A COVID-19 Update message to our Firstchance Families & Community

12.08.2021

As COVID-19 and the delta strain continues to evolve in the Hunter region, we wanted to share important information about changes to Firstchance services.

We are trying our best to balance the need to provide supports and meet the Government guidelines to maximise the health and safety of the families we support our staff and the community.

As of Friday 6^th August, we have stopped providing face to face services to your child and family:

• In your home
• At Daycare and Preschool
• At School
• Or other community venues

Your Firstchance Key Worker or Therapist will contact you to discuss alternative support options such as: Firstchance Online, Telephone support, Home Kits, Resources, Equipment purchases etc.

 

What does Firstchance Online Look Like?

• Your therapist will contact you to set up your Firstchance online appointments. They will send you all the information you need and talk you through the process step-by-step.
• We will do our best to maintain consistency with appointment days and times, however, we may require a little flexibility at first!
• Some families are choosing to use the extra time for intensive home therapy. If you would like to make the most of the extra time at home to have extra sessions, please let your Firstchance Key Worker or Therapist know ASAP.
• Our Team have been busy preparing for your Firstchance online sessions. If you haven’t tried it before, give it a go. The feedback from last year was that online worked better for some children who had trouble attending in face-to-face appointments
• Firstchance online us MS Teams, like Zoom, skype, facetime etc but loaded with lots of cool features that make therapy fun and interactive. The feedback from families to date (even those not so great with technology) has been fantastic. The kids love it.
• You don’t need to have a computer at your end. All you need is a device with data for example a phone with a camera, ipad, tablet, laptop. We’ll email you a link, it all happens from there. We can call ahead to practice before your first session if you like.

 

What is a Home Kit?

A home kit is an individualised program developed by our Firstchance team member in consultation with the current needs of your child and family. The resources within the kit will differ depending on the goals of the family. All kits will be developed with instructions and guides. Your therapist will talk to you about it, including the costs, prior to developing and sending out. They will touch base with you during implementation. Home kits can be sent to you via email, post or we are able to drop them at your mailbox/front door.

 

Equipment/Resources?

Do you need to purchase any equipment or resources to support your child to reach their goals or assist in the current home-schooling environment? Speak to your Key Worker about how we can support you to do this.  

Please note: we are required to operate within the NDIS guidelines for equipment/resource purchases.

 

What happens if I don’t want any of the services offered?

If would prefer to have a break at his stage, you will not go to the bottom of the waiting list. You will remain on your Key Worker’s case list; we will touch base as information comes to hand. You will be a priority as spaces become available and we are able to return to providing face to face support again.

 

This is a challenging time with lots of information and changes. If you have a question or feel you don’t have all the information you need don’t hesitate to contact us on 0249103130 or email [email protected]

 

Kind regards

The Team @ Firstchance