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Since the launch of BC’s Re-Start Plan, Richmond Society for Community Living has been working to carefully and mindfully develop plans for increased program delivery. In accordance with WorkSafe BC and with input from staff and the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (OH&S), we have developed a comprehensive Safety Plan which provides guidelines for each program. This Safety Plan ensures that we follow all requirements provided by the Provincial Health Authority to reduce the spread of the virus, while also ensuring that we fulfill our obligations to our funders and to the individuals and families that we support.

With our Safety Plan in place, many of our previous practices remain unchanged:

• All program sites, including head office, remain closed to visitors. If you need to visit a site, please call in advance to complete a pre-screening.
• We ask people who may be unwell to stay home until they have confirmed that they do not have the virus.
• We provide our staff with appropriate PPE to provide direct care, and practice physical distancing as much as possible.
• We respond to the needs of the individuals and families, to ensure that you are connected and supported.
• We continue to prioritize staffing to our essential services and care for the children and individuals supported by people who have returned to work.

RSCL offers essential service delivery in six supported living homes and through home share. We encourage families to connect with their loved ones at their homes for outdoor visits when possible. Our child care centre and youth program continue to provide care, maintaining physical distancing practices.

Infant Development and Supported Child Development consultants are connecting virtually with families and child care centres to offer support and begin planning to resume face to face meetings. Staff are also participating in a range of online training. Our Respite Coordinators continue to work with families who wish to receive respite supports during this time.

Community Inclusion programs have been modified to ensure that people who require support can attend, while continuing to follow the guidelines provided by the Provincial Health Officer which includes the number of people (staff and individuals supported) in a space at a time. We have been creative – creating small “bubbles” of people using outdoor spaces and available meeting rooms at Caring Place, as well as connecting virtually.

For people who are staying home, our staff are keeping in touch through phone calls and using technology to foster connections. Some of our group programs have shifted to online platforms to facilitate activities such as games night, movie night and even karaoke.

As always we continue to source PPE through our suppliers, the Provincial supply chain, and through donations. We are grateful to our community for the support we have received. We will host our Annual General Meeting via Zoom on Monday, August 14^th  at 6 pm. For more information, to register to attend, or to become a voting member of RSCL please call 604-279-7040 or info@rscl.org.

If you have any questions about the Safety Plan as it relates to the program attended by you or your child, please contact your program Manager directly. Thank you for your patience as we work together to increase our program delivery. Please remember – fewer faces and bigger spaces. Together we will stop the spread of COVID-19!

For more information and resources from government and partner agencies, visit the links below.