Inside the Circle – August 29, 2023

All employees are reminded of the importance of staying vigilant to reduce the risk of COVID-19. Employees should continue to follow these safety and infection control measures to reduce the transmission of COVID-19:

• Practice regular and frequent hand hygiene
• Make sure that you are feeling well, and have no COVID-19 symptoms before starting your shift
• Stay home from work if you are not feeling well
• If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, you should stay home for 24-48 hours and take a rapid antigen test
• Adhere to our PPE protocol by practicing universal masking for all clients
• Pay attention to how your clients are feeling, and report any new symptoms to your CSS, and don additional PPE (gloves, eye protection and isolation gown)

Slips, trips, and falls are a high-risk hazard in the community. As you are travelling throughout your day in the community, it is important to keep these health and safety tips in mind to prevent injuries that are associated with slips, trips and falls.

Ways to avoid Slip, Trips or Falls:

• Always be aware of what’s happening around you. Do not let objects you are carrying block your view.
• Watch for changing floor conditions (wet to dry, rough to smooth and uneven surfaces) that might make you lose traction.
• Wear appropriate shoes that has been approved by the organization’s footwear policy. This may include slip-resistant shoes, supportive and comfortable footwear.

Bus and streetcar safety

• Never run for a bus, streetcar, or subway train.
• Never run in front of a vehicle to stop it.
• Once you are on a vehicle stand behind the white line and stay clear of the doors.
• If you are standing on a vehicle, hold onto the stanchions to avoid falling.
• At streetcar stops, wait for the streetcar to stop and open its doors, and then look left. When approaching traffic has stopped, step into the street and walk directly to the streetcar. When exiting, look right to ensure traffic has stopped and walk directly to the sidewalk.
• When boarding or leaving vehicles, keep all bags, parcels and backpacks clear of the doors. Carry these items in front of you.

For more information, click the button below.

As of July, new Personal Support Worker (PSW) hires who are placed in specifically identified pilot geographies will receive shadow support from a trained PSW Preceptor for two client visits. The purpose of this program is to offer the new PSW reinforcement and coaching in real-time during client care.

The Preceptorship Pilot aims to increase new hires’ confidence in working independently in the community and help build a sense of belonging with Circle of Care.

The pilot program will be measured for impact on retention and fine-tuned prior to rolling out across all service areas. Clients who are present during Preceptor shadow visits will all be contacted in advance for consent.

We are pleased to name the following PSWs as certified Preceptors and we thank you for your commitment to building new professional skills and supporting your peers to provide exceptional client care.

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage and spinal discs. Body mechanics is a broad term that is used to denote an effort coordinated by muscles, bones, and nervous system. Body mechanics can be good or bad, and can be directly related to the occurrence of back pain and other physical issues. Engaging in proper body mechanics will help you avoid musculoskeletal strain, injuries to yourself or you client, and fatigue.

Good Body Mechanics Techniques:

• Keep the lower portion of your back in its normal position at all times
• Do not twist your body – instead always use a side step or pivot ad move your torso, from your shoulders to your hip, as one solid unit
• Set your feet into a comfortable and solid wide base of support when lifting. Having a wide base of support gives your body more stability.
• Keep your head upright and hold your shoulders up
• Maintain a stable center of gravity to evenly distribute your body weight. Keep your center of gravity low, flex your knees and keep your body straight rather than bending
• Hold loads close to your body to lessen the effect of their weight
• Bend at your hips and knees instead of your waist to help maintain balance and divide weight easily between upper and lower body
• Pay attention to our limits; don’t try to do more than you can handle

For more information, please review our Safe Operation Procedure and MSD Prevention Program with the buttons below.

As we approach the beginning of September, families and students may become eager, or worried, to return back to school. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone in unique ways, but has especially disrupted the school experience for families and children.

It’s important to understand stress, and know that anxiety can show up in different ways in children. Your child may tell you that they are feeling fearful or overwhelmed. Or you may notice things like frequent headaches, trouble sleeping, irritability or emotional outbursts. Being watchful for signs of anxiety can help you to provide support early, before the problem worsens.

Upcoming sessions:
Wednesday, September 27th, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Wednesday, October 18th , 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Thursday, November 23rd, 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Please note this is an interactive experience, so you’ll need to ensure you can participate for the duration of the session. When participating as a reader, you’ll be automatically assigned to read 2-3 ‘Books’ in groups of 6-10 people.

To register, click on the button below and click the orange ‘select a date’ in the top right corner.

We invite you to submit your questions or feedback below. Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers, so if you’ve asked a question that hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you in the coming weeks.