The Disability Liaison Officer at Western Health can help support people with disability, their families and carers to use hospital services and access the care and treatment they need. The service has a strong focus on making sure people with a disability can access screening and treatment for COVID-19.
The Disability Liaison roles are part of a 12 month DHHS Covid-19 disability sector response
First Stage – Covid-19 Outbreak Preparedness
- Assistance for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) to assess their preparedness to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks
- On-site support for SDA's within the Western region and assist with implementing and providing information and resources regarding infection prevention, correct use of PPE and waste management
- Support for people with a disability, their families and carers in accessing assessment and/or treatment for COVID-19 as well increasing attendance to other on site services
Second Stage – Improving Disability Sector and Health Service Interface
- Disability specific secondary consultation to support the broader health service to provide more accessible, safer and more inclusive care to people with a disability
- Be the point of contact for patients, SDA providers, family and carers for inpatient and outpatient services to assist with:
- Information and support for inpatient teams regarding individuals care needs in hospital and at home
- Undertake outreach and assessment where there is evidence that people with a disability may not be accessing healthcare due to a range of barriers
- Connect community services that provide support where there is a gap in existing services if that gap may result in the person with a disability having a higher risk of unnecessary admissions to hospital and longer lengths of stays