020 Emergency and Disaster Management (including Pandemic) Policy

1. Purpose

Proactive Support is committed to ensuring each participant benefits from continuity of supports even amid a disaster, emergency, or pandemic. When planning precedes the event, then the participant will benefit by receiving, where possible, the supports they need during a challenging time.

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2. Scope

This policy covers emergencies and disasters which could affect the delivery of supports and services by Proactive Support such as:

Fire

Flood / Adverse weather event

Pandemic

Extended power and internet outages

Participant Healthcare emergency

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3. Definitions

In this policy:

Staff means any person employed by Proactive Support, including managers and workers, regardless of pay, status or working hours

Participant means a client or potential client who is receiving supports or services from Proactive Support

Advocate is a person speaking or acting on the participant’s behalf, including associated family members, carers, nominees, independent advocates, and significant others

Adverse Event is the term used to identify an emergency or disaster or pandemic situation which may last for a day or continue over several months

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4. Rights and Responsibilities

All Staff

It is the responsibility of all staff to:

Communicate effectively with management and participants through an adverse event

Have input into identifying risks, needs of the participant and workable solutions

Be compliant with this policy and associated procedures

Assist participants to complete their own Emergency Preparedness Plans from the Welcome Pack

Management

It is the responsibility of management to:

Adequately prepare for adverse events, including developing Plans to provide guidance should an adverse event occur

Facilitate the testing of the Plans to ensure they are fit-for-purpose and review accordingly

Maintain communication with participants, advocates, carers, nominees and staff prior, during and following the adverse event

Ensure staff are aware of, trained in and comply with the policy and plans

Respond rapidly in an adverse event, making any necessary changes to participant supports, being adaptable and managing interruptions, ensuring continuity of supports where possible

Continuously seek to improve the response to an adverse event by utilising the review process

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5. Adverse Events Management

Preparation is essential to mitigate the risks of a potential adverse event having a detrimental effect on participants. Proactive Support will prepare by:

Utilising 021 Emergency, Pandemic and Disaster Management Plans

Conducting a risk assessment as part of participant support planning (see Participant Profile and Support Plan form and Risk Assessment form) to consider the degree to which participants rely on the provider’s services to meet their daily living needs; and the extent to which the health and safety of participants would be affected if those services were disrupted

Ensuring employed staff can work with various participants, live nearby to participants they support where possible, are agile and adaptable, and have the training and skills to manage emergencies

Collaborating with other providers and very casual staff to fill shifts where required to ensure continuity of supports for the participant

Keeping informed of potential adverse events by Alerts subscription, NDIS updates and news, tapping into disability provider networks, and subscribing to local and regional council notifications

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6. Preparedness, Training and Review

The Plans will be tested by emergency drills and scenarios at either staff meetings or whilst on shift with participants (either at SIL or participant’s own home) every twelve months. The scenario will be reviewed, feedback requested, and necessary adjustments made.

Participants have access to their own personal emergency plans – these can be completed in conjunction with their support workers and other members of their home or SIL. Emergency Plans are kept in each participant’s Welcome Pack.

Proactive Support’s comprehensive Training and Resources Manual details all further available training sessions for staff to utilise as required for Infection prevention and control, emergency and disaster management. Training outcomes include continuous professional development and compliance with PS Policies and Procedures. Training will be noted in the staff members’ Case and Training notes. Mandatory and Refresher training is recorded and tracked in ShiftCare with alerts when updates are required.

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7. Related Documentation

Proactive Support

004 Risk Management Framework

005 Risk Management Policy

006 Work Health and Safety Policy

012 Participant's Support Management Plan

019 Hazardous Substances Procedure

021 Emergency, Pandemic and Disaster Management Plans

022 Continuous Improvement Plan

#103 Participant Profile and Support Plan form

#108 Risk Assessment form

#117 Emergency Plan

#141 Emergency Response Drill Checklist

#142 Emergency Response Drill Register

095 Training and Resources Manual

External

NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators

Support for People with Vulnerabilities in Disasters, Qld Government

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction, Qld Government

Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) Framework and Toolkit

Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Workbook

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