Inside the Circle – May 20, 2025

Please take a few minutes to complete our annual hand hygiene survey! Your feedback helps us keep everyone healthy.

Has someone gone above and beyond at work? Give them a High Five!

The High Five program lets you publicly recognize staff members for their outstanding work. High Fives will be posted in your weekly Inside the Circle newsletter.

To give a high five, just click on the button below or use the link in the rotating banner on the Portal home page.

Please note: We do not accept anonymous submissions for this program. High Fives must be submitted by an individual person, whether they are a staff member or member of the community.

If you have concerns about a client/situation or questions about your role, we encourage you to contact your Client Services Supervisor.

If I am sick – like throwing up and headaches to the point I am dizzy because I am pregnant – it’s not my fault that I have to call in sick. Why am I getting in trouble for calling off? I don’t normally call off, it’s just the pregnancy.

You’re absolutely right to prioritize your health, especially during pregnancy. It’s completely understandable that symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches can be unpredictable and overwhelming. We recognize that these are not things you can control and taking time off to rest and recover is important. We would recommend reporting to your Service Coordinator/CSS and/or Human Resources that you are having challenges with your pregnancy (if you haven’t already done so), and having your doctor provide a medical note indicating your pregnancy and the fact that you may need to miss work due to symptoms so we can add this to your file.

Is the Food Safety Certification mandatory? If so, where can we renew?

No, a Food Safety Certification is neither mandatory nor required for the PSW or Homemaker role.

I always have a change of shoes. But my shoes get soiled with feces and urine, as it’s all over the face basin and the ground. Even if I wash under my shoes, when I go to my next client it sticks to the ground. So what am I supposed to do?

We understand that working in the community can present some tough challenges, especially when it comes to cleanliness and maintaining infection control. Here are some tips to manage this type of situation:

1. Keep an Extra Pair of Easy-to-Clean Shoes: Consider wearing a designated pair of waterproof, rubber-soled shoes (like Crocs) specifically for use inside clients’ homes. These can be easily disinfected between visits using disinfectant wipes or spray.
2. Use Reusable Shoe Covers: Reusable, washable fabric shoe covers are available at many retailers and online. These can be worn over your shoes in the client’s home and then placed in a sealed bag after each use until they can be laundered.
3. Use Sealable Plastic Bags: After a visit where shoes may have become soiled, place them in a sealable plastic bag or bin until you’re able to clean them. This prevents the spread of contaminants to your car or supplies.
4. Raise the Concern with Your Supervisor: If certain client homes consistently have unsafe or unsanitary conditions, please report this to your CSS. There may be additional supports or interventions we can provide to help improve conditions for both you and the client.

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.