PPE for Residential Care staff

This guidance is provided to ensure consistent and transparent management of the limited supply of PPE, it should be read in conjunction with SA Health Protocol 5 - Home visits by South Australian Government employees and SA Health PPE Guide for Child Protection Services. The Factsheet: COVID-19 measures for the management of fleet/corporate vehicles also provides relevant advice.

The use of PPE does not replace the necessity for good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and maintaining social distancing to protect against infection and prevent the virus spreading.

PPE Requirements

When PPE is required, and as per SA Health Guide for Child Protection, DCP staff require access to the following equipment:

Disposable examination gloves
Surgical masks
Eye protection - either glasses or face shields
Disposable gowns
Hand sanitiser
Disposal bags for used disposable PPE (plastic tie bags).

Face Masks

Face masks are an additional physical barrier and help to stop the spread of COVID-19. At this time in South Australia it is not mandatory, but it is recommended to wear a mask when out in public if you are unable to physically distance.

Children under 12 years of age do not need to wear a mask, as they may not be able to handle it safely.

Residential Care staff

For all situations, other than high-risk, DCP staff are urged to use standard, widely-recommended precautions including, good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and maintaining social distancing to protect against infection and prevent the virus spreading.

High-risk situations

Residential care staff will use PPE at all times in the home when caring for a child / young person who is quarantining under direction from SA Health. In these circumstances, and where appropriate, the child / young person should also be encouraged to wear a mask when having contact with other children and young people in the home and with staff.

Residential care staff will use PPE where there is a suspected case and staff are transporting a child / young person to a medical facility to be tested and they are expecting to have close contact with the child / young person. In these circumstances, and where appropriate, the child / young person should also be encouraged to wear a mask during transport and at the medical facility.

Donning (putting on) and Doffing (taking off) of PPE

To reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 PPE must be used appropriately and before close contact with a high risk client.

SA Health has recommended the following the SA Health PPE Guide for Child Protection Services. You are asked to familiarise yourself with this guide prior to using PPE.

Instructions for use of PPE

Donning and doffing of PPE must be undertaken in a methodical manner as per the recommended sequence as per instructions provided by the SA Health Sequence for donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) Personal Protective Equipment Guide. This guide can be found on page 5 of this document.

PPE Video Guidance

To assist non-health professionals, like DCP staff, the Australian Government Department of Health has produced a video guide to Wearing PPE in Allied Health. This video is essential viewing for all staff.

This video is geared towards all allied health workers and does use health language and settings, such as referring to clients as “patients”. However, the guidance is valuable and it is recommended all staff watch the video to familiarise yourself with appropriate and safe PPE usage, with the actual instruction commencing at 3.55 minutes.

To remind yourself how to correctly wear the masks, watch Professor Nicola Spurrier’s demonstration or review the SA Health infographics on how to put on and take off a mask.