Latest Update re Covid-19 Measures (July)
Dominic Simpson
Hello! Everyone here at Jigsaw OT hopes that you are all staying safe and perhaps beginning to be able to enjoy the summer holidays where and when possible. As always, we are continuing to regularly review our processes and measures in place. We are also closely monitoring the latest UK Government guidance to ensure we are doing the best to safeguard the Jigsaw OT centre against the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Over the past few weeks we have been delighted to see so many familiar faces return to their sessions and we all feel we are gradually returning to some form of normality whilst still looking forward with caution. The final piece of our staff Jigsaw (sorry for the bad pun!) will be completed at the beginning of August when the lovely and much missed Gill will be returning to work!
In terms of our safety measures in place at the centre we are continuing to maintain the existing stringent measures. One area of focus of late has been the Government guidance to wear face coverings when in enclosed public spaces and therefore, as detailed further below, we would advise all visitors to Jigsaw OT to wear a face covering when inside the centre. We very much appreciate that this will not be feasible or possible for all and therefore discretion will be applied.
Please see below for full details of all the measures in place at the centre for all visitors:
We continue to ask all visitors to self-screen before visiting the Jigsaw OT centre to help lessen the spread of the virus. We ask that you do not visit if you or any member of your household have any symptoms of the Coronavirus, specifically if you have had a fever of 37.8C and respiratory problems with at least 2 of the following symptoms; cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion. We also ask that you do not visit if you have had any contact with any possible source of the virus. If you have met any of the above criteria please do not visit and contact NHS 111 for advice.
There is clear signage at our entrance highlighting this point and we reserve the right to refuse entry to any visitor we feel has not adhered to this guidance. We have the facility to take visitors temperatures, via an electronic forehead thermometer, and will apply this facility to check any visitors who may be visibly displaying symptoms.
All communal areas of the centre will remain closed and we are operating a drop off system only for sessions. All parents/carers will be asked to either drop their child/young person off at the entrance when greeted by their treating OT and then return to their vehicles or join the session with child/young person. Assessments will require both children/young people and their parents/cares to be present in our therapy rooms. It will not be permitted to sit and wait inside the centre under any circumstances.
All OT’s and reception staff will be wearing face coverings for circumstances where any direct contact is required, closer than 2 metres distance, with visitors. Despite the space within our centre and it’s therapy rooms enabling safe social distancing, we are recommending that all visitors wear a face covering when inside the centre. We understand that for many children these face coverings will bring up negative connotations so please be assured that we will be mindful of this and will make accommodations where necessary. As per the UK Government guidance we will not be requesting children to wear face coverings.
Upon entry all visitors will be requested to wash their hands before entering the therapy room and before leaving the centre at the end of the session. Hand washing facilities will be available for this purpose in addition to hand sanitiser where hand washing is not possible. We will have clear signage throughout the centre highlighting the importance of hand washing.
Our clear floor markings will be remain in place and we continue to promote 2 metre distancing at the entrance/reception area of the centre and in the few remaining communal areas (i.e. hallways, hand washing areas etc).
All communal food and drink will remain unavailable from the kitchenette area at the centre. We ask that all visitors bring a personal bottle of water to their session should they require a drink.
Our therapy rooms will continue to have limitations in relation to the amount of equipment and resources that will be available to help maintain the required levels of hygiene. Each room is being thoroughly disinfected and sanitised following each and every session. General communal areas throughout the centre are disinfected and sanitised at regular intervals throughout each and every day. All staff are instructed to wash their hands at least every 2 hours whilst at the centre and OT’s between every session. Disposable paper towels only are available for hand drying, used towels are binned and emptied regularly.
We have done our very best to safeguard our visitors, staff and the centre as a whole to allow us to provide our services to those in need. However, we very much appreciate that despite these measure many of you will not be in a position to visit and we perfectly understand and appreciate individual circumstances will dictate above anything else. Please be aware that we will continue to be available to provide any remote support for those who are unable to access face-to-face sessions. Remote support can include:
Regular Telehealth video therapy sessions, providing home OT programs, advice, support and strategies to work on in lieu of being able to visit us and to maintain the relationship between your child/young person and the OT.
The OT team can provide written support documents to allow individuals to have access to specifically tailored strategies and resources to assist with handwriting skills, functional skills, regulation, fine and gross motor skills etc.
Regular phone and/or email support can be provided by your OT to help support you and your child/young person with managing through the lockdown period and with home educating ideas.
If you have any queries regarding any of our measures please just let us know. We are very aware the threat of the virus has not dissipated and we will continue to exercise caution in all we do.
We look forward to continuing to provide support over the summer holidays and hope you all have a great, yet safe, time. Take care!