The team spoke about flexibility, adapting to the COVID-19 environment, and supporting whanau in any way they could – the Nga Kete way.
Service manager Wendy Ellis said throughout Alert Level 4 the team would meet weekly – just like business as usual – but rather than meeting around the board table, they’d meet in front of the computer screen on Zoom.
New referrals continued to be processed and contact made where possible.
The team certainly kept busy throughout Alert Levels 3 and 4, maintaining contact with their clients by phone and organising food parcels and script deliveries where required.
The team say there were mixed responses when it came to how the clients adapted to the “new normal”, some were struggling and feeling isolated and others took the opportunity to self-reflect during lockdown.
While there was heightened anxiety around the unknowns “most took the opportunity to exercise, eat and sleep well, and spend time with family.”
The team is busy gearing up for a return to face-to-face engagements with clients, ensuring safe seating and social distancing.
Nga Kete’s second floor is open again to the public this week between 10am-3pm, and will resume normal hours next week.
- Nicci Fowler, Media & Marketing