forms - Independent Counselling Enterprises

Edmonton • July 2010Maria was born in the beautiful islandsof Azores (a group of Portugueseislands in the mid-Atlantic). Maria, hermom and two younger siblings joinedher father in Edmonton when she wassixteen years old. She has lived inEdmonton since then because she lovesit here, especially the winter months.Prior to working for IndependentCounselling Enterprises (ICE),Maria volunteered at the GlenroseRehabilitation Hospital assistingseniors to attend their medical appointments. In her searchfor a vocation, Maria contacted a employment agency andwas asked which field intrigued her. She replied, “Workingwith seniors and people with special needs.” That’s how shewas introduced to ICE. Maria has worked for ICE in both theresidential and homecare departments since 1994.One of the first homes that Maria worked at involvedworking with children with disabilities whom she fell inlove with upon meeting them. At this time, she also workedin homecare with a client who was diagnosed with cancer.Many years later, she herself was faced with the samechallenge. She has beaten cancer courageously.Maria constantly displays an exuberant sense of hope,selflessness and a bit of down-right stubbornness. Whenasked what she enjoys most about working with seniors,Maria replied, “They keep me going and I learn a lot fromthem”.While working full-time at ICE, Maria solely raised her tripletMariasons who are now adults. This requiredorganization and care giving skills whichwould challenge any mother! She hasdescribed raising her sons as her greatestaccomplishment in life.Despite the many challenges in her life,Maria is a devoted and caring person whorises above any challenge encountered.Along with her fellow colleagues, Mariais now working hard to achieve herHealth Care Aide certification.ECATEmployee &ClientAssistance Team780-461-7236after officehoursMEETINGSHealth & SafetyMeetingJuly 7th , 1:30 pmRPACJuly 20th , 2:00 pmTIME SHEETHAND-INHand-in day will be:July 15th, 2010for all shifts workedbetweenJuly 1st and 15thandAugust 3rd, 2010for all shifts workedbetweenJuly 16th and 31stCONTENTSClient success......... pg 2Philosophy.............. pg 2Pay Attention.......... pg 4Mow Safely............. pg 5Footware................. pg 5www.icenterprises.com

July 2010Client Success Story – PeterPeter is a very active young man. He enjoys the many biketrails and parks in Calgary. He and his ICE CommunityRehabilitation Worker take in the sights and soundsthroughout the many river parks. Keeping fit is veryimportant to Peter.Peter enjoys listening to music. His favorite genre is dancemix. It is the secret to his success in keeping his apartmentclean and tidy. Chores are not so hard to complete when yourfavorite song is playing!Computer activities are also something Peter really enjoys.Not only can he browse the internet, check his emails, andplay games, he can work on his literacy skills at the sametime.In addition to his own apartment, Peter has pets to care for.His two guinea pigs are a big part of Peter’s life. He namedone, ‘Buddy,’ because he is very close to him. The other isnamed, ‘Chomper’. Yes, this one likes to chomp on people!Peter plays with his pets every day, cleans their cage andmakes sure they have food and water. They like to run aroundhis apartment, but they always come back when Peter rattlesa bag.Peter is a very enthusiastic worker. He has been a Walmartemployee for 14 years. There he is responsible for “storestandards”. This means that he organizes shopping carts, doescarry outs, completes clean ups and any other maintenancethat is necessary. Peter has met many people through hiswork and was even invited to the store manager’s home forChristmas dinner this year.A witty sense of humour is also one of Peter’s attributes. Heand his girlfriend enjoy many laughs together.Congratulations, Peter! Your many successes are aninspiration to all.1.1.2 PHILOSOPHY• Excellence and Consistency in Service DeliveryThrough a process of continued quality improvement, maintain high standards of servicedelivery based on the values of honesty, respect for the individual, confidentiality,empowerment and client focused services.• Flexible ServiceBe flexible and responsive to the individual needs of the client within the confinements offunding and agency resources to promote opportunities to facilitate individual outcomes.• Employee Support/TrainingSupport and supervise our employees through the provision of training and educationopportunities. To improve their competencies and commitment to excellence in serviceprovision.• Health and SafetyEstablish and promote health and safety policies and procedures to ensure a safe workenvironment for both the client and the employee.ICE has a TDGroup RSP plan!If you are eligible,ICE will match yourcontributions!Refer toPolicy 3.4.18. ICESavings/Pension Plan.To sign up, pleasecontact Linna Roemat (780) 453-9664.Updated November, 2009Page 2www.icenterprises.com

July 2010Saidu Conteh receiveda Thank You Cardfrom his Managerfor accommodatinga staffing assistancerequest at anotherprogram. Saidu receivedan Intex Deluxe Airbed.ThankYou!Larry Oleksyn receivedan Ozark Tent Combo fora Thank You card givenby a client who trulyappreciates Larry’s workethics.Amina Ali received aMainstay Floor Lamp fora Thank You card givento her by her Managerfor doing a great job inconsistently coordinatingHealth and Safetyconcerns of her clients.Happy CanadaDay!Proactive Behavior InterventionJuly 8 and 22nd, 2010, 9am-5pmNon-violent Crisis InterventionJuly 20th, July 21st, 2010, 9am-4pm both daysTRAININGAll ICE offices will be closedThursday July 1,for Canada DayPlease direct allcalls to the Employee ClientAssistance Team for this day.www.icenterprises.comPage 3

July 2010Paying Attention for SafetyReviews of near miss and injury incidents often result ininvestigators concluding that a worker had not been payingclose attention to what they were doing. People rarelyget hurt because they want to, but people can be easilydistracted by noise, surrounding activities, and personalissues. Such incidents are often embarrassing as well aspainful for the workers involved.Routine and experience allow us to complete complex tasksefficiently, but routines can also create hazards. If we’vecompleted a task 500 times, we may continue to do thetask the same way the 501st time, even if the conditionsor circumstances of the task differ in some manner fromprevious times. Consider the example of driving homeafter work. Many of us drive our vehicles home at theend of the work day and because the route is familiarand we’ve driven it so many times, we allow our mind towander and travel on “auto-pilot”. We may even arrivehome and not remembermuch about the journey. Ifwhile our brains and senseswere in this wanderingmode the conditions of theroad changed to include a!new factor like black ice, ourpotential for injury wouldhave been significantlyincreased. Remember,we can’t be sure that theconditions and environmenthave remained constant. Weneed to stay in touch withwhat is going on around us.Reducing employee risks:1. Assess everyday factors that contribute to yourwandering attention and make adjustments for these. Forexample, perhaps your attention wanders more after youconsume a large lunch. You might instead plan to eat asmaller lunch and have a snack mid-afternoon. You mightchoose to complete tasks with fewer hazards and a lowerdegree of risk during the post lunch time frame, reservingcompletion of more hazardous tasks for times when youknow your attention is clearly focused.2. Use proactive strategies to cope with challenges affectingyour ability to focus. Stay in touch with what’s going onaround you. (Resist the urge to switch to “auto-pilot”.)Examples:• Take regular breaks to drink water (brain gym),• Stretch and move about,• Vary tasks to enhance interest and avoidboredom,• Manage resources effectively i.e. avoidstretching/dividing your attention betweentoo many tasks,• Complete an informal hazard assessmentprior to completing tasks. This will refocusyour attention on safety. (Refer to the June2010 ICE page.)Remember your attention can be consciouslyimproved and controlled with practice. Bepresent in the moment and you and otherswill be safer.Sun and InsectsSummer is a great time for outdoor activities but don’tforget the sun screen, water (to stay well hydrated) and thebug spray!Both clients and staff need to plan in advance and take stepsto be protected.Page 4www.icenterprises.com

July 2010Lawn/ Yard Maintenance – Safety ListDress Appropriately• Wear safe footwear, close fitting long pants, workgloves, and safety glasses for eye protection. (Contact yourCoordinator or Manager if you require Personal ProtectiveEquipment (PPE) for use of equipment at yourprogram.)Clear the area of hazards.• Pick up loose debris, rocks, sticks,toys and trash.Prepare yourself and yourequipment.• Ensure you havereceived effectivetraining beforeoperatingequipment.• Check the guards and shields and ensure all protectivedevices are in place before starting machinery.Operate equipment safely.• Keep others clear of the mowing area and out of the wayof objects that may be thrown by the mower or trimmer.• Keep all extremities clear of the moving parts of themachinery.• Turn off the mower before you leave it – even for amoment.• Wait for moving parts to stop completely before removingthe grass catcher, unclogging the chute etc. NEVERUNCLOG A JAMMED LAWN MOWER WHILE THEENGINE IS RUNNING!• Never run mowers over hard immovable objects likepipes, rocks or sidewalk edges.Please mowsafely!www.icenterprises.comDress and Footwear RemindersAs per ICE Policy 3.8.6 Dress, Hygiene and Grooming, ICE employees are required to dress professionally at all times.• Footwear should be safe, functional and appropriate for the job responsibilities at all work settings. Examples of appropriatefootwear include shoes with closed toes and heels/heel supports (sling backs) with non-skid/slip resistant soles.• Safe footwear as per the policy is required by ICE employees “at all work locations” this includes community locations,ICE offices (including training sessions), and residential programs. While you are at work the policy applies to you.• Outdoor footwear should be exchanged for indoor footwear. (Germs and bacteria may be carried into residences via outdoorfootwear.)• Professional appearance is expected even in hot weather. Please remember, you are a representative of ICE and a rolemodel for the individuals we support.October 2008Appropriate Footwear Safe Footwear -Page 5

July 2010Health and Safety Minutes3.1 Review of Regional Healthand Safety MinutesSouth RegionMeeting minutes date: May 19,2010Point of clarification re Southminutes:Corinne is revising Health andSafety binders for ICE rather thanthe Health and Safety CommitteeMembership binders. These wouldbe organized by the South H&Scommittee.#2 – CPI training is generallyreserved for staff required toimplement an authorized plannedprocedure for a client that includesuse of approved restraints.Calgary RegionMeeting minutes date: April 21,2010Review of Near MissMar 19/10 – Staff was pinned toher seat by a client holding herarms.Recommendations:Client had blood work that morning,that staff was not aware of.Ensure that parents know the importanceof relaying changes in thefuture. CSC to discuss with staffstrategies on how to inform clientabout changes in environment, etc(prepare). Ensure that staff follows3-hour transportation after escalationrule.No additional recommendation.3.2 Evaluation of current InjuryInvestigationsApril 20/10 – Upon return fromhis day program, client was veryirritable. Client has been goingthrough a period of adjustmentin regards to a relationship with agirlfriend. Client approached staffand there was physical involvement.Staff was injured (arms andneck) she experienced headachebecause of this incident.Recommendations:• That male staff be booked to supportclients at this program.• Follow up MH support team.• Staff at the program receiverefresher PBI training.• Staff to use PBI techniques, i.e.maintain personal space and bealertMay 2/10 – Staff was in process ofadministering medication to client.Staff was carrying a pen for recordingpurposes; staff slipped andaccidentally poked himself in thenose. The pen broke the surface ofthe skin. First Aid was applied.Recommendations:• Attach pens for recording medicationadministration on each individualclient’s clipboard to avoidstaff walking about with a pen.• Give medication first, recordingcan be done afterward reducing thedivision of attention that may havecontributed to the incident.• Review if the floor surfacemay have been affected by use ofmaterials such as non-stick cookingspray or flour creating hazards notvisible. Review safe use of suchmaterials with staff team.• Review if shoes soles were wornand smooth.May 25/10 – Office staff wasgoing up the stairs and fell. Staffstated that she tripped and then fellforward and then slid backwardsdown the stairs.Recommendation:• Use the banister at all times• Use safe methods to carry itemson the stairs (sight of stairs maintained)• Limit the amount of items thatare carried when using the stairs• Focus on task at handMay 23/10 – Staff poked herselfwith a blood glucose testing device.Recommendations:• Retraining of employee and teamin safe BG testing procedures.• Refer to Policy. Policy 2.3.10 –Handling of Sharps/PunctureWounds. Review this policy withteam (also recommended forreview with all other teams thatcomplete blood glucose testing.)3.3 Evaluation of Near Miss InvestigationsThe phone was ringing in a residentialprogram. A client becameagitated and slapped and pusheda staff person when the phone wasnot answered quickly enough forthem. The client may have beenunder the influence of unknownsubstances. Police intervention wasinvolved.• Review PBI with staff team.• Follow up with client and supportnetwork and develop andimplement positive approachesif not in place (i.e. agitation, substanceabuse counseling etc.)3.4 Review of COR Audit ActionPlan 2009The group reviewed Section 6.0(pages 47-49) – Emergency Response6.3 key recommendations• A person in the Edmonton officehas a connection with a Fire Fighterwho is willing to assist with trainingstaff to use Fire Extinguishers.More information will be coming.• As per Policy, Fire Drills must beperformed by staff at residentialprograms (including weekend andovernight staff). Reports for WEand ON staff completing drills is tobe submitted Corinne.o It was suggested by TC’s in attendancethat a system that workswell is to set up a fire drill scheduleamongst staff and to make sure thata rotation is being practiced thatincludes all residential positions includingWeekends and Overnights.• Robin suggested (where appropriateand non- intrusive) posting acopy of the “How to Operate a FireExtinguisher” instructions (fromH&S Binder) right beside the fireextinguisher. This encourages staffto review the information regularly.3.5 Review of Master Hazard assessmentand Control DocumentReviewed Master Hazard Assessmentand Control Document• Corinne asked for H & S committee’sassistance in completing theEdmonton Office site specific.4.1 Sign up for Hazard AssessmentTrainingHazard Assessment and Controltraining for Edmonton Health andSafety members will be held onTuesday, June 8th from 9 am-12:00noon in the downstairs trainingroom.Confirmed:Robin, Ursula, Ruby, PelitaAlice – Corinne will contactMelissa, Pat and Vesna – will becontacted by PelitaLorena – is on holidays that week.4.2 July ICE page articles andremindersSuggested topics:• Avoiding injuries/damages by“Being Present” – i.e. maintainingpresence of mind on actions beingcompleted.• Lawn mowing• Wearing proper footwear• Robin will send Corinne informationthat she received regarding“Being Present” in everything thatyou do.• Improper footwear often becomesan issue in summer; it is a goodidea to remind staff about the ICEPolicy in regards to professional(modest) and safe apparel.4.3 Policy ReviewThe group reviewed Policy 2.3.11Emergency Medical Situations• Assignment of restricted activities/ assigned tasks. Kelly providedan update on professional nursingterms. Kelly will provide informationto Corinne and the CR Managerson this topic in reference to CRdocuments.• Kelly will re-circulate an electroniccopy of desk work “stretchingexercises” to all regions.4.4 Other• First Aid Kit reviews – Corinneshared with the group an effectivetip that she learned from aTC regarding taking First Aid kitinventory.• It was suggested that H&S membersshare this with other TC’s attheir unit meetings.• Employee First Aid Kits at residentialprograms are the responsibilityof ICE to stock and maintain.These may be replenished bysending the inventory of missingitems to Corinne. Corinne will alsorequire First Aid Record forms forFirst Aid items used.• Team Coordinators to sendinventory records of missingEmployee First Aid kit items toCorinne. Also First Aid Recordforms for First Aid items used.• It was also reviewed that ClientFirst Aid kits are the responsibilityof the client’s to supply and restock.• Team Coordinators to ensure firstaid supplies are present and maintainedfor clients as part of monthlyclient supports.Page 6www.icenterprises.com