Department Health 2010-11 Bushfire Response: Clients and Services Policy December 2010 Department of Health Department Health 2010–11 Bushfire Response: Clients & Services Policy December 2010 © Copyright, State of Victoria, Department of Health, 2010 Published by the Health & Human Services Emergency Management, Victorian Government, Department of Health, Melbourne, Victoria. This publication is copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. This document is also available in PDF format on the internet at: www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/bushfire Authorised by the State Government of Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Contents Introduction 4 About this document 4 The department’s role and agencies’ role 4 Policy framework 5 Purpose 5 Policy context 5 Principles 5 Not in scope 5 Scope 5 Policy requirements 9 Key differences in program responses 10 Three-tiered hierarchy of decision-making framework 10 Application of decision-making framework by program 11 Summary 11 Definitions 11 Health services and residential aged care: Public and private sector advice and guidance 13 Program guideline 13 Non-government mental health (PDRSS) and alcohol and drugs services 17 Program guideline 17 Context 17 Public sector day programs and centre-based community rehabilitation programs (including registered community programs) 21 Program guideline 21 Context 21 Home and Community Care (HACC) 24 Program guideline 24 Introduction The Department of Health (DH) 2010-11 Bushfire Response: Clients and Services Policy has been developed to assist the management and boards of sector agencies, departmental managers and staff, to prepare our core services for the upcoming bushfire season. The 2009-10 policy was guided by National Fire Danger Ratings and advice from the Country Fire Authority (CFA). The 2010-11 policy builds on the 2009-10 policy and takes into account the recommendations from the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission, the revised National Fire Danger Ratings and the updated analysis by CFA of the highest bushfire risk areas in Victoria. The policy encourages local planning in light of local conditions and resources. It takes into account the needs and risks for each client group or service type. The department is asking all departmental managers and staff and all agencies that deliver services in partnership with the department to prepare their properties to be fire ready, and consider their response to forecast Code Red days and other fire threats in their local area. Clients and services in the 52 plus Victorian Fire Risk Register (VFRR) extreme risk areas (see appendix 1), and any other locations deemed as high risk, will be treated as a priority. About this document This document contains the policy framework that applies to DH and its specific program guidelines. The Department of Human Services (DHS) policy framework and program guidelines are contained in a separate document, 2010-11 DHS Bushfire Response: Clients and Services Policy. This document is part of a suite of bushfire preparedness publications the department has developed. For more information www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/bushfire The department’s role and agencies’ role The policy outlines different levels of involvement for the department in preparing clients and services for the bushfire season. The department’s role in this planning process will vary from directing that plans include relocation of some clients or ceasing some services early, to providing targeted advice and guidance, through to raising awareness regarding the need for planning and preparation. While the department will provide information and guidance, it is the responsibility of the boards and management of funded agencies providing services to prepare for the bushfire season and put appropriate emergency management and business continuity plans in place. Department of Health 4 Policy framework Purpose This policy framework guides DH and our sector partners in planning, preparing responding and demonstrating resilience to bushfires. The policy framework is targeted to departmental clients and services only and is designed to enhance the safety of our clients, staff and facilities while maintaining the continuity of services during the 2010–11 summer season and future Victorian bushfire seasons. Policy context Activation of the policy The policy will be activated on the declaration of a Code Red day. The new position of the Fire Services Commissioner will declare a Code Red day after midday on the day prior to the Code Red day. An earliest warning notification will be issued on the possibility of a Code Red day by the Health & Human Services Director of Emergency Management, via the State Emergency Management Centre. Principles The health and safety of clients and staff in health and community services is paramount. The health and human services planning approach is consistent and rigorous, guided by a common decision-making framework and policy framework applied to all clients and services, in the context of program-specific documents and local emergency management planning. The department’s obligations and responsibilities for clients and services are acknowledged, considered and carefully addressed. Not in scope Victoria Police’s evacuation guidelines, lists of vulnerable individuals and extreme weather events / heatwave are not included in the scope of this policy. For more information on heatwave visit http://www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/heatwave/ Scope Clients and services This policy framework applies to all DH clients and services. Departmental services are defined as those that are: delivered from department-owned or managed facilities delivered by departmental staff provided through departmental funding regulated by the department/s. Departmental clients are defined as those who receive departmental funded services. Department of Health 5 Program areas The policy framework applies to the following DH programs. Program Area Service Type Acute Health All services Aged Care Public residential aged care Private residential aged care Supported Residential Services (SRSs) Aged care day programs and centre based rehabilitation programs Home and Community Care services and other related services In home services funded by DH Mental Health and Drugs Clinical inpatient mental health services and Forensicare Clinical Community Mental Health Services PDRSS services and alcohol and drug services Primary Care Community health programs Planning Preparedness and response planning for clients and services is occurring on the following basis: a statewide planning approach that applies to all departmental clients and services –priority is given to assessing client/service locations in the CFA identified 52 plus VFRR risk extreme bushfire areas and any other locations assessed as high risk across the state, based on CFA advice and departmental analysis responses to Code Red warnings and declarations, with the response triggered at the earliest warning, one day beforehand as declared and on the declared day modified responses (as necessary) compared with previous years for ‘fire threat or actual impact in the landscape’ and unforeseen bushfire events. Additional considerations Specific client groups Special consideration has also been given to client groups that include children, young people, people with a disability, frail aged persons, non-ambulant people, people who require support in daily living, women and families escaping family violence, and people with a mental illness who are vulnerable and may have status under the Mental Health Act 1986. Clients within facilities Special consideration has also been given to people living in large residential services and smaller home-like residential settings. Clients in the community (independent clients requiring information) Consideration has also been given to people attending day/respite programs or outpatient support and treatment services, and people receiving services in their own homes. Leaving Early It is the responsibility of all members of the community to ensure they have bushfire plans in place and the CFA advise that the safest option is always to leave, and to leave early rather than stay and defend. A plan to leave early is vital, particularly for those community members who are less likely to be able to leave early without support. Department of Health 6 Some clients may need additional assistance to develop a leave early plan and should be encouraged to work with their social networks (friends, families or neighbours), other supports, or service providers to develop their plan. For clients who are not able to develop a plan (either themselves or with the support of their social networks), service providers need to consider assisting them in developing a Bushfire Leaving Early Plan. This plan developed by Red Cross and the CFA is specifically designed to help people who may need extra support to plan to leave early on Code Red days. Leaving early plans are located at www.redcross.org.au/vic and http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/firesafety/bushfire/firereadykit.htm Please note service providers are not being asked to evacuate people but to assist them in completing a plan to leave early. On advice of a Code Red day, services are encouraged to remind their clients to enact their leaving early plans and encourage the client to be aware of their back-up plan if they live in a 52 plus VFRR extreme risk bushfire area. Facilities planning for evacuation Whilst specific