Coronavirus – latest information for Longhurst Group Colleagues
This page includes key information and advice for Longhurst Group colleagues about how the organisation is responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the steps colleagues should take.
This page will be regularly updated as the picture changes so please continue to monitor this page for the latest information.
Updated: 13 December 2021
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We wanted to update you on the Group’s response to the emergence of the Omicron variant and the recent changes to the Government restrictions.
Working in our offices
From Monday, 13 December, the new Government guidance is for people to work from home if they can. Our response must strike a balance between ensuring we perform well and provide the best possible service to our customers while keeping people as safe as we can.
Colleagues who’ve been regularly working in offices as part of the requirements of their role, particularly those working in our Customer Services Teams, should continue to do so.
Other office-based colleagues can continue to work from an office to attend meetings or to carry out essential tasks or collaborative work that cannot be done remotely.
Lateral flow tests
To ensure that colleagues can continue to work in the office, it’s crucial that they take a lateral flow test.
If you attend the office more regularly (at least three days a week) please take a lateral flow test more regularly – a minimum of twice a week (in line with government guidance) - and only continue with your plans if you return a negative result.
If you attend an office less regularly, please take a lateral a flow test in the morning before you visit and only continue with your plans if you return a negative result.
From Monday 13 December, the sign-in sheets at offices will include an additional section for colleagues to confirm if they’ve taken a lateral flow test and returned a negative result that day. Please tick or put your initials by this section if you’ve taken a test that day.
If you return a positive result, please cancel your plans and arrange to take a PCR test.
Please visit gov.uk for more information about lateral flow tests and how to order them.
If you’re displaying any of the symptoms related to COVID-19, do not attend an office or scheme.
Working at schemes
Colleagues on a fixed contract who work at a scheme (that isn’t a Care and Support scheme) should also take regular lateral flow tests and only continue with their plans to work at a scheme if a negative result is returned.
Colleagues on a flexible contract, including those who are home based and those who regularly work in our communities, can visit our retained offices (Beechdale, Boston or Rushden) for meetings or to carry out essential tasks or collaborative work that cannot be completed at home. Again, lateral flow tests should be taken ahead of any visit with these plans only continuing if a negative result is returned.
If you’re unsure whether to attend an office, please discuss this with your line manager or head of service.
Further steps to take
Anyone visiting the office is asked to take every possible precaution to reduce the risk of infection and keep people safe.
Once you’ve returned a negative lateral flow test and can proceed with your visit to an office or scheme, please take the following steps:
- Regularly wash your hands and use the hand sanitiser provided.
- Keep rooms ventilated by opening windows and doors (excluding fire doors) wherever possible. Please remain mindful of security and take responsibility to ensure all windows and doors are locked at the end of the day.
- Remain mindful of others and give them space. When moving around the office, colleagues are encouraged to wear a face covering.
- Use the online desk booking system in place for Boston and Rushden.
- Follow all desk hygiene arrangements, including wiping down ICT equipment and the desk before and after you use it.
- If meeting in larger numbers within a meeting room, please consider the wishes of others and maintain social distancing and ventilate the room wherever possible.
Visit the HSE website for more information about working safely during the Coronavirus pandemic.
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Meeting with others
When arranging any meetings with customers, colleagues or external partners, it’s crucial that we take steps to protect ourselves and others. This includes taking a lateral flow test before meeting and only continuing with plans once a negative test result has been returned.
If you return a positive result, please cancel your plans and arrange to take a PCR test.
Colleagues should also carry out a risk assessment before meeting in groups, thinking of any issues that may arise if large numbers of a particular team are required to self-isolate, and whether this would have an impact on service delivery.
Close contact with a colleague who tests positive
If notified that you’ve been close contact with another colleague who has tested positive for COVID-19, please book a PCR test as soon as possible.
Close contact can include:
- Face-to-face contact, including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within one metre
- Being within one metre for one minute or longer without face-to-face contact
- Being within two metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact, or added up together over one day).
Anybody exposed to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 needs to self-isolate for 10 days, this includes those who’ve received both doses of the vaccine.
However, it can take a few days for cases of Omicron to be confirmed. If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please book a PCR test and work from home, if you’re able to do so.
If you’re unable to carry out your role at home, please take lateral flow tests on a daily basis and only go into work if you return a negative result.
If you return a positive PCR test, you’ll need to self-isolate in line with the NHS guidance you receive and inform People Services immediately.
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Christmas celebrations
If you’re attending a Christmas meal or party with other colleagues, it’s crucial that you take the same precautions as you would for a normal meeting. Please do everything you can to keep yourself and others safe. This includes ensuring you’ve taken a lateral flow test before meeting and only going ahead with your plans if you return a negative test.
Taking a test is an easy thing that we can all do to reassure and protect other people. Please be considerate of others and do everything you can to ensure that everyone can enjoy themselves as safely as possible.
By following these simple steps, we can all play a crucial role in reducing transmission of the virus
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Vaccinations
The Government and the NHS continue to strongly urge people to have the COVID-19 vaccination, with steps being taken to provide booster jabs for all adults in the coming weeks and months.
The Group’s position on vaccinations is aligned with this. We believe that it’s our only way out of the pandemic and strongly encourage colleagues to take up the offer of being vaccinated, ensuring you’ve received two vaccinations and have your booster vaccination as soon as it becomes available to you.
People aged 40 to 49 can now get a booster vaccine two months (61 days) after their second dose. Frontline health and social care workers and those under 40 with a health condition that puts them at high risk of COVID-19 can also book a booster vaccine within these timeframes.
Appointments can be booked online, or you can visit a walk-in clinic. The NHS will contact you when you’re eligible to book your booster dose.
Please remember to inform People Services of your vaccination status, advising when you’ve had your first, second and third dose, by completing this Microsoft Form or emailing absence@longhurst-group.org.uk.
The law states that it’s mandatory for many of our Care and Support colleagues to be fully vaccinated. To enable them to work, these colleagues are required to provide proof of their vaccination status to People Services. If this applies to you or someone in your team, it’s crucial that action is taken as soon as possible. More information about this will be provided to Care and Support managers in your weekly update this afternoon.
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Self-isolation
The Government has announced stricter regulations in relation to the Omicron variant and self-isolation. New guidance states that anyone notified by the NHS Track and Trace system that they’ve been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their age, vaccination status or any negative test results.
Clearly, this is quite a significant change. If colleagues are required to self-isolate and unable to work from home, they’ll need to follow the same approach we’ve taken throughout the pandemic.
If you’re required to self-isolate due to exposure to the Omicron variant, but can’t work from home, you’ll receive pay for this 10-day period, including five days’ of special COVID-19 leave.
If you work regularly at an office as part of the requirements of your role, but need to self-isolate, you may work from home for up to 10 days, provided you’re able to carry out your duties and this has been agreed with your line manager.
If you’re required to self-isolate following a notification from the NHS Track and Trace system you must be able to provide proof of this requirement to your line manager and People Services.
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Our offices – key information
The section below will be updated as and when further information is available.
The Boston office is now open five days a week, but the number of people visiting is limited to those that absolutely need to visit the office, and strict social distancing measures need to be followed.
- Desks have been made available based on the capacity to ensure social distancing. This means that fewer desks will be used, and colleagues will not be working in as close proximity.
- Colleagues will only be able to book up to seven days in advance.
- Bookings will be limited and on a first come, first served basis.
Booking a workspace
Colleagues have the option of morning or afternoon bookings.
- Morning bookings are valid from 9am to 12pm
- Afternoon bookings are valid from 1pm to 4pm.
Important information
- Before making a booking, please make your line manager aware and gain their approval.
- Please also ensure that you sign in and out of the building using the log-in sheets provided.
- Before attending the Boston office, it’s imperative that they familiarise themselves with an office induction document and our guidance around desk hygiene.
Booking form
The Rushden office is now open five days a week, but the number of people visiting is limited to those that absolutely need to visit the office, and strict social distancing measures need to be followed.
- Desks have been made available based on the capacity to ensure social distancing. This means that fewer desks will be used, and colleagues will not be working in as close proximity.
- Colleagues will only be able to book up to seven days in advance.
- Bookings will be limited and on a first come, first served basis.
Booking a workspace
Colleagues have the option of morning or afternoon bookings.
- Morning bookings are valid from 9am to 12pm
- Afternoon bookings are valid from 1pm to 4pm.
Important information
- Before making a booking, please make your line manager aware and gain their approval.
- Please also ensure that you sign in and out of the building using the log-in sheets provided.
- Before attending the Rushden office, it’s imperative that they familiarise themselves with an office induction document and our guidance around desk hygiene.
Booking form
Retaining office space at Rutland VAR
Based on what we’ve learned during the Coronavirus pandemic, our long-term vision remains to provide the best possible service to our customers and realise our vision, while working from fewer offices and travelling less.
As we seize this opportunity to think about how and where we’ll work, we’ve made a decision about the future of the Rutland VAR office in Oakham.
In the last few months, we’ve assessed the long-term future of the Rutland office and carefully considered the facilities we are likely to need.
The survey issued to all office-based colleagues in recent weeks will help us gain a clearer picture of the office space we’ll need in the future, at Rutland and other locations. But with our existing lease being up for renewal and negotiations taking place with Rutland VAR, we’ve had to prioritise understanding the space we need and make a decision.
After speaking to colleagues based at the office and gaining a full understanding of the logistical requirements of their role, as well as assessing the current office space and other nearby alternatives, we have decided to continue leasing a ground-floor space at Rutland VAR.
It is anticipated that this space will primarily be used by members of the Assistive Technology team, as a base between appointments with customers and to store key equipment.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, colleagues attending this office will be required to use a booking system to enable social distancing.
Colleagues outside of the Assistive Technology team will continue to work from home, both in the shorter and longer term.
In the coming weeks, as the results of our Returning Stronger survey are analysed and recommendations are made, we’ll have a better idea of the future requirements of colleagues.
Where absolutely necessary, alternative arrangements may be made for colleagues who are struggling to work from home, particularly in the shorter-term. This will be done on an individual basis and in conjunction with their line manager.
All colleagues based at Rutland VAR have already been made aware of these developments.
Once the new space is ready, a decision will be made about how and when it will reopen for a small number of colleagues to access.
Anybody who needs to visit an office for essential purposes should first agree this with their line manager and then contact the relevant site manager to arrange the best day and time to visit an office.
To reserve a desk space at Boston, please read the booking arrangements above and complete the booking form.
Site Managers have been appointed for most of our offices. Details of these are listed below:
- Beechdale, Walsall: Sarah Lowe
- Boston: Nick Worboys and Rob Griffiths
- Bedworth: Joely Copson (supported by Lily Seddon)
- Birmingham: Jackie Harris
- Grimsby: Denny Batty
- Lincoln: Chris Parkinson
- Nottingham: Andrena White
- Peterborough: Mark Oldaker
- Rushden: Thomas Purdy
- Rutland VAR/Oakham: Charlotte Holley.
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Working in customers' homes
We remain committed to providing both routine and emergency repairs, prioritising emergencies, as well as ongoing or planned work where it’s needed, to keep customers safe and secure.
With the likelihood that our contractors will be affected by operatives testing positive for the virus or needing to self-isolate, we’ll continue to review this position over the coming weeks.
All of our contractors will continue to follow health and safety guidance and have the necessary risk assessments in place to help keep customers safe and reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Before agreeing to schedule an appointment, our contractors will check whether anybody at the address has coronavirus or is displaying any of its associated symptoms.
More information about the services we’ll continue to provide our customers can be found here.
Social distancing guidance, risk assessments and other safety measures must continue to be followed in all settings.
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Coronavirus testing – UPDATED 03/06/2021
If you have Coronavirus symptoms, you should arrange for a PCR test within five days of becoming symptomatic. Tests can be arranged at gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test. Lateral flow tests aren’t designed to be used by those with Coronavirus symptoms.
If you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace team because you’ve been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive, you must let People Services and your line manager know.
If the contact occurred during your work within a Care and Support service, whether that be with colleagues, residents or service users, a risk assessment will be carried out.
This will take into account the use (or otherwise) of PPE during the likely exposure, and you will be advised on the requirement to self-isolate.
NHS COVID-19 App – Track and Trace
The Government has launched a mobile phone app to support the NHS Track and Trace service.
The app is seen as a key part of the fight against Coronavirus in England and Wales.
The app is used alongside traditional contact tracing to notify users if they come into contact with someone who later tests positive for Coronavirus.
Unique QR codes have already been installed in the reception areas of the Birmingham, Boston and Rushden offices and this will be replicated at other offices soon.
If you're visiting an office, please ensure that you have downloaded the NHS Track and Trace app and use it to scan the QR code upon entering the office. Please also continue to use the log sheets provided in reception to sign in and out of the office.
You can find out more about the new app and how to use it in the videos below.
Managers of Care and Support colleagues are asked to remind members of their team to disable the app or turn off their phones when working in our schemes – but only when they are wearing full PPE – so as to avoid false alerts.
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Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Executive Director of Care and Partnerships, Louise Platt and Director of Care and Support, Bernadette Farrell, have recorded short videos to remind Care and Support colleagues of the importance of continuing to follow all of the guidance provided around social distancing and the donning and doffing PPE.
Our Director of Care and Support, Bernadette Farrell, has recorded a short video to remind Care and Support colleagues of the importance of continuing to follow all of the guidance provided around social distancing and the donning and doffing of PPE.
You will have heard about the struggles the NHS is having in providing adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to their staff.
We are facing challenges of our own but would like to reassure colleagues that we are prioritising the issue of PPE to where it is needed the most to ensure that Care and Support colleagues providing personal care, or those in close proximity with residents, have the right protective equipment.
As with key workers in other sectors, Care and Support colleagues who are providing services to customers but are still able to follow the government guidance around social distancing while doing so, have not been issued with PPE.
A dedicated team, set up to help us to maintain the best possible care and support service, is working hard to procure as much equipment as we can to help us through the coming weeks.
Louise Platt has also recorded a video covering the guidance and processes we have in place for PPE.
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Living and working during the pandemic – UPDATED 03/06/2021
Coronavirus: colleague wellbeing
At Longhurst Group we understand the importance of supporting colleagues with their health and wellbeing, as well as enhancing their economic resilience.
To support colleagues going forwards, as well as helping you through these challenging times, we have created a page that outlines our free employee assistance programme and how you can access up-to-date financial information from CFED. Follow this link to find out more:
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Falling ill with Coronavirus – more advice for colleagues – UPDATED 03/06/2021
Sickness leave and pay
Visit Coronavirus: working, pay and what it means for you for a full review of the Group's work and pay arrangements during the Coronavirus pandemic
Pre-existing health issues
If you have significant health issues and are concerned you may be at higher risk of contracting coronavirus, please speak to your line manager and ensure that people People Services are aware that you have consider yourself to be at risk. If you are well enough and happy to do so, please continue to come to work or work from home, if you are able to do so.
If you develop any of the symptoms associated with the virus, please seek immediate advice from NHS 111 and contact your line manager so that a risk assessment can be conducted.
Public Health England has published updated guidance on the management of people in health and social care settings according to exposure, symptoms and test results.
The self-isolation period has reduced from 14 to 10 days for health and social care workers. If you are returning to work following a coronavirus test, there are two flowcharts that indicate the process to follow, whether you are symptomatic or asymptomatic.
The isolation period remains at 14 days for care home residents and for anybody (including all care and support colleagues) who has been admitted to hospital due to a confirmed case of Covid-19.
If you have been admitted to hospital as a result of Covid-19, you should isolate for 14 days from your first positive PCR test result. As indicated above, this applies to all care and support colleagues admitted to hospital as a result of Covid-19.
If you’re notified as a contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the community (outside the health or social care setting or your place of work), you should inform your line manager and self-isolate for 10 days, in line with guidance for non-household contacts.
This advice should be followed regardless of the results of any previous SARS-CoV-2 PCR test or antibody test results. A positive antibody result signifies previous exposure, but it is currently unknown whether this correlates with immunity, including protection against future infections.
Residents who are known to have been exposed to a confirmed Covid-19 patient (an exposure similar to a household setting), should be isolated or cohorted only with residents who do not have Covid-19 symptoms but also have been exposed to COVID-19 residents, until 14 days after last exposure. This also applies to residents who have previously recovered from Covid-19 and have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case.
If you test positive for Covid-19, you must self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test, even if you are asymptomatic.
Your household should also stay at home and self-isolate for 10 days from the day the test was taken. If any member of the household develops symptoms of Covid-19 during the 10-day period, they should continue to stay at home and isolate for 10 days after the onset of their symptoms, in line with the stay at home guidance. The individual should also arrange a test to check if they have Covid-19.
Coronavirus-related absences: reporting an absence and returning to work
Reporting a Coronavirus-related absence
It’s crucial that all colleagues report any Coronavirus-related absences to People Services.
If a colleague or a family member have any symptoms which require them to be absent from work, or they’ve been told they need to shield, please also pass this on to People Services.
If a member of your team has symptoms but is still working from home or they have been tested for Covid-19, either because they’re unwell or as part of a local testing scheme for care and support workers, please inform People Services to ensure we have an accurate picture of who is affected across the business.
Reporting an absence
If colleagues test positive for Coronavirus or are identified as having been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, it's imperative that they inform their line manager and the Wellbeing Team straight away by calling 0333 344 8228 (option 1) or email absence@longhurst-group.org.uk.
Advice and further information
For more information about the procedure for coronavirus-related absence, please read the latest coronavirus-related absence form.
If you’d like advice on either absence or supporting colleagues impacted by coronavirus, please email employee.relations@longhurst-group.org.uk or contact one of our dedicated COVID-19 Employee Support team members, Rav Brahach (for non-care) on 0247 684 8148 or Monika Baginska (for Care and Support) on 01205 319 644.
Returning to work after a Coronavirus-related absence
To help colleagues navigate their return to work following a Coronavirus-related absence, a specific form has been created.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) return to work form covers the reason colleagues may have been absent – including illness and self-isolation - and provides guidance around the questions that line managers will need to ask.
Please use this form for all Coronavirus-related absences. Once completed, please email them to People Services.
Download
Access and download the Return to Work form on Our Workplace.
If you've had a vaccine but haven't yet informed our People Services Team, please email them to let them know or complete this form.
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Press enquiries
Should you receive a media enquiry, this must be passed on to Jon Reeves or Matt Dannatt in the Communications Team as soon as possible.
Colleagues should not comment or agree to being interviewed without the Communications Team being informed first.
In the event of a crisis or urgent media enquiry or interview request from a member of the media, at any time during the week, please contact:
Jon Reeves: 07436 538 292
Matt Dannatt: 07795 447 296
If the call isn’t answered straight away, please leave a voicemail with clear information and contact details and the team will respond as soon as possible.
Further questions
If you have any queries or concerns, then please speak to your line manager or alternatively contact the People Services team on the details below.
Further updates
Communication updates will be issued on a regular basis, via email and on this page – longhurst-group.org.uk/coronavirus.
Workplace Facebook
Workplace Facebook is a fundamental tool for colleagues to use to stay updated, keep in touch and continue to virtually work as one team.
If you have not already activated an account on Workplace Facebook, please take this opportunity to do so as soon as possible. A dedicated group will be set up for all Coronavirus-related communications in the coming days.
If you need any support with using Workplace Facebook, please contact the Communications team.