Covid-19
Updated Practice Policy regarding Covid-19
We are mindful of concerns regarding Covid-19 and wanted to write to you to address any questions you may have. We would like to reassure you that we are committed to the health and safety of all clients and have several measures in place as a precaution.
From Saturday, 3 July 2021 we will be available to conduct all sessions in person at both the Joondalup and West Leederville practices.
What precautions will be implemented for 3 July to 12 July 2021?
We have closed our reception/waiting area and are asking clients, parents, and family members to wait in their cars until they receive a text from reception to advise they can come into the office.
Please ensure you and each family member (children 12 and younger are exempt from wearing a face mask in session) who enter the office is wearing a face mask. If you do not have a face mask, please let our receptionist know and she will bring one out to your car for you to put on before entering our offices.
For new clients, parents are welcome in the office at the start of and during the appointment, however may be asked to wait in their car for some of their child’s appointment.
We wash our hands thoroughly between each appointment and will refrain from shaking hands.
Please use the hand sanitiser at reception, and in the psychology offices.
High frequency touch areas such as door handles are cleaned between each session.
Tissues are available throughout the practice.
Toys and art therapy equipment will be cleaned after use while some will be put away (i.e. play dough, sand).
Reading material in the reception area has been removed as well as children’s play equipment and books.
High touch areas in the kitchen, reception and bathroom will be cleaned twice a day.
What implications are there in terms of privacy?
You are required to sign in to our premises using the SafeWA app or register. In the event that our staff or any of our clients or visitors (as the case may be) contract Covid-19, we may be required to disclose names and contact details of people we have been in contact with to The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), as well as the nature of our contact. We will protect your privacy in as much as is possible, whilst giving necessary information.
Our commitment to you:
We will take precautions and regularly review our health and safety procedures in order to protect our psychologists, staff and all clients and their families.
All psychologists and staff will be wearing masks and will practice high levels of hygiene.
In the event that one of us are ill but fail to meet the criteria for testing, we will remain home for 14 days as advised by the The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) for Health Care Workers (HCW). *In the event that a client or colleague has had contact with anyone who contracts Covid-19, we will advise you, via email or phone and we will discuss whether in person or online sessions would be appropriate.
If a psychologists is too unwell to work we will advise you of a suitable colleague who can continue your care.
We will be as informed as possible and direct you to suitable sources where your questions are outside of our expertise.
Our requests:
Adhere to any government policy in relation to Covid-19.
We request that all individuals aged 13 and older wear a face mask at all times in our offices and wash your hands thoroughly or use the available hand sanitizer upon arrival at our clinic.
We request that you do not visit the clinic for at least 14 days if you have returned from overseas even if you do not have any symptoms. Instead, organise a video session to allow us to provide continuity of care.
We request that you do not attend your appointment face to face, if you are unwell with any cold, cough or ‘flu like symptoms’. If you do attend with any such symptoms, you may be asked to return home. Please instead organise a video session.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms but would like to still attend, we will use reasonable efforts to offer the appointment online. We will ask you to complete our Online Therapy Contract and Consent Form if you have not already done so.
A final word…
We are here to support you and will try to be flexible wherever possible. The start to 2021 has certainly been a bit unsettling for many.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss our policy further please do not hesitate to contact us on (08) 6115 0024 or reception@excelsispsychology.com
Best wishes,