COVID-19 – Important Update from Manawanui

The following text is a direct statement from Manawanui. Please see below.

This is a GOOD NEWS update, which I am so happy to bring to you when I know you are likely worried about many things.Things continue to develop with the important issues – stand down (special) leave and PPE. Fortunately, I’m glad to be able to provide an update on these issues and also update you on how to use the Portal to track your Covid expenses.

The Ministry recognises that just like disability support providers, people using IF will incur additional costs related to Covid 19. We have added a drop-down expense category called “Covid” on the Portal. Please code any costs specific to COVID, and managing through this time, to this drop-down category. This will help us ensure the additional costs of COVID are transparent.

The Ministry of Health has also recognised the specific concerns many of you have been raising. They have been clear that they want to ensure people on IF are well supported during this time. As I have already mentioned, part of this is the introduction of more flexibility to Individualised Funding by extending the use of the Enhanced Individualised Funding (EIF) purchasing guidelines to you all. A link to the guidelines is here. This means you can purchase things that help you stay in your bubble and self-isolating.

Another part of ensuring you are supported is the ability to pay resident family members. For those seeking more clarification about this during Covid-19, the Ministry has reiterated that you are able to pay a resident family member for providing support, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week.

Importantly, the Ministry has also heard your feedback, and modified the “Special leave” guidelines. They are sending out formal communications to you soon which will have scenarios to make things clear. Now, if you stand down your support worker for COVID-related reasons, you can pay them for the time they are stood down as long as the Alert Level 4 lasts. The Ministry will ensure these costs are covered and is working with the NASCs to ensure this is smooth and included in your budget when it needs to be.

The Ministry also today committed to providing PPE (including masks) to people who have support workers coming in for personal care. Further, they have confirmed that the stocks of PPE have arrived and are to be distributed via DHBs. We have received an email today from the Ministry which is copied below. We have been informed of the following:

“There are seven million masks which will be distributed to DHBs for further distribution to health and disability service providers, (This includes people using IF). This will start with 1.2 million from the national stocks which will be going out over the next 48 hours to DHBs to then be issued to community and disability health workers in their areas”

We will work with the local DHBs to get these supplies to you. We will be following DHB/Ministry’s lead, and so we will announce the distribution channels once we know.

The Ministry have heard the deep concern from the sector, and in Ashley Bloomfield’s (the Director General of Health) words “people need to be safe, but also feel safe”. I couldn’t agree more!

We know that due to unprecedented demands, and a global shortage, there is concern that there may not be enough to go around, and we want to assure you that we will work with the Ministry and DHBs to keep the supply going. We are also developing contingency plans as back up. I’ll fill you in more on those if we need them.

And lastly – we are getting more and more people on the e-Mploy carer matching website every day! if you are short of support, or looking to find some, check it out:

www.e-mploy.org.nz

Please be in touch if there is anything we can do to help. Our CEC team is always happy to help, call us on 0508 462 427 or email the CEC.

For any questions whether you are at risk or not, please call Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

Kia kaha Manawanui whānau.

Kind regards
Marsha Marshall
CEO Manawanui