Inside the Circle – December 19, 2023

This is our last edition of Inside the Circle for 2023! We will not be posting a newsletter next week due to it being such a short week. Our next newsletter will be shared on January 2 2024. We want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy holiday season.

There is a new SEIU Healthcare Service Union Representative assigned to Circle of Care. Please be advised that effective immediately the following Union Representative will be the main contact for all aspects of Labour Relations:

Delia Popo Harding, Union Representative
d.popoharding@seiuhealthcare.ca
905-695-1767 ext. 3352

This year’s learning topic is Elder Abuse Awareness! This training will cover how to detect, manage and prevent elder maltreatment.

The training consists of 3 parts:

Part 1: An e-learning course (approx. 45mins)
Part 2: Introductory virtual (zoom) training (1.5hrs)
Part 3: Interactive in depth virtual (zoom) training (1.5hrs)

All three parts are mandatory and must be done in order. You will be paid a total of 4 training hours once all three parts are completed.

After you sign up your Service Coordinator will add the training into your schedule as the date approaches.

We look forward to your participation in this event.

Note: If the link on the button above does not work for you, you can visit: https://circleofcare.formstack.com/forms/elder_abuse_awareness_training_2024

We have one upcoming session scheduled to talk about trauma, how it affects work, and ways to care for ourselves. We’ll explore trauma-informed care principles and learn techniques for debriefing and compassionate curiosity. Join us for guidance and support!

Session Date and Time: December 21, 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Zoom Link: 
https://cmhaontario.zoom.us/j/89526238459?pwd=NggdroD8qLv8nGvfn4uGrKTv2bEZSy.1
Meeting ID: 895 2623 8459
Passcode: 061745

Upcoming sessions for both CPR and mask fit are now available. Appointments must be booked through our vendor, First Aid Care, and can be booked online here: https://register.firstaidcare.ca or by calling 905-272-9214.

Important reminders – please read:
· Please arrive at the training session 15 minutes before the class begins.
· After you have booked your appointment, please speak to your Service Coordinator if you need any scheduling arrangements and have clients that you will need to be booked off from to attend the CPR and/or mask fit training. Please try to book a date/time where you do not have client visits scheduled.
· Your schedule will be blocked as ‘unavailable’ for you to attend the session. You do not need to use your phone to sign into the training.
· You will be paid a total of 4 hours for the training (CPR) and 1 hour for mask fit – this will be added to your schedule 1-2 weeks after the session has been completed and you will receive payment. The code will appear on your paystub as ‘Miscellaneous’
· All bookings/cancellations must be managed through the online portal. You will receive a confirmation email/text notification and will also receive a session reminder.

Let’s keep our guard up against COVID-19 and other bugs! Here’s a quick reminder on some easy steps to stay safe and healthy:
• Wash your hands often—make it a habit.
• Check yourself for symptoms! Feel good? No symptoms? Then you’re ready for your shift!
• If you’re feeling sick, stay home—no heroics needed.
• Got COVID-19 symptoms? Stay at home for 24-48 hours and take a rapid antigen test.
• If you test positive, report this to the office.
• You should ALWAYS be wearing the proper PPE around clients, and that includes wearing a mask for ALL client visits.
• Keep an eye on your clients. Any new symptoms? Report to your CSS, and wear gloves, eye gear, and an isolation gown for that visit.

As per Article 3.03 of the Collective Agreement, you are reminded that you will need to work 1300 hours in this current calendar year to qualify for/maintain full time status for the 2024 calendar year. If you are interested in working more hours or expanding your availability, please contact your Service Coordinator.

For more information, please visit:

https://psw.circleofcare.com/index.php/2023/01/11/employment-status-and-sick-time-frequently-asked-questions/?highlight=sick%20time

https://psw.circleofcare.com/index.php/workingatcircleofcare/collectiveagreement/?highlight=collective%20agreement

We are pleased to share photos from our recent Winter Wonderland party! To see the photos and download them, visit https://fotoshare.co/u/Cinebooth/397310

We are pleased to welcome the following new staff to Circle of Care:

• Sama Pokharel
• Ruchita Gupta
• Alina Sigdel
• Khervi Patel
• Garima K C
• Amandeep Kaur
• Asmita Kattel
• Ann Jerome
• Rashidat Kolawole
• Teresa Rabago
• Manpreet Kaur
• Emiliana Valdez
• Marites Caplan
• Mansi Patel
• Sharmila Kulamaran
• Yashvi Parmar
• Jamuna Baraili
• Wandalee Evans
• Lucy Iwunze
• Nancy Patel
• Hanna Hotzel
• Tope Trinity Samuel

Don’t forget to check-out the ‘Beyond Silence’ app! This is a free and confidential mental health support program to our PSWs and Homemakers. Through the app, you can access resources to support your mental well-being, and you are able to speak with a trained Peer Support Provider. You can access the app on your Circle of Care work phone, and on your personal device.

ACCESS CODE: CCYP527J8

For more information about the program, please visit: https://psw.circleofcare.com/index.php/health-safety/wellness-at-work/

Challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue, and experience the Human Library. This virtual DEI event creates a safe space for dialogue between human ‘books’ and participants ‘readers’. The ‘books’ openly share their diverse cultural backgrounds, lifestyles, and life experiences and prompt and enriching and respectful conversation with readers. In short, this library allows you to borrow people instead of books, and it seeks to help bridge our divisions.

Upcoming sessions:

January 18th from 9:00am – 11:00am

February 8 from 9:00am – 11:00am

March 5 from 9:00am – 11:00am

Click here to reserve your spot:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-human-library-tickets-742338112277

Why are the sick hours on our phone not updating? How do we know our balance of sick hours? It’s been a few months of it not updating.

If your sick hours on your phone are not updating, you can reach out to Payroll to have them confirm your balance of sick hours. You can either email payroll@circleofcare.com or call Joan Gordon (ext. 479), Harpreet Kaur (ext. 241) or Shelina Gulamani (ext. 454).

Why do we have to wait 30 minutes for non-responding clients when their visit is only 30 minutes? Should it not be a shorter wait time?

Please call into the office after waiting for 15 minutes.  During the first 15 minutes please ensure you are completing a safety check and making an attempt to locate the clients whereabouts.

Why does the call center take so long to answer? It’s especially bad when there’s bad weather, on Sunday evenings, during later shift times and in emergency situations?

Our current call answer rate is 97% and we are answering most calls within 90 seconds. We are currently reviewing our staffing on the weekends as we work with skeleton office staff to see if there is an opportunity to staff differently. If you have an emergency situation and you experience no answer when calling the call center, you can also call your CSS during business hours.

If I have an assigned client that takes 1 hour to reach and the client needs only 1 hour of service, I’m spending 3 hours of my time with this client due to travel. How much do I get paid for this client?

You will be paid the hour worked with the client and you should also have short travel pay entered into your schedule if travel exceeds 45 minutes. Please contact your Service Coordinator if you are not seeing short travel pay.

Some of us haven’t been able to access Dayforce for a long time. We can’t see our paystubs or complete the Dayforce learning.

AND

Dayforce doesn’t work. IT can’t help.

We are aware of the recent issues and have met with IT Helpdesk last week.  The issues should be resolved.  Please continue to report any issues you may have to IT by calling 647-943-1332. It is helpful if you can provide details on your issues like if you are on a mobile phone or computer, if you have tried to reset your password and screenshots of any issues and specific details of what the problem is that you are having.

Does Circle of Care pay for PSW parking tickets? What about mileage?

Circle of Care does not cover the cost of parking tickets.  Employees who choose to drive are expected to follow parking by-laws and regulations to avoid parking violations.  However, if a worker receives a parking ticket while on duty, we can support them in contesting it. To initiate this process, please send us a copy of the ticket, confirm the date and time of the client visit, and forward this information to HRDept@circleofcare.com. We will provide a letter for the worker to send to parking enforcers.

As for mileage reimbursement, we do not cover mileage expenses. Nevertheless, we offer travel reimbursements for employees who perform two or more assignments in one day and requires public transportation between assignments.  The employee is reimbursed on a monthly basis as per the minimum TTC rate schedule for a cash fare for each commute up to the equivalent of 65% of the cost of a monthly TTC pass, regardless of if the worker uses public transportation or their own car. Please refer to Article 22 in the collective agreement for more information on travel reimbursements.

Are we responsible for disposing of the nurses’ garbage? There’s a particular nurse that is always giving me or telling me to throw out his garbage.

You are not responsible for disposing of a nurse’s garbage. You are only responsible for your clients and the care plan tasks. If a nurse is asking you to perform duties outside of the care plan, you can reach out to your CSS to discuss your concerns. Your CSS can escalate this issue to HCCSS.