Welcome to the Blossom Hill Staff Portal!
Find the latest information for current Blossom Hill staff members including policies and procedures, latest memos, and other training guides or information for direct care staff.
We Want Your Feedback!
As part of our Employer of Choice initiative, we want to hear from you. Please take a minute to submit the anonymous feedback survey. Form is located below.
If you have questions or problems with the form, contact us at info@Blossom-Hill.org.
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Employee Resource Network
Information from Cassandra Bogard at The Centers Ohio
July 21: Financial and Budgeting: Do's and Don't
Financial and Budgeting: Do’s and Don’t
Once or twice a month, I do an open workshop about buying a house among other things, as it pertains to getting ahead financially. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I have enough insight, training, and life experience to get people started my goal is to have all persons renting for more than $600.00 (yes that price is laughable ) to consider getting their own home.
The house I just purchased has the following
$70.000 FHA LOAN grants for closing cost 685.00 insurance – it’s a growing neighbor for change.
- New electric
- New roof
- New HAVC
- New windows
- Waterproof basement
- House warranty
- 3bd- 2 full baths
- Fenced-in big yard
Local Food Pantries
Energy Savings Programs
Employee Resources
Find helpful forms and resources for employees like the staff handbook, holiday calendar, employee pay schedule and more.
Forms
Employee Handbook (rev. March 2022)
Staff Referral Bonus
IT Support
For IT support, you can submit a tech ticket here:
Staff Newsletters
Click on the links below to see the most recent staff newsletters.
2022 Staff Newsletters
2021 Staff Newsletters
2020 Staff Newsletters
COVID Policies and Procedures
Information related to COVID for Blossom Hill staff members.
COVID-19 Policy Updated Jan 22
Visitation Policy Update 12/29/21
COVID Vaccine Myths vs. Facts
How to Wear an N95 Respirator Mask
What COVID Means for DSPs
Throughout the coronavirus (COVID-19) state of emergency, the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) has released a variety of guidance to the field. Much of that guidance has a direct impact on how direct support professionals (DSPs) provide services to the people who they support. Get more information here.
Staff Memos
Read the latest staff memos that were emailed or posted in the houses.
COVID and MASKING UPDATE 10/28
Life has been slowing getting back to “normal” since the pandemic began. I wanted to update you to some changes with CDC recommendations that we will be implementing in the homes and day program.
The CDC has recently decided that our type of homes are not considered “healthcare settings” for the purposes of COVID guidelines. So, we do not need to follow the same recommendations that apply to nursing homes and hospitals (as we did for the past 2 ½ years). The new recommendations state that we should follow the COVID-19 Community Level to determine masking requirements. However, we are still required to follow the CMS Vaccine Mandate regulations, therefore there are some staff who may have a religious or medical exemption to being vaccinated. We have adjusted our policies and procedures to reflect this. What this means is…
The COVID-19 Community Levels identify masking requirements dependent on the level of COVID in the community. There are 3 levels: Low, Medium and High.
Low and Medium: masking is optional for Vaccinated Employees and visitors. For Employees who have an exemption to the vaccine mandate, they will need to wear surgical masks.
High: surgical masks are required for all employees and visitors.
The following changes are effective immediately because the current Cuyahoga County community level is “MEDIUM”:
• All visitors and employees that are considered fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask!
• Employees with an approved exemption can and must now wear a surgical mask whenever working instead of the N95 mask.
• We can stop symptom checks, sign in logs and temperature taking at the door
• Vaccinated visitors (relatives, family, etc.) do not need to wear masks. Non-vaccinated visitors should wear a surgical mask. Surgical masks will be available at the door.
We will use and review the community levels each week and notify you when the level changes and masking requirements change. Of course, you can always wear a mask or higher quality mask if you choose.
If an individual we serve tests positive for COVID, all employees working in that house will be required to wear the N95 mask that they have been fit tested to wear. We will encourage family visits occur outside of the home or in an area away from the individual(s) who are positive for COVID, You will be advised if someone has COVID so you can determine what you would like to do.
Please remember that you should not come to visit if you have COVID symptoms. We do enforce this with the employees as well.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions: 440-954-0346
Blossom Hill Inc will continue to communicate updates through email. If your email needs to be updated please do so via your immediate supervisor! Have a fabulous weekend!!!
Jessica M. Toivonen
Executive Director
Cell – 440-954-0346
Updated Employee Handbook
Dear Employees,
Blossom Hill is excited to announce that we have updated our Employee Handbook effective March 22, 2022.
Our Employee Handbook is a powerful tool to communicate the governing policies we operate under as an agency. With this new revision of our handbook we aim to provide consistent and fair policies that are mutually beneficial to Blossom Hill and our employees.
We have built a solid foundation of policies at Blossom Hill and have tried not to make too many major changes. However, there are two major changes which will go in effect with the date of this revision of the employee handbook:
- Our attendance points system has been simplified. Please see Page #16 for details.
- Our Breaks & Mealtimes policy has been updated. During an 8.5 hour shift, employees are encouraged to take a 30-minute meal break. Each house has a designated space for mealtimes where staff can take their breaks. These 30-minute breaks will be unpaid and auto-deducted from nonexempt employees’ paycheck unless the employee does not take a break and documents that he or she worked during break at the end of his or her shift. The employee will be compensated fairly for any additional hours worked. The supervisor is responsible for approving breaks worked.
On 3/22/22 copies of the Employee Handbook dated 03/2022 will be placed at all houses. Additionally, electronic copies will be added to the staff portal at www.blossom-hill.org/care. It is your responsibility to obtain a copy of the handbook for review.
By 3/30/2022 you must review and return the Employee Handbook Acknowledgement form. The purpose of this form is to confirm that you are aware of the new handbook, know where to locate it, and are aware of the policies within it. We do not expect you to be an expert – if you have questions now or in the future don’t hesitate to reach out to your manager, myself, or any member of our leadership team.
-Lisa Kristosik
COVID-19 UPDATE JANUARY 2022
2021 W2s - From Payroll
Dear staff,
Please be aware that there is a supply shortage that may cause delays on paper W-2’s. However, you can access your W-2’s through your Paychex account.
If you need help getting in their account here is a refresher on access and reset:
How to Access and/or Reset Your Paychex Account
How to find your W2:
W-2 Frequently Asked Questions | Paychex
If you don’t have an account, here’s how to register:
YE-Employee-Self-Service-FINAL.pdf (paychex.com)
Note: all employees receive and email when they are put into the system. The email that you use to set up your account is the same one you supply on your application or during orientation.
Any questions, please email payroll@blossom-hill.org.
If you don’t have access to a printer and need your W2 printed see your house manager.
Blossom Hill COVID Updates 1/7/22 (on behalf of Lisa Kristosik)
Dear Staff – please see our updated COVID policies regarding both quarantine periods and quarantine pay (you must be logged into the staff portal to access internal documents).
- Quarantine times have been reduced to 5 days (from 10 days) and that includes quarantine pay, which is only for vaccinated staff and those with a completed medical/religious exemption form.
- The Government vaccine mandate is still in flux but we strongly encourage ALL staff to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible.
COVID packet to employees Jan 2022
Lisa Kristosik, RN, MSN, BSN
Chief Executive Officer
Blossom Hill, Inc.
440-537-1785 / LisaK@Blossom-Hill.org
Staff Training
Videos and educational tools for direct care staff.