Inside the Circle – September 3, 2024

Circle of Care is excited to offer a pilot program for PSWs to access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through GreenShield (OASSIS).

GreenShield EAP is a confidential service designed to support your overall well-being. It offers a safe space where you can comfortably discuss life challenges – such as work, family, or other areas of life – with someone outside your usual circle who can provide you with guidance and support. Whether you need a listening ear, advice, or guidance, the EAP is here to help.

What does GreenShield EAP provide?

The EAP provides access to a variety of services, including:

• Counseling Services: Speak with a professional, whether individually or as a couple, without long wait times or complicated processes.
• Health & Life Support: Receive assistance from experts on topics like work, health, nutrition, and financial or legal issues.

How can I access GreenShield EAP?

To join the program, email Kai at Ksvirida@circleofcare.com by September 20th.

We only need your first and last name to register you for the program. You do not need to specify which services you are interested in.

We are currently piloting this program for our PSWs from September to December. During the pilot period, registration will be on a first come-first serve basis, capped at 50 employees. If there is enough interest, we hope to expand the program beyond the 50 employee cap.

Workplace relationships can make your day or break your heart. Respect and kindness from your colleagues always improves your day! On the other hand, bullying and disrespectful treatment can lead to emotional exhaustion, burnout, and even physical health problems.

To build a supportive and caring workplace, we need to treat each other with respect and civility and to address bullying when we see it.

Here are some things you can do to stop bullying and help build respect in the workplace:

• Always use sensitive, respectful language with your colleagues
• Be an ally and support your colleagues if they are being bullied
• Hold team members accountable for disrespectful behaviour or bullying
• Share concerns and potential solutions with your CSS or a manager

You deserve a workplace free from violence, harassment, discrimination, and hate!

This includes physical violence or threats, verbal or sexual harassment, and other forms of intimidation or discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or partnership status, family status or disability.

How can I report?

If you are experiencing violence, harassment, discrimination, or hate while at work or during working hours, you can report to your Supervisor, Manager, Director, or to Human Resources.

You can also report anonymously using the link below:

What will happen?

Your report will be handled with respect and discretion. Next steps will depend on what happened and who is involved.

Your Safety Matters!

If you encounter a safety hazard, experience a safety incident, or are injured while working, report it to the Call Centre, your Service Coordinator, or your CSS.

If you have any questions, please contact HRDept@circleofcare.com

The start of a new school year is often exciting, but it can also be stressful!

It can be especially hard for kids who have had bad experiences at school or are dealing with other difficulties.

If you or your child needs some extra support, check out these resources!

• Kids help phone provides free, confidential support to children and teenagers across Canada. They can be reached 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868.
• Toronto Distress Centre offers 24/7 crisis support at 416-408-4357.

Have you had your mask fit tested and CPR training? Circle of Care requires all PSWs and Homemakers to be certified with valid and current CPR training and properly fitted for N95 masks.

Book your CPR training and mask fit sessions through First Aid Care today!

You can also book by calling 905-272-9214

Most of us have more than one social identity – this includes gender and racial or ethnic groups we belong to, but also our role as workers, family members, and members of our communities. These identities affect how we see the world and how others see us in complex ways.

Please join us for this webinar where we will explore how different identities come together and affect our experiences in the workplace.

This workshop will:

• Examine social identity & intersectionality in the workplace using the R.E.A.L. Framework
• Explore how intersecting identities can create barriers to well-being
• Apply strategies to challenge internal biases, build confidence, and lead by example

Session Details:

• Date: September 11, 12pm-2pm
• Meeting URL: https://cmhaontario.zoom.us/j/83471427734?pwd=XQzwjKqGQjdGOhBaCgFf9JVVKgAq85.1&from=addon
• Meeting ID:     834 7142 7734
• Passcode:    407183

Learn to recognize and prevent Workplace Violence and Harassment with our e-learning course in Dayforce.

This course is mandatory, so you should complete the course as soon as possible, if you haven’t already.

A huge congratulations to Patricia (Ticket Number 120272)!

A big thank you to everyone who participated in our first 50/50 raffle and supported our cause. Your contributions help us provide services to vulnerable seniors so they can stay healthy and safe in their own homes.

Join us on Sunday, September 22nd at 10:00 AM for The Grand Parade!

This free fundraising event will feature a DJ, snacks, and photo opportunities as we come together to support key programs for seniors. Personal Support Workers can sign up for our special PSW team and showcase your commitment to our cause.

The Grand Parade is not a paid event, but it is a fun way to help raise funds for the communities we serve.

Circle of Care is proud to offer discount tickets to this year’s CNE!

Use our corporate code to save on gate prices and more when you buy your CNE tickets online.

We are pleased to welcome the following new PSWs and Homemakers to Circle of Care:

• Fungela Thamsuhang
• Jobelyn Baracao
• Lalitha Sivakumaran
• Delia Labang
• Kalpana (Anna) Agasti
• Kelli-Ann Bowen
• Antonette Sto. Domingo
• Ampeawa Amoto
• Denisha Ashman

Why are the call center staff so mean sometimes? I wish they would be understanding sometimes. PSWs sometimes ask for a request to remove a client because it is too much or we don’t have enough travel time. If we are late from one client then it will be a domino effect. Then the next client will be later to attend to as well, and then they will complain. So please to all staff, please be patient with us PSWs. We are trying our best. I know your job is not easy as well but please have compassion for us.

Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention! At Circle of Care we value the hard work and dedication of our PSWs and we want to encourage positive and compassionate communication with clients and staff.

If you have scheduling issues, please discuss them with your service coordinator and/or CSS. If you have a concern about CSR staff, you can provide that information to your CSS for follow-up or request to speak with the manager to discuss your concerns directly.

When a client or a PSW goes on vacation and then comes back, how come the clients don’t get us back and some PSWs don’t get some of their clients back?

Normally, if a PSW goes on vacation for less than 6 weeks, you would receive your regular clients back. However, this can change based on client request. If you have concerns, please reach out to your Service Coordinator and/or your CSS.

I don’t think anything is wrong in asking anyone about hours. All you have to do is don’t answer if you don’t want to.

We encourage an open line of communication with your Service Coordinator and CSS.  If you have a concern or inquiry regarding your hours please reach out to them to discuss.

We ask that you do not discuss your availability and hours with clients, as this can lead to confusion and expectations that your coordinator may not be able to fulfill. If a client approaches you regarding your availability, please connect with your coordinator so they can discuss the schedule and inquiries directly with client.

Discussing your hours with colleagues is okay, but please remember that others may not want to discuss it and respect that. Please also keep in mind that each person’s hours will vary based on a multitude of reasons, including their availability, caseload work areas, restrictions, etc, so direct comparisons may not be possible.

I’ve been with the company for 11 years now and I don’t understand why my hours are so low. I understand we work by number of people and not by hours, but when clients move or pass away why am I not getting a replacement client? Yet so many workers are being hired. Some workers don’t even do the work properly. As a full timer I expect better than that. Also why can’t we be informed of a client’s medical situation so that we are better able to deal with them? And the time given to some clients is not enough, where some clients have too much. Things need to change for both workers and clients.

Thank you so much for your ongoing dedication to Circle of Care, 11 years is an incredible achievement! In the event that ongoing clients are discharged from services and you have availability open on your schedule, we recommend reaching out to your Service Coordinator to request a review in your schedule. If there are no unassigned client visits available within that specific timeframe, you may choose to increase your geographical area code to increase the likelihood of client visits available within that timeframe.

Currently, you have limited access to information about clients’ diagnoses and medical conditions. We understand that this is a gap and we hope to improve your access to clients’ health backgrounds in the future. In the meantime, we can make notes in the clients’ files under “mobile app note” and “special needs” to inform you of any care related health information. If you notice the mobile app section is blank, please do ask your CSS to add health information that would be beneficial for your work.

The time allocated for a visit is determined by our funders, but an increase can be considered after a reassessment of the client’s needs. If you feel that the time allocated to a client is insufficient, you should definitely raise your concerns with your CSS. If a client’s needs change or their condition deteriorates, you should also report this to your CSS so the client’s needs can be reassessed. In the meantime, you should prioritize the most critical aspects of the care plan to manage your time effectively.

Do we get paid if a client refuses service?

Yes, if a client refuses service to a PSW who has arrived at the treatment address, the PSW will be paid for the visit as long as the PSW has properly reported it to the office.

How can I increase my geographical area?

Each PSW is assigned to a geographical area based on Circle of Care alignment distribution. If you are looking to expand this, you can notify your Service Coordinator that you are available to see clients in surrounding areas. Your Service Coordinator would then notify the Service Coordinators in those areas, who will assign you visits based on availability needs.

I am curious about the working hours, is there is any confirmation that this much hour we will get per week based on staff availability?

The number of Circle of Care client visits varies frequently, on a day-to-day basis. Hours can change for many reasons, including clients’ hours being reduced, vacations, hospital holds, cancellations, and more. Some of these changes are predictable, but many are not. Due to the unpredictable nature of the visits, Circle of Care is unable to guarantee how many hours PSWs will be scheduled in any given day. However, Service Coordinators make every effort to fill PSWs schedules based on their availability.

Is it possible that we can include more information in the EZ app regarding our clients where we can see them ahead of time? Like for example, knowing if they are bedridden, if they have Parkinson’s or other info that could help us prepare ourselves so we can provide quality care? It is nice to be prepared sometimes so that we know what we will do during a visit.

Currently, the information accessible to you in the mobile app is limited. We know care related information is important and we are working towards enhancing the visibility of diagnoses and other critical information to PSWs in the near future. In the meantime, CSS/Case Managers can add key details, such as diagnoses or other relevant information, under the “Special Needs” or “Mobile App Notes” sections in the Easy Care client files, which are visible to PSWs.

The CSS team makes every effort to include relevant information, but if you notice that these sections are empty and believe additional information would benefit you or your colleagues, please do inform your CSS so the necessary notes can be added to the client’s file. Making the most of these sections will help us to ensure you are better informed and improve the quality of care we provide to our clients.

Have a question? Submit your questions or feedback anonymously below!

Please note that it may take us longer to provide some answers. If your question hasn’t been answered yet, we will get back to you as soon as we can.