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Hi there,
I work for a charitable foundation in the social care sector, specialising in support for service users with both physical and learning disabilities. We operate two residential services onsite, plus one day service operation for outside service users.
When lockdown began back in March, our day service operations were naturally suspended because of the risk of infection spreading from outside. This is, of course, notwithstanding the fact that all staff were essentially regarded as 'visitors' because we all went home and went about our daily lives (shopping, etc) at the end of the shift. However, from the beginning we were all instructed to be as responsible as possible and be strict to obey government and PHE guidelines. We were instructed to change our clothes before starting shift, then change them again upon finishing shift, then wash them all as soon as we got home as well as giving ourselves showers. I am confident that the majority of our staff were scrupulous in adhering to these guidelines, not least because we are all concerned for the health and welfare of our vulnerable service users.
As things progressed during the summer, and lockdown began to be eased, we restarted our day services on a small scale and entirely in accordance with guidelines: that is, no more than six people in the day service venue (including staff), and with strict adherence to 'bubbles' between that venue and the two residential venues: staff and clients were not allowed to mix between any of these three 'bubbles'.
Recently, though, an anomaly occurred which caused several staff members to express concerns. One of the day service clients was allocated to come into 'respite' care at one of the residential settings whilst still attending day services. Several of us took this issue to senior management, stating that this represented a clear breach of 'bubbles', and therefore a risk to more people (clients and staff) than necessary. We also felt that this compromised our employer's obligations, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to provide as 'safe' a working environment as was possible or practicable.
The response we got was that full consideration was given to all current government and PHE guidelines, and that the actions were being taking in due acknowledgement of the risk. We were also told, quite specifically, that risk could never be fully avoided. As carers, we naturally understand this: risk assessments can only ever be done in order to minimise risk. Risk can never be eradicated. However, we felt that this was one risk that was definitely avoidable.
In the circumstances, we were assured that the service user would be tested for Covid-19 prior to being allowed to come from day services to residential services, and a test was duly carried out. However, before the result of that test was received, it was decided to allow the service user to be delivered over from day services to the residential setting for the respite period. The service user was thus delivered from a day service environment into the residential respite environment, though under the precaution of being taken in by a back entrance, thus ensuring that he had no exposure to staff or residential clients on that particular day.
The following day - still before the result of his test arrived - he was awoken and given personal care by two members of the residential venue staff. Within an hour of this happening, his test result came back as 'positive' for Covid. This then meant that not only had he been exposed to day service staff on the previous day, but also to the two residential staff - and subsequently to other residential clients and staff.
Understandably, all of our staff are now very worried, angry and perturbed by this. The two residential staff in question both have particular issues: one, though young, is asthmatic; the other is in his late 60s and has family members at his home (even though he is quite healthy otherwise, with no underlying conditions).
I have to say that I have a lot of faith in the organisation that I work for. But that faith has been severely tested by this incident. I think clients and staff were exposed to unnecessary and entirely avoidable risk, and that our employer has breached HSWA stipulations by allowing a clear breach of safety bubbles and exposing vulnerable people to avoidable risk.
I would be extremely grateful to hear what anyone has to say on the matter, because it is causing considerable stress and anxiety to many people who are simply doing what they're told by their managers.
I work for a charitable foundation in the social care sector, specialising in support for service users with both physical and learning disabilities. We operate two residential services onsite, plus one day service operation for outside service users.
When lockdown began back in March, our day service operations were naturally suspended because of the risk of infection spreading from outside. This is, of course, notwithstanding the fact that all staff were essentially regarded as 'visitors' because we all went home and went about our daily lives (shopping, etc) at the end of the shift. However, from the beginning we were all instructed to be as responsible as possible and be strict to obey government and PHE guidelines. We were instructed to change our clothes before starting shift, then change them again upon finishing shift, then wash them all as soon as we got home as well as giving ourselves showers. I am confident that the majority of our staff were scrupulous in adhering to these guidelines, not least because we are all concerned for the health and welfare of our vulnerable service users.
As things progressed during the summer, and lockdown began to be eased, we restarted our day services on a small scale and entirely in accordance with guidelines: that is, no more than six people in the day service venue (including staff), and with strict adherence to 'bubbles' between that venue and the two residential venues: staff and clients were not allowed to mix between any of these three 'bubbles'.
Recently, though, an anomaly occurred which caused several staff members to express concerns. One of the day service clients was allocated to come into 'respite' care at one of the residential settings whilst still attending day services. Several of us took this issue to senior management, stating that this represented a clear breach of 'bubbles', and therefore a risk to more people (clients and staff) than necessary. We also felt that this compromised our employer's obligations, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, to provide as 'safe' a working environment as was possible or practicable.
The response we got was that full consideration was given to all current government and PHE guidelines, and that the actions were being taking in due acknowledgement of the risk. We were also told, quite specifically, that risk could never be fully avoided. As carers, we naturally understand this: risk assessments can only ever be done in order to minimise risk. Risk can never be eradicated. However, we felt that this was one risk that was definitely avoidable.
In the circumstances, we were assured that the service user would be tested for Covid-19 prior to being allowed to come from day services to residential services, and a test was duly carried out. However, before the result of that test was received, it was decided to allow the service user to be delivered over from day services to the residential setting for the respite period. The service user was thus delivered from a day service environment into the residential respite environment, though under the precaution of being taken in by a back entrance, thus ensuring that he had no exposure to staff or residential clients on that particular day.
The following day - still before the result of his test arrived - he was awoken and given personal care by two members of the residential venue staff. Within an hour of this happening, his test result came back as 'positive' for Covid. This then meant that not only had he been exposed to day service staff on the previous day, but also to the two residential staff - and subsequently to other residential clients and staff.
Understandably, all of our staff are now very worried, angry and perturbed by this. The two residential staff in question both have particular issues: one, though young, is asthmatic; the other is in his late 60s and has family members at his home (even though he is quite healthy otherwise, with no underlying conditions).
I have to say that I have a lot of faith in the organisation that I work for. But that faith has been severely tested by this incident. I think clients and staff were exposed to unnecessary and entirely avoidable risk, and that our employer has breached HSWA stipulations by allowing a clear breach of safety bubbles and exposing vulnerable people to avoidable risk.
I would be extremely grateful to hear what anyone has to say on the matter, because it is causing considerable stress and anxiety to many people who are simply doing what they're told by their managers.
