A local aged care residence is currently utilising surge workforce staff to deal with a COVID outbreak.
Royal Freemasons Sale has confirmed that three COVID-19 surge workforce staff commenced work at the facility on Monday, May 9.
Their arrival comes after Royal Freemasons made applications for ADF surge workforce and COVID-19 surge workforce staff at its Sale and Benalla aged-care facilities.
The surge workforce initiative was instigated at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and sees retired, part-time and under-employed health and aged-care workers deployed to areas of the sector which are under strain.
COVID outbreaks have been a persistent issue for the Royal Freemasons facility.
News of a COVID outbreak first emerged on March 26, with residents of the facility and their families informed of said outbreak via e-mail.
The Gippsland Times has confirmed that outbreaks in the facility are ongoing.
Additionally, in April the facility was sanctioned by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission for “not providing care to consumers that meets the Aged Care Quality Standards.”
Royal Freemasons chief executive officer Kerri Rivett said that “good progress in being made” with regard to addressing issues identified in the audit.
“A Nurse Advisor has been appointed to assist with supporting the home to meet the Quality Standards,” Ms Rivett said.
“An Education and Clinical Support Manager has been appointed and commenced Care Consultations with residents and their families to ensure care plans meet the specific ongoing needs of every resident.
“A Clinical Care Specialist and other additional clinical staff have also been appointed and have commenced Care Consultations with residents and their families to ensure care plans meet the specific ongoing needs of every resident.
“We have also commenced undertaking care consultations with every resident and their family, we aim to complete these within the next six weeks.
“We have implemented weekly resident and family communications to encourage transparent and ongoing feedback.
“We are continuing with comprehensive staff recruitment initiatives to fill vacant roles; with available staff shortages across the sector this remains a challenging space.”
