VCS Buildings and Services
Getting ready for the new ‘normal’, an overview and links for further advice
LINKS TO INFORMATION
• Just issued:• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-
purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities
• Health and Safety Executive: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm?utm_source=hse.gov.uk&utm_medium=refferal&utm_campaign=coronavirus&utm_term=working-safely&utm_content=home-page-popular
• Sector checklist:• https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-reopening/y• Social Distancing
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/894961/6.6731_CO_Review_of_two_metre_Social_Distancing_Guidance_FINAL_v3_WEB_240620.pdf
• Easy read posters: https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/• Covid Secure poster:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb97d30d3bf7f5d364bfbb6/staying-covid-19-secure-accessible.pdf
• Manchester Community Central: https://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/• Government advice – main page: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Advisory Note
• Information and guidance only
• Regulations change frequently – get updates and check
• Specific guidance for sectors is emerging
• List on the final page of key support sources
• Plan-implement-review-adapt-plan this is a rapidly moving environment
Buildings – community buildings – places of worship have separate guidance:1. Think about building responsibilities if you have
your own premises2. Services in your own building3. Services in someone else’s building4. Outdoor / outreachhttps://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-reopening/y5. FAQ – 10 questions at the end
Covering today:
Hoping to…..
• Provide a framework that will help you recover slowly and safely
• Give some tools to save time and duplication
• Share some options to do ‘things differently’ in the future
• Give confidence for your organisation and your stakeholders
TOO RISKY?
Ultimately any decisions to re-open will be based on thorough risk assessments – if what you do is just too risky then don’t do it!
Risk is a matter of judgement – if you have had 20 swimming lessons then jumping in an indoor pool is low risk – but if that pool is murky water would you still jump in?
KEY MESSAGES
• Group sizes may fluctuate 2,6,10
• Space – indoor and outdoor
• Numbers and pathways
• Travel
• Hand washing
• Hand sanitising
• Cleaning regimes
• Surfaces
COVID SECURE PRINCIPLES
https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/covid-secure.htm
For guidance read the above update from Health and Safety
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb97d30d3bf7f5d364bfbb6/staying-covid-19-secure-accessible.pdf
You can display this poster in your workplace
Break it down – a plan
CONSULT and SHARE
Don’t try and do this on your own – involve others (internal and external)
• Copy
• Share
• Ask
• Staff / volunteers
• Include as many people as reasonable
People are worried
• Travel
• Personal safety
• Health and wellbeing of loved ones
• Maybe anxious, reluctant or overworked!
Can you reassure?
PLAN for YOUR ORGANISATION
• What do you want to achieve and by when
• Prioritise initial tasks
• Consider usual services vs Covid response
• What does your organisation need to do now? Next month, next 3 months, 6 months
• What can you park? What cannot wait?
• STEP BY STEP – YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES
START WITH THE BUILDING
GENERAL BUILDING USAGE
Most buildings have been closed – this will be a significant risk assessment for most organisations and is the starting point – Covid specific but also review existing risk assessments• Promotion of self-care (hand washing, phone, desk cleaning, kitchen
areas, toilets etc.)• Cleaning regime (everyone involved not just the cleaner)• Social distancing and signage, separation of areas, pathways• Disinfection of all areas at reasonable intervals• Disposal of refuse• Queue monitors
• THIS MAY NOT BE YOUR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY …. Establish building lead and liaise with them before focussing on individual services
EXAMPLES
Review your services next:
• What did we used to do?
• What have we been doing? Pros and cons?
KEY MESSAGES
• Stay at home if you can
• Non-essential travel should be avoided
• Groups of no more than 6 (outdoors) can gather, 2m distance
RETAIN some online activities, RE-OPEN SOME FACE to FACE
• Why, Where, What, When and then How
• Risk assessment
Risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/risk-assessment-template-and-examples.htm
What are the hazards?
Who might be harmed and how?
What are you already doing to control the risks?
What further action do you need to take to control the risks?
Who needs to carry out the action?
When is the action needed by?
Done
TRANSMISSION OF COVID 19
STAFF Door opening
control
Hand sanitiser on
arrival
Handle wiping / surface
wiping at regular intervals
Rota to reduce on site nos
Cleaner –
recorded on
building checklist
Ongoing Check each week
RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS Promote hand
washing
Register of people
shielding
Share (GDPR to
be cnsidered)
HALL SERVICE USERS Promote toilet
cleaning (all)
Twice daily check of toilets Centre manager Ongoing Daily
MEETING ROOM (additional risks, age, medical etc)
Furniture lay out
social distancing
Signage
TOILET Floor marking in
reception
Signage
KITCHEN Cleaning regime Signage
Risk assessment templateCompany name: EXAMPLE – COVID19 Building Issues Assessment carried out by: COMPETENT PERSONDate of next review: staff meeting Date assessment was carried out: xxxxx
More information on managing risk: www.hse.gov.uk/simple-halth-safety/risk/Published by the Health and Safety Executive 10/19
Risk assessmentYouth Provision
What are the hazards?
Who might be harmed and how?
What are you already doing to control the risks?
What further action do you need to take to control the risks?
Who needs to carry out the action?
When is the action needed by?
Done
TRANSMISSION OF COVID 19
STAFF Premises checks and cleaning regime
see separate risk assessment)
All staff Daily
VOLUNTEERS Staff session briefing Leader Daily
YOUNG PEOPLE Groups of 5 or less – prebooked only
YP session briefing Leader Daily
(additional risks, age, medical etc)
Non-contact activities
Hourly hand washing Nominatedperson
Daily
Furniture layout with 2m spacing
Wipe down equipment
Signing in by staff member
Supply own art materials (personal use)
Risk assessment templateCompany name: EXAMPLE Assessment carried out by: COMPETENT PERSONDate of next review: after 1st session Date assessment was carried out: before 1st session
More information on managing risk: www.hse.gov.uk/simple-halth-safety/risk/Published by the Health and Safety Executive 10/19
Risk assessment1-1 Adult services (e.g. advice)
What are the hazards?
Who might be harmed and how?
What are you already doing to control the risks?
What further action do you need to take to control the risks?
Who needs to carry out the action?
When is the action needed by?
Done
TRANSMISSION OF COVID 19
STAFF Premises checks
and cleaning regime
see separate risk
assessment)
All staff Daily
SERVICE USERS
(ADULTS)
1-1 appointments Pre- appointment
checks and instructions
Staff Each service
user
2m distance on
arrival
Service user briefing Staff Each service
user
(additional risks,
age, medical etc)
Perspex screens in
1-1 rooms
Daily
Document handing
processes
Wipe down equipment
Gloves, quarantine
Staff After each
appointment
Hand washing Staff After each
appointment
Risk assessment templateCompany name: EXAMPLE Assessment carried out by: COMPETENT PERSONDate of next review: after 1st session Date assessment was carried out: before 1st session
More information on managing risk: www.hse.gov.uk/simple-halth-safety/risk/Published by the Health and Safety Executive 10/19
MAIN POINTS
Risk assessments must be:
• Live documents subject to review
• Completed by a competent person
• Consulted upon and widely communicated
• Always written down
REMEMBER KEY MESSAGES
• Hygiene, cleaning and …… all part of your risk assessment
Just because you CAN do
something doesn’t mean you SHOULD
LINKS TO INFORMATION
• Just issued:• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-
purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities
• Health and Safety Executive: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/working-safely/index.htm?utm_source=hse.gov.uk&utm_medium=refferal&utm_campaign=coronavirus&utm_term=working-safely&utm_content=home-page-popular
• Sector checklist:• https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-reopening/y• Social Distancing
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/894961/6.6731_CO_Review_of_two_metre_Social_Distancing_Guidance_FINAL_v3_WEB_240620.pdf
• Easy read posters: https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/• Covid Secure poster:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5eb97d30d3bf7f5d364bfbb6/staying-covid-19-secure-accessible.pdf
• Manchester Community Central: https://www.manchestercommunitycentral.org/• Government advice – main page: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
THANK YOU
• FAQs so far – go through them now
• Thank you for joining us today
• Any other questions?
• Questions being collated so we can write up further FAQs
• Slides and other documents being sent out by email