A letter from our CEO with an update on COVID-19 to follow.
A Letter to Spark from our CEO on COVID-19
To my Spark Family,
During a time like this, it’s only natural to be a bit scared. Scared about your health, the health of your loved ones and the health of your clients. It’s also only natural to be a bit scared about how this virus is going to impact our personal finances. We all have families to feed, rent and mortgages to pay, and financial commitments. I want you to know that this is a safe place to be a bit scared about this. I am also worried about how this is going to affect us, the economy and my friends and colleagues who own small business.
But here’s the thing….what I have realized after spending quite some time in quarantine with my family is that if there was ever to be a situation such as the one that we currently face, who would I want caring for me and my family? The answer to this provided me with the most calm feeling I have felt since this started. The answer to this is YOU. YOU are the ones I would want caring for me and my family. YOU are the ones I would trust making those hard decisions day in and day out knowing you have my best interests at the forefront of your support while ensuring both your and my safety. Spark is known for our matching process but it’s so much more than that. We are a special breed of caregiver. We are empathetic, compassionate, educated, inspiring and so much more. When I think about this, the fear starts to fade and the hope starts to take over.
I want you to know that we will get through this together. I am working to create a support fund for those of you working in the field who have lost work because of COVID-19. I don’t have the details of how this will look yet beyond the fact that I am donating 100 percent of my salary to it until further notice.
To our clients, we will continue to provide the same level of care that you have come to expect from Spark while taking precautions for COVID-19. Our Caregivers will be answering a mandatory screening questionnaire before each shift to ensure they can provide you the proper care you need.
Spark Lifecare will continue to be a leader throughout this situation. Our systems are built for this. From HQ working from home to virtual care management to video referral processes and telehealth, we are ready to take this challenge head on. For the past 8 years, I have leaned on other companies for support for many different reasons. Over the past two weeks, I have received emails from those very companies looking to lean on us. Why? Because spark cares. We care about each other. We care about our clients and our communities. And now we are going to care our way through this hurdle like all others hurdles that have tried to hold us back before only to realize that Spark doesn’t stop caring. EVER.
On behalf of myself and the Spark Lifecare team, we’re here for you.
Bradley Bezan
CEO and Founder of Spark Lifecare
Responding to COVID-19
Friday, February 24, 2023
Mandatory proof of the COVID-19 vaccination has been updated for Spark job application submissions.
Proof of the COVID-19 vaccination, to date, is presently not required for job application submissions. With this update, it is important to note that Spark works with vulnerable populations. As such, many clients, along with their families, may request a caregiver or therapist who is comfortable wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Caregivers or therapists applying for a position with us may be asked about their comfort level in purchasing, wearing, and maintaining their own PPE. We continue to respect the personal preferences of caregivers and therapists who want to wear PPE to protect themselves and others in the work they provide in the community.
The Spark Leadership Team
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Due to escalating concerns regarding the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have made the
difficult decision to cancel all non-essential care until further notice. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep everyone updated accordingly. Spark believes this is an important step in protecting the health and well-being of our community.
We have reached out to our clients to ensure they are aware of our decision and the reasoning behind it. We also encourage clients to update us immediately if their care needs become urgent. We are working with our caregivers to provide virtual check-ins with clients.
We want to thank our incredible team of caregivers, who have gone above and beyond to ensure their clients have been properly cared for during an unprecedented situation.
We will continue to keep the Spark community updated regarding the next steps.
Sincerely,
The Spark Leadership Team
Monday, March 16, 2020
As the situation around COVID-19 continues to evolve, our team at Spark Lifecare is taking the necessary precautions as advised by the government and local health officials.
Our client’s and caregivers’ health and safety are of the utmost importance to us. We are taking necessary steps to ensure that we are providing the best quality of service and adhering to current health guidelines.
In order to support efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19, we are implementing the following screening protocol. Commencing immediately, all caregivers must contact their clients (or parents/guardians) prior to all scheduled shifts to complete a mandatory screening questionnaire.
If they are experiencing an onset of a cough or breathing problems, have travelled outside of Canada or have been in contact with anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, we are asking that they self-quarantine for the recommended 14 days to protect our vulnerable clientele.
We appreciate that our caregivers may be experiencing challenges with childcare and other barriers which may impact your availability to carry out your scheduled shifts. We are working with them to manage this stressful situation.
We will continue to follow public health agencies and pay close attention to their evolving updates, advice and directions on a daily basis and review Spark policies accordingly.
Sincerely,
The Spark Leadership Team
