Coronavirus POLICY
Covid-19 Guidance – Returning To Education Settings
As the country prepares a full return to education settings, Vida Education are currently operating a ‘business as usual policy’ whilst closely following the latest advice and updates from; the government, the DfE and Public Health England regarding risks associated with COVID-19. We are working in line with the government’s current guidance, which is being reviewed regularly and should/when the guidance change (for either better or worse) we will act and implement accordingly.
The DfE states that education settings can continue to engage agency staff at this time and agency staff can continue to work in a number of settings. We aim to work with both candidates and clients to work as safely as possible whilst assisting with workforce requirements.
Education Settings
All staff, newly registered or current, have been cleared to work following the latest government guidance and APSCo’s ‘compliance+ accreditation’ standards.
All agency staff booked for any position will have been issued with and will be aware of the latest government guidance on working in an education setting.
We will only place staff who have responded satisfactorily to our weekly coronavirus screening assessment, those who have not responded will not be considered for any role until we have received a satisfactory response.
We encourage all clients to communicate their procedures on returning to schools; hygiene, health and safety, social distancing with us and our candidates prior to their arrival.
Agency Staff
Making sure our candidates, not only ensure they are keeping children, other staff and the places they work safe but also making sure, they themselves are keeping safe, is our upmost priority. We are issuing all agency staff with the latest government guidance on working in education settings and we will continue to update them on this as and when the guidance changes to allow them to minimise the risk, where possible.
All candidates will be sent a weekly coronavirus screening assessment and will not be considered for a booking until we have received a satisfactory response. Any candidate who has contracted the virus, displayed symptoms or has been in contact with someone that has, they will be asked to stay at home and self-isolate for at least 10 days from when the symptoms started (if they live alone), or 14 days (if they live with someone with symptoms).
Areas Of Potential Risk
Candidates Returning From Abroad
Where HRR Recruitment Limited has a legitimate reason to process your data provided it is reasonable and does not go against what you would reasonably expect from us. Where HRR Recruitment Limited has relied on a legitimate interest to process your personal data our legitimate interests is/are as follows:
Providing work finding services to the individual, including sending their information to clients where they have demonstrated an interest in doing that particular type of work.
Candidates Returning To Work In Education Settings
- All candidates are to be contacted weekly to check if they are suffering any symptoms of COVID 19, have been in contact with anyone who has the virus or displaying symptoms.
- All candidates will be required to contact us immediately should their status of the virus change, those candidates will be removed from consideration for work until they have self-isolated.
- Clients are to be asked for all details regarding new polices on social distancing and new health and safety practices, if possible, prior to arrival on site.
- Candidates will be given the latest government guidance in relation to COVID-19 and how they can stay safe whilst recognising symptoms. Regular communication will be sent to candidates.
Candidates Who Have Contracted Coronavirus Or Are Experiencing Symptoms Of The Virus Or Who Lives With Someone Who Has Contracted Coronavirus Or Is Experiencing Symptoms
- Candidates are not to be placed into any bookings and will advised to self-isolate for following the latest guidance 10/14 days.
- Bookings will not be offered to any candidates until after the period of self-isolation.
- Clients where the candidate has worked in the last 5 days to be informed.
- Candidates are to be referred for a key worker test via the following site:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested
Travelling To Work On Public Transport
Following government guidance we are advising that candidates try to avoid using public transport if possible and it is recommend walking, cycling and other forms of transport are used, however, we do understand that the use of public transport is essential for some. Should it be the only means of travelling to and from work, please do follow the government guidance on public transport.
- Wear a face covering as currently required by UK law.
- ensure you maintain social distancing, where possible, including at busy entrances, exits, under canopies, bus stops, platforms or outside of stations
- limit the number of people that you come into contact with, for example avoid peak travel
- wash or sanitise your hands regularly
- avoid touching your face
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the inside of your elbow when coughing or sneezing
- travel side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
- touch as few surfaces as possible
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
Vulnerable Candidates
Although the government is currently advising that shielding is no longer necessary due to lower rates of transmissions of the virus, if you are considered to be vulnerable (https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/shielded-patient-list) you are advised to take further precautions to remain safe, especially when returning to work.
- you do not need to follow previous shielding advice
- you can go to work as long as the workplace is covid-secure, but should carry on working from home wherever possible
- clinically extremely vulnerable children should attend education settings in line with the wider guidance on reopening of schoolsand guidance for full opening: special schools and other specialist settings
- you can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your overall social interactions low
- you can visit businesses, such as supermarkets, pubs and shops, while keeping 2 metres away from others wherever possible or 1 metre, plus other precautions
- you should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and that you maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace
How To Keep Safe When Working In Education Settings
The government are currently advising that due to the low risk coronavirus poses to children, the use of mask or PPE is not required in schools unless there is a child who has become unwell or shows symptoms of the virus. The government is currently advising of ways to stay safe in education settings;
- ensuring that anyone who has coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, or has someone in their household who does, does not attend school or college – this means if your child, or someone in your household, has symptoms you should not send them to school or college
- engaging with the NHS Test and Trace process so that cases can be identified and action taken – this means if your child develops symptoms, you should arrange for them to get a test and you should inform your school or college of the results of that test
Alongside this, the government is asking schools and colleges to ensure they are:
- managing confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the school or college, in line with current public health guidance – this means your child may be asked to self-isolate for 14 days by their school or college (based on advice from their local health protection teams) if they have been in close, face-to-face contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus
- ensuring everyone at the school or college cleans their hands more often than usual, including when they arrive at school or college, when they return from breaks, and before and after eating – this can be done with soap and running water or hand sanitiser
- ensuring good respiratory hygiene, by promoting the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach
- enhanced cleaning, including cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often
- minimising contact and maintaining distance, as far as possible – schools and colleges will decide how best to do this, as it will be different for each setting, but in broad terms, it will involve asking children to stay within specified separate groups (or bubbles), and through maintaining distance between individuals. The government’s guidance to schools recognises that younger children may not be able to maintain social distancing so it is likely that for younger children the emphasis will be on separating groups, and for older children, it will be on distancing.
Useful Links
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
This document will be reviewed on a regular basis and updated as and when the government guidance changes. HRR Recruitment Limited is committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of our clients, candidates and staff as much as is possible.
Policy Review Date: August 2020
Next Review Date: TBC