Covid -19 Practice Guidelines - Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited Company Limited by Guarantee - Cork CIL
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Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Covid -19 Practice Guidelines
Updated 20th April 2020Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
As a Personal Assistants [PA] you are an essential Health & Social Care Worker playing vital
role in providing personal care to persons in their own homes. As a person going into people
homes to deliver care and support there is an increase in risk to you also during this time
and this also advises how to reduce that risk as much as possible. These guidelines are to
support you to take the best possible infection prevention and control measures to protect
the Service Users you work with and YOU from acquiring COVID- 19 respiratory illness. It is
especially important we do everything possible to avoid bringing the virus into our homes.
We have considered all our service users and the services they receive. To keep you and
Service Users as safe as possible has meant that we are changed the way we work. This is
ongoing and further changes will happen. Some service has stopped, some services have
changed, other services need to continue be provided safely for a long as possible
These guidelines are a reminder of what you know and what you practice already with some
additional information and guidance about working during this Covid -19 emergency We will
add to these guidelines as needed
Key Principles to Protect You and Your Service User Are You Well?
X DO NOT
• Do not go to work if you are unwell especially with a cough, temperature, or
shortness of breath
✓ DO
• Self-Isolate [go to HSE website for instructions on how to Self-Isolate www.hse.ie]
• Ask others in your home to restrict their movement
• Call your GP/ Dr When you speak to DR tell them you are an essential Healthcare
worker a Section 39 Agency1 12[ from 27th March you will be fast tracked for testing]
• Follow the GP/ Dr advice Call Cork CIL 021 432 2651 out of hours 0867929684 to
inform us
• You are likely to be instructed to self -isolate for 14 days.
• You will be recorded as sick by Cork CIL
• You must apply for sickness benefit www.MyWefare.ie
1
1 From 27th March 2020 Non HSE Essential HCW S/39, S/39, GP pharmacist lab tech will be fast tracked for testing
2
On 19th April 2020 the Govt announced that all testing backlog had been cleared
2Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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COVID-19 Guidance for Health and Social Care Workers Who
Visit Homes
What to Wear For all Activities?
1. Leave all unnecessary outerwear, scarves, bags etc outside the service users’ home
2. Wear clothing that is comfortable, allows you to move freely but that is close fitting
and allows you to be uncovered from the elbow down when you are working [this
allows you to wash your hands and wrists properly and reduces clothing cross
contamination
3. Tie back long hair or cover hair with a scarf this is so you are less likely to touch your face
adjusting your hair
4. Do not wear jewellery [except a simple ring band]
5. Do not use your phone when delivering care in a Service Users home
Cleaning is Essential - its the key to breaking the chain of infection
1. Use soap and water for hands where possible and where hands are visibly dirty or use
hand sanitiser ideally with a minimum of 60% alcohol
2. Dry hands use a kitchen role or wipe [ available from office]
3. Use gloves [available from office]
4. Establish a daily ‘clean to dirty’ cleaning schedule for bedroom bathrooms sitting rooms
kitchens.
5. More frequent cleaning of frequent touch ‘high traffic’ areas like kitchen surfaces taps
tables trays knobs knockers etc
6. Clean with household cleaner following manufactures instruction, rinse
7. If someone in the house is unwell you must clean first the then disinfect the areas using
a bleach solution or similar and increase the frequency of cleaning
Household soaps and cleaners either commercially prepared or a weak solution of bleach
[1in 5 solution - one-part bleach to 4 parts water] Rubber household gloves [Marigolds] are
ideal for routine cleaning. They can be washed with soap and water when still on and left to
dry.
You can use disposable gloves, but the supply is intermittent, and these are essential for
personal care [ they are precious]
3Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Personal Protective Equipment PPE
If the session or visit to the person’s home does not involve physical contact with the
Service User and if you can maintain a distance of ideally 2 metres, you don’t require an
apron, a mask or gloves.
You must clean your hands properly before, immediately on arrival, during and after all face
to face contacts and any home visit.
If the visit does involve personal care including mouth care and close contact support with
eating and drinking disposable aprons and gloves must be worn.
Standard Precautions - Always take Standard Precautions:
Dress appropriately
1. Close fitting, comfortable clothing. Uncovered from the elbow
2. Safe stable footwear
3. Hair tied back or kept off your face reduce your desire to touch your hair and face
Hand hygiene with all Service Users always.
4. Clean your hands with soap and water or with hand sanitiser when you arrive at
each house, regularly during the session including before and after you don gloves
and before you leave each house
Observe cough and sneeze etiquette.
5. Encourage all Service Users to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue if they
cough of sneeze and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you cough or sneeze
6. Do not to touch you face (eyes, nose, or mouth) with your hands
7. Avoid eating and drinking in the Service Users home
Plan
8. Plan the interventions especially personal care interventions so you can work as
quickly and calmly. Maintain as much distance you can [at least 1m ideally 2m] from
Service Users other than when you are providing direct personal care.
Talk to Your Service User
Remind each Service Users that if they or anyone in their household has a new cough,
temperature or shortness of breath or any respiratory systems they should contact their
doctor right away and call Cork CIL before the PA arrives.
Encourage all service users to list their Family/ Friend contact and GP with their numbers
and have this easily accessible on a pin board or by their phone
4Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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What to do if the Service User is Unwell
If you arrive at a Service User’s home and find that they or anyone in their household has a
new cough, temperature, or shortness of breath you should.
1. Leave the room if possible or otherwise maintain a distance of at least 1m ideally 2 m or
more if possible
2. If your service user is not distressed but is on their own call a family member or other
contact person.
3. If they have not called their GP do it for them.
4. If the person is distressed, you may need to call the emergency services.
5. Call CIL 021 432 2651 or 0867929684.
6. If you find it necessary to remain with the person or to approach within 1 m to attend to
a person in distress the risk can be reduced by putting on a disposable apron, gloves an
mask and applying the basic precautions outlined in point 2 above.
INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS WORK MINDFULLY
&
INFORMATION IS THE KEY
Visit the HSE websites www.hse.ie regularly for Covid-19 updates
Complete the appropriate Covid 19 Training at www.HSELand.ie
Links to these will be emailed to staff and posted top the website
www.corkcil.ie
5Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Social Inclusion Step by Step
Essential Social Inclusion Services
We need to reduce the numbers of people going in at out of ALL our homes. However, as PA
you may be the only or an important link with a Service User so are counted in that small
group of people who will visit if it can be done safely
Before you start …
Do you feel fit and well?
NO stay home call your GP.
YES work safely
When you arrive….
1. Formally ask if your service user and everyone in the house feels well and has no
new symptoms. NO do not continue
2. Check that the Service User is still happy for you to enter their home
In the home
1. Maintain physical distance
2. Avoid all handshakes or touching gestures
3. If there are others in the house, ask them to maintain physical distance from you.
4. Wash / sanitise your hands when you arrive
5. Ask permission to wipe down frequently touched areas in the space you will be in
with your Service User
6. Wash / sanitise your hand before and after handing food drink medicines petting
dogs or cats etc
7. Avoid eating and drinking in a Service Users home
If you go out
1. Do not share a vehicle
2. If you walk choose a quite area that the Service User knows and is safe and allows
you to social distance
3. Avoid touching things in the streets e.g. gates, leaning up against fences etc
4. Avoid ALL shops when with the Service User.
5. If you are shopping for your Service User see Shopping Guidelines
6Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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If your Service User has a wheelchair before leaving their home
1. Clean wheelchair handles, arms, chair back, controls etc
2. Maintain physical distance of 2 metre if walking and at least 1-one metre if pushing
a chair [if you cannot do this, rethink the session]
3. Use your foot to operate wheelchairs breaks
4. Take hand sanitiser with you and encourage Service Users to do the same so you can
use it as required
If your Service User has a wheelchair and you assist in a transfer
1. Clean chair and all moving handling equipment do not forget to clean slings
2. Plan the transfer to keep the contact short as possible
3. Transfer quickly
4. Wash your hands before and after the transfer activity
Others in the Household
1. If there are other people in the home, you need to physically distance from them as
well.
2. We have asked Service User, their families, and others in their household to respect
this but you must also remind them It is easy to forget we are all learning new ways
of living and working.
Talk to Your Service User
Remind each Service Users that if they or anyone in their household has a new cough,
temperature or shortness of breath or any respiratory systems they should contact their
doctor right away and call Cork CIL before the PA arrives.
Encourage all service users to list their Family/ Friend contact and GP with their numbers
and have this easily accessible on a pin board or by their phone
7Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Personal Care for Service Users who ARE NOT suspected or
confirmed cases of COVID-19
Before you start …
Do you feel fit and well?
NO stay home call your GP.
YES work safely
When you arrive….
1. Formally ask if your service user and everyone in the house feels well and has no
new symptoms. NO do not continue
2. Check that the Service User is still happy for you to enter their home
Standard Precautions - Always take Standard Precautions:
Dress appropriately
3. Close fitting, comfortable clothing. Uncovered from the elbow
4. Safe stable footwear
5. Hair tied back or kept off your face reduce your desire to touch your hair and face
Hand hygiene with all Service Users always.
6. Clean your hands with soap and water or with hand sanitiser when you arrive at
each house, regularly during the session including before and after you don gloves
and before you leave each house
Observe cough and sneeze etiquette.
7. Encourage all Service Users to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue if they
cough of sneeze and cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you cough or
sneeze.
8. Do not to touch you face (eyes, nose, or mouth) with your hands
9. Avoid eating and drinking in the Service Users home
Plan
10. Plan the personal care interventions so you can work as quickly and calmly. Maintain
as much distance you can [at least 1m ideally 2m] from Service Users other than
when you are providing direct personal care.
8Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Talk to Your Service User
Remind each Service Users that if they or anyone in their household has a new cough,
temperature or shortness of breath or any respiratory systems they should contact their
doctor right away and call Cork CIL before the PA arrives.
Encourage all service users to list their Family/ Friend contact and GP with their numbers
and have this easily accessible on a pin board or by their phone
What to If Your Service User is Unwell
If you arrive at a Service User’s home and find that they or anyone in their household has a
new cough, temperature, or shortness of breath you should.
✓ Leave the room if possible or otherwise maintain a distance of at least 1m
ideally 2 m or more if possible
✓ If your service user is not distressed but is on their own call a family member or
other contact person.
✓ If they have not called their GP do it for them.
✓ If the person is distressed, you may need to call the emergency services.
✓ Call CIL 021 432 2651 or 0867929684.
✓ If you find it necessary to remain with the person or to approach within 1 m to
attend to a person in distress the risk can be reduced by putting on a disposable
apron, gloves an mask and applying the basic precautions outlined in point 2
above.
9Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Supporting Personal Care where there is NO suspicion of
COVID- 19 – Plan the intervention
If both you and your service users have no symptoms of a respiratory like illness, then
standard infection prevention and control measures are appropriate as outlined.
1. Plan the work. If you work with a colleague agree with the Service User and each other
what each of you will do before you start
2. Reduce distraction like loud music and leave your phones outside the area of work
3. Wash your hands put on gloves and clean the area you will be working in with the
service user. This includes any aids and appliances that you may need to use.
4. When you have completed the cleaning, task remove gloves wash your hands and plan
the personal care with the Service User
5. Place an accessible open waste bag ready for use. This may be in a bin with the lid open
and the bag rolled at the top or sellotaped open on a sink or bed side
6. Collect all the items the Service User and you need for the task[s]
7. Use separate wash cloth and towels for face / body [minimum change daily] and
bottom [single use wipes or change after use]
8. Strongly recommend that Service User change towels daily. They do not need to be
separated from other washing unless heavily soiled
9. Wear an apron
10. Wash hands put on single use gloves
11. Work with the Service User.
The aim is to complete the personal care in a logical and time efficient way giving it the
time it needs but reducing movement in and around home and close contact time.
12. Change gloves and wash hands as required during the session e.g. after completing
bowel bladder care and before assisting with oral care or hair washing or assisting in
dressing and grooming
13. When personal care is complete, and the area cleaned and tidied remove apron and
gloves and place with any clinical waste in the waste bag. Close the bag and place
inside a second bag for disposal. If the Service User has clinical waste bags [yellow]
provided by the HSE use these for all clinical waste
14. Now wash your hands
….
Personal Protective Equipment [PPE]
Gloves Aprons Masks The use of gloves, aprons and masks are not recommended as a
routine for all tasks but remain appropriate for certain tasks including personal care as per
the existing IPC guidance for Home Helps and Personal Assistants above. Complete the
training on www.HSELand.ie The most important points are set out below
10Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Personal Protective Measures & Personal Protective Equipment
[PPE]
Hand Hygiene
Hands should be cleaned properly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub for at
least 20 seconds. This means applying hand hygiene practice during and after your visit to
the Service Users home as follows:
When entering the Service Users home and before touching the Service User directly
to provide care.
Avoid unnecessary direct touching gestures including handshaking
Before preparing/ handling food or assistance with feeding
Before a clean/aseptic procedure such as assisting a Service User to brush their
teeth, or assistance with close feeding, service user who drool or assisting taking
oral medicines. - Disposable gloves to be worn
Before assisting with eye care / eye drop etc - Disposable gloves to be worn
After contact with any body fluids such as bathing a person, a person who is
incontinent, handling soiled personal clothing and bed linen and clearing up urine,
faeces, vomit, and handling waste. Disposable gloves and aprons are recommended
Where disposable gloves and aprons are recommended hand hygiene should be
performed immediately before putting gloves on and gloves should be removed
immediately after the tasks are completed.
After touching the person, you are caring for such as after any personal care
activities including washing and dressing or assisting with mobility
Immediately after leaving the home when care is finished
Gloves
If gloves are required during care, hands must be cleaned before putting them on.
Disposable, single use gloves should be worn for:
All activities that involve washing and bathing
All activities that have a risk of contact with body fluids or blood
Direct contact with broken skin for examples wounds or a rash
Direct contact with eyes, inside the nose and mouth including finger feeding or if the
person you are feeding has tendency to drool
For handling equipment likely to be soiled with blood or body fluids
Cleaning surfaces or handling clothing or linen soiled with body fluids. [household
gloves [marigolds] may be used for cleaning activities in the home if disposable
gloves are not available. These may be washed while on the gloved hands with hot
water and detergent and left to dry after use.]
Changing gloves
Gloves can carry germs from one Service User to another or from one part of the
body to another, so gloves must be changed:
Between different care episodes for the same Service Use If you attend to the
hygiene of a Service User, who has been incontinent and then needs assistance with
11Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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eye care. Gloves must be removed, and hand hygiene carried out between these
two care episodes.
Single-use disposable gloves should be discarded after each use in the Service User’s
home and must never be worn when leaving a house and must never be re-used
when caring for another Service User.
Hands must be cleaned immediately before and after removing gloves
Plastic aprons
A plastic disposable apron should be worn when delivering personal care and if there is a risk
of blood or body fluids splashing onto your clothes.
Aprons are single use and should be discarded after each use in the Service User’s
home
Aprons must never be worn when leaving a house and must never be re-used when
caring for another Service User.
Respiratory Hygiene.
If you need to blow your nose, cough, or sneeze, cover the mouth and nose with a
tissue then dispose of any used tissues into a waste bin and clean the hands.
If a tissue is not to hand, cough into your elbow but not directly into your hands.
Laundry
If you assist with laundry
Wear gloves
Avoid shaking any clothing to reduce the possibility of spreading virus through the
air.
Machine wash clothes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Dirty laundry that has been in contact with an ill person can be washed with other
people’s items. A 60-degree wash is advised
If the individual does not have a washing machine, wait a further 72 hours after the
14-day isolation period has ended; the laundry can then be taken to a public laundry
service.
More information about general infection prevention and control see booklet for Home
Helps and Personal Assistants which is available online at:
https://www.hpsc.ie/a/microbiologyantimicrobialresistance/infectioncontrolandhai/guidelines/File,137 39, en.pdf This is
also available as pdf on Cork CIL website www.corkcil.ie And access to online training at
www.HSEand.ie
Providing planned home care for people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19
Homecare workers who are able to provide planned home care for people with suspected or
confirmed COVID-19 can play a critical role in helping to manage the COVID-19 emergency.
All staff undertaking this role will require enhanced PPE and additional training
DO NOT PROCEED WITHOUT AUTHORISATION
12Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Team Working -Reducing risk and changing the way we work-
Information for Service Users
Essential Personal Care Supports
Essential Personal Care Supports must be maintained. The supports must be delivered safely
and risk to Service Users and Staff reduced.
Staff live with their own family/ household and are moving about the community as
essential healthcare workers and may work with other service users
All Staff MUST maintain highest personal and professional standards to reduce risk to them
their families and their service users
They are skilled trained, experienced and have been issued with specific Covid 19 Practice
Guidelines to guide their practice considering Covid-19 and to reduce the risk. These
guidelines are not for caring for a person with suspected or confirmed Covid 19
Cork CIL PA Staff have not been specifically trained to care for anyone who is being looked
after at home with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 infection. This training is currently
being given to some HSE Home Care Support Staff
Cork CIL is awaiting additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff this will include
i.e. surgical masks apron gloves
Service Risk
Should an employee become unwell with suspected or confirmed Covid-19 all colleagues
and service users who have been in close contact will be required to self -isolate for 14 days.
This will impact our capacity to maintain the service and will require us to link with HSE for
advice
Where Service Users have a team of PA’s and where services require a ‘double up’ the
impact will be wider amongst a team as close contact will be with many more colleagues.
This in turn will impact other priority service users
Reduce Risk
Reduce DOUBLE UPs of staff
If a family member who is lives in the household can be second, they should do this
If work can be done sequentially with a PA following a colleague this should be done
If DOUBLE UPs cannot be avoided, it should be reduced e.g. shower 4 to 2 times a week
If DOUBLE UPs cannot be avoided Talk to your Co-ordinator
PA’s who are doubling up should not where possible work with other P1/P2 essential service
SU. This may mean that double up activities take place on different days or different times to
normal
Increasing Precautions for ALL Personal Care Activities
13Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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ALL STAFF
Are required to read, understand, and follow the PA Practice Guidelines-Covid 19
Undertake all training as instructed. This will be online, virtual or face to face if it can
achieve safely
Any staff member who is unsure must call for advice
When available wear apron and gloves for all personal care, bathing, continence care,
mouthcare, eye care etc
Change gloves between activities as required
In the current climate For close face to face care where there is risk of droplet infection we
are recommend when available the service users should be asked to wear a surgical mask. If
this is not possible then staff should wear the surgical mask during the close face to face
activity
PPE -How to - Online learning
All staff must go online to HSE website www.hse.ie read the information and watch
instruction videos on PPE to understand the principles of good practice
All staff are required to complete the Covid-19 online training www.HSELand.ie.
All queries please ask us
Remember
PPE is an aid it is not a substitute for physical distancing when you can and where you
cannot plan care, scrupulous hygiene, handwashing and infection control and prevention
measure
Personal Protection Equipment while important is the last line of defence
14Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Working Differently What’s New?
Flexible & Remote Working Guideline with Service Users
Maintaining contact and providing essential support is vital. Keeping staff employed is
essential Both must be done safely. You may have been asked to work differently for example
keeping in touch with Service user remotely or shopping. If you support a service user with a
walk this is local, and you must ensure social distancing. If you shop for a Service User do this
safely, reduce risk and read the Safe Shopping Guidelines If you work remotely this may
include linking with Service Users by phone, WhatsApp, Zoom, Facetime, or e-mail for
example.
If you are required to work flexibly or remotely any of your regular sessions these will be
identified as the flexible/ remote working session. You may plan to spread the session time
across the week to make better use of it. Your co-ordinator will discuss this with you on a case
by case basis.
If you are working flexibly/ remotely with more than one service user, you must clock in to
the first flexible/remote session of the week with each Service User
You must clock in to your first flexible / remote working session of that week in real time, that
is when you start and when you finish.
Immediately after the session finishes email admin@corkcil.ie to confirm the Service
Username, the actual start and finish time and briefly how you plan to use the session time
over the coming week.
After the first flexible/remote worked session with a service user you do not need to clock in
again for flexible/ remote sessions within that week.
Example: Monday 6th the April worked with John. Normal session 2.00 hrs Started
09.00 finished 10.00. Plan to shop for him on Thursday 10-11am
You will clock in Monday 6th 09.00 and clock out 10.00
You do not clock for the Thurs 10.-11.00 shopping
Contact admin@corkcil.ie to ensure that you are paid the full session length. If you do
not contact us, you will only be paid your clocked time
Cork CIL Social Media Policy Please read the Cork CIL Social Media Policy 2020. This
available on the Cork CIL website www.corkcil.ieI
If you plan to email your service users, do not use your personal email address contact
us and we will set up a Cork CIL email for you.
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Flexible and/or Remote Working Summary
If you have been asked to work flexibly/ remotely this is what you need to know
✓DO
✓ Reduce your risk
✓ Follow Cork Covid 19 Practice Guidelines www.corkcil.ie
✓ For each Service User clock into your first flexible / remote session of the week in
real time. Do not clock again for this session time
✓ Plan how to spread the session time with your Service User [ shop, face time, etc]
✓ Immediately after the first session email admi@corkcil.ie to update us
✓ Keep in touch to let us know how remote working is working for your Service
User and you
✓ Read Cork CIL Social Media Policy
× DO NOT
Do not work if you feel unwell -stay home call GP update CCIL
Do not proceed with a session if your Service User feels unwell Update CCIL
immediately
Do not Use your own email address of needed - we will issue you a Cork CIL
address of you need it
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16Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Cancellations What Next?
Cancellations as a result of Covid-19 may be:
At least 2 weeks if a Service User is self-isolating and a Covid -19 test awaited. If the
cancellation is limited to this and your work can safely recommence, we will advise you
Long term cancellation due to Covid-19 – this may be a Service user wishing to reduce the
people in their home or a service cannot be provided safely and in line with government
instructions. This will be cancelled paid for 2 weeks.
We will not automatically get back to you at the end of this cancellation period and the
session will temporarily stop showing on your schedule.
If the cancellation reduces your work, you may be able to apply for Short Term Workers
Support.
If all your sessions are cancelled and this means all your paid employment is temporarily
stopping, you should apply for the Covid-19 Welfare Payment. If this is the case Cork CIL will
lay, you off temporarily to allow you to proceed with your application. If you apply, you must
inform us.
Applying for Welfare Supports
• Read our information on the Cork CIL website www.corkcil.ie and the www.gov.ie website
The DEASP are really encouraging online applications at www.MyWElfare.ie. They are
reserving phone lines for emergencies and do not want you to personally visit the Intreo
offices.
17Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
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Guidelines Shopping for the Service User
Shopping trips must be reduced to essential food and medicines shopping and then as
infrequently as possible. [PA’s have to do their own, so we are asking them to go to a higher risk
area more frequently] We will only ask PA to shop if there are no other family/ household
members to do this or that home delivery cannot be established. Before shopping for a SU PA’s
should re-familiarise themselves with Cork CIL Policy Handling Service Users Money.
Shopping must be essential shopping food and medicines only
1- Minimise visits
2- One food shop only buy enough for a week minimum
4- Shopping must be planned to reduce risk
5- PA’s must shop alone not with the SU
6- PA’ s must not pay for shopping out of their own pockets
Shopping planned to reduce risk.
1- Arrive SU home
2- Maintain physical distance
3- Wash hands
4- Collect shopping list and money
5- Shop observe the restriction in stores
6- Bring items into SU home
7- Wash hands
8- Wipe down ALL frequently touched services
9- Wipe outside of packages
10- Put away shopping
11- Wipe down ALL frequently touched surface
12- Wash hands
13- Maintain physical distancing in the home
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How to shop safely
Shop in stores that have introduced precautionary measures to limit the spread of COVID-19. Things
to look out for include:
• Staff controlling the entry and exit of customers to limit overcrowding
• Facilities available to clean and sanitise trolleys and baskets between use
• Provision of hand sanitisers (with a minimum alcohol content of 60+%) at entrances and
exits
• Clear marking on floors to help customers keep to physical distancing measures
• Posters and public address systems reminding customers and staff to keep to physical
• distancing measures
• Staff practicing social distancing on the shop floor
• Staff cleaning critical contact areas such as screens on self-service checkouts and debit card
PIN pads
• Baked foods (such as bread, croissants, scones) covered to protect from sneezes and coughs
• Sneeze shields in place to protect staff at service counters and checkouts
• Customers being encouraged to use contactless payment rather than cash
• Separate shopping times for vulnerable people, such as the elderly
• Depending on the layout of the supermarket, facilitating a one-way system for shoppers (as
many supermarket aisles do not allow for social distancing measures)
When shopping you should:
• Take your own shopping bags and, if possible, put items directly into the bags and avoid
contact with baskets or trolleys.
• Sanitise your hands when you enter the store, ideally with your own sanitiser or, if available,
that provided by the store. Avoid contact with surfaces as much as possible.
• If using a basket or trolley to shop, sanitise its handle. It is not recommended that you wear
disposable gloves as they can give you a false sense of security and your hands can get
contaminated when you take them off.
• Try to use your non-dominant hand to pick goods up and avoid touching your mouth, nose,
or eyes. Most people are far more likely to touch their face with their dominant hand.
• Keep a safe physical distance of 2 metres from all other shoppers and staff – this includes
routes into and out of the store. If someone encroaches on your space, calmly and politely
remind them of physical distancing requirements.
• Avoid lingering in the shop for any longer than necessary by stopping to chat with staff and
fellow shoppers Avoid shopping in groups and, where possible, you should avoid taking your
children to the shop.
• Make a contactless payment (if possible). The contactless payment limit has increased from
€30 to €50 with effect from 1 April 2020.
• Read and follow the Cork CIL Policy on Handling Service Users Money
• Sanitise your hands on leaving the shop (if possible) and again when you get into your car (if
travelling by car).
19Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
When you arrive home from the shop, you should:
• Immediately wash your hands
• Identify a cleared, disinfected area to sort out your shopping
• Wipe shelving with sanitiser and a paper towel before you stock your fridge and cupboards
with your shopping
• Remove and dispose of any excess outer food packaging, being careful to limit handling of
the inner packaging of items, such as yoghurts
• Wipe the outside of all canned and hard surface pack items (including cereal boxes and tetra
packs) with a paper towel and warm, soapy water
• Alternatively, you can leave non-perishable foods in a safe place for 72 hours which is the
maximum length of time the COVID-19 virus can survive on a hard surface
• Wash your hands again after you have put your shopping bags away
20Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Supporting Service Users with Essential Covid -19 Home Hygiene
To keep safe, we are all encouraged to practice physical distancing, regular proper handwashing,
observe cough and sneeze etiquette and clean frequently touched surfaces in our homes and cars.
This is a short guide to essential Covid-19 cleaning.
• Ask permission of the Service User wipe down the areas you will be working in. It will vary by
Service User. This prompt list thinks about a whole house
• Wear rubber gloves to clean consider REUSABLE GLOVES e.g. Marigolds - single use gloves
are needed for personal care
• Use a household cleaner or a dilute solution of 1 in 5 bleach [1-part bleach to 4 parts water.]
If you use a reusable micro-fibre cloth wash thoroughly after use. If you use disposable
kitchen roll or of wipes dispose of properly
• Establish a schedule - Clean to Dirty
• Be systematic start at the front door and work through the house logically wipe all frequent
touch areas including:
• doors furniture handles knobs knockers, door jams, cupboard doors and handles
• work surfaces, taps cooker controls microwave control fridge door kettle handle washing
machine / dryer door soap dispenser etc.
• remember biscuit tins, coffee jars sauce bottles etc
• waste bins if operated by hand or touched
• tables chair arms and the backs of chairs
• light switches sockets back of plugs
• bathroom taps showers head on off switch light pulls, the toilet flush, toilet bowl and seat
and back the lavatory, lavatory brush handle
• If service User has equipment remember chair, shower chair, hoist, hoist operating systems
etc.
• Do not forget house keys and car keys.
• Phones keyboard and mouse, radio TV remote
• Car door handles steering wheel, controls gear stick seat belt etc.
• Wipe pet leads, pet feeding boxes, pet feeding bowls and pet water bowls
• Use clean dishcloth each day
• If you assist with laundry do not shake laundry and wash according to manufacturer’s
instructions.
• ADD TO LIST AS REQUIRED ……………
21Cork Centre for Independent Living Limited
Company Limited by Guarantee
Guidelines Sighted Guide PA
Sighted guide is a technique originally developed for people who are blind.
It is also useful for those with low vision who are unsure of their bearings in an unfamiliar
environment.
Not everyone who is blind has low vision needs or wants sighted guide assistance.
During the Covid -19 Restrictions
If your Service User does not need a sighted guide and you support them to get out for a walk
you can do this if you can maintain physical distance of 2 metres
If your Service User does need a sighted guide to safely go for a walk and the PA cannot maintain
physical distance and this type of support cannot be provided safely
Talk to your Co-ordinator and explore an alternative meaningful support currently
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