Supporting your staff during COVID-19

What should I do if there is a confirmed COVID-19 case of a client or staff member?

If NSW Health confirms that a person has COVID-19, the local Public Health Unit will be in contact with any close contacts of the person to advise them on what action to take. If a staff member was infectious while at work, you must also notify SafeWork NSW. You can also make contact with the Public Health Unit directly to make sure that contact details are available in all units or facilities.

If the measures recommended by NSW Health will disrupt service provision, please urgently contact your Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) contract manager to discuss an appropriate response. An example of this may be if they recommend moving client/s or reconfiguring services.

How do I ensure the safety of my staff?

Your organisation will need to have safety instructions in place to support all staff.

afety instructions for organisations and how to keep employees safe are available from the NSW Government COVID-19 website.

At the highest level, the organisation needs to have a plan that identifies:

key risks
defines all actions to mitigate risks
sets out how these actions will be communicated
ensures compliance.

Mitigation strategies

Issue	Action
Staff and clients must regularly and thoroughly wash their hands, and practice good respiratory hygiene.	Create a promotional campaign with posters and factsheets. You can download these on the NSW Health website. Conduct spot checks.
Workplaces must be kept clean, including additional cleaning and disinfection.	Revise procedures and practices around cleaning. Follow the NSW Health advice on environmental cleaning.
Staff and young people must be kept updated on COVID-19 issues.	Create and distribute regular communications that are appropriate for staff and young people
Staff should not attend work if they are sick.	Make sure that staff are aware of COVID-19 symptoms and use temperature checks, where appropriate.

What can I do to help my staff who are feeling anxious and worried?

You can contact one of the services below for support or encourage them to talk to their general practitioner.

Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 or Lifeline Australia
A crisis support service that provides short term support at any time for people who are having difficulty coping or staying safe.
NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Mental health crisis telephone service in NSW.

Last updated:

22 Aug 2022