Waiting Room Interaction: Client interaction in the waiting room will be minimized as much as possible by asking clients to wait in their cars/outside where possible. Therapists will greet and return clients to the external doors for their appointment where appropriate. Minimal family attending the therapy appointment is requested.

o Hand Sanitizer: Hand Sanitizer is provided for client use (and staff use) upon entry to the waiting room for use before and after appointments.

o Items Removed: All toys, reading, and refreshment materials have been removed from the waiting room.

o Couches: Couches are sprayed with Glen 20 daily.

o Surfaces Disinfected: Surfaces are wiped down daily with disinfectant.

 Social Interaction

 Practice social distancing *Parents may be called upon to attend physical appointments to provide hands-on behavior management support where therapists may have done this previously.

o Staff and clients alike are to remain at home if unwell.

 Personal Hygiene

 Cleanse hands very regularly, including before and after appointments using the provided Hand Sanitizer or soap and warm water.

o Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth) as much as possible.

o Use a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues into rubbish bins which are emptied daily.

 Our STAFF

Personal interaction

 For personal hygiene recommendations including:

• Cleanse hands very regularly, including before and after appointments using the provided Hand Sanitizer or use soap and warm water.

• Follow the provided handwashing protocol regularly.

• Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, is, and mouth) possible.

• Use a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues into trash cans which are emptied daily.

o Observe social distancing at all times, excepting where physical danger is evidence of the child in which case in the personal injury to the child is deemed more significant than potential COVID exposure for the brief moment of risk.

o Incorporate hand washing/hand sanitization into a treatment session. Surface cleaning to occur during sessions as well.

 Treatment Rooms

 Wipe table and chairs used by clients after each appointment and discard the single-use cleaning materials into the bin. Rubbish bins are emptied daily.

o Treatment Rooms: Many typical treatment items have been removed to prevent any contamination, resulting in the use of no/few resources. Large items are either disinfected between clients or placed into a tub for cleaning after the appointment.

o Make appropriate choices of toys to use that will not hold the virus, are easily washable (placed into a tub for cleaning after the appointment), or take home items (e.g. worksheets).

o Clients are encouraged to bring their own pencils/pencil cases and playdoh if appropriate to treatment social Interaction in general

*Parents may be called upon to physically attend appointments to provide behavior management where therapists are known/suspected to have exposure to COVID.

Sick Staff

• As always, staff who have flu-like symptoms should take sick leave as typically appropriate. As per usual, staff will follow standard sick leave procedures as dictated by the Leave Policy.

• Staff must alert the Department of Health and Leadership if they have a confirmed case of Coronavirus.

• If staff have any concerns about their health they are directed to consult their healthcare professional, and follow the directions to contact Coronavirus Testing Clinics at https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/