Napo At Work in the North East

Many thanks to the reader for forwarding the following:-

Dear Members,

We’d like to keep you fully up to date with what action Northumbria branch is taking about our safety at work in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and provide you with some reassurance that NAPO is doing all that we can in this extremely difficult time. If any NAPO members asks what we are doing and haven’t read this e-mail please direct them to it as a reminder of all the hard work that happens on their behalf. Can I please ask that you take a couple of minutes to read this e-mail it as it highlights significant issues that we are all facing some of which you may not have considered.

Below is an e-mail compiled by Ben Cockburn which is a summary of the concerns that has been sent to the senior managers in CRC and NPS asking for an immediate response. Please continue to get in touch to give us some feedback about what has been implemented in your workplace and if any of the suggested measures below are being introduced.

Kind Regards

This current situation places many of our members, and their families, at risk of significant harm given the possibility we will become infected with this virus, and then spread this to others, including our loved ones, colleagues and service users. At this time we are writing to you to request an urgent response to some operational questions. 

• Can you confirm that all necessary Health & Safety Workplace Inspections have been reviewed to consider the risks posed by continuing to require employees and service users to attend work locations 

• What information has been requested, and how will this be reviewed, from individual offices/work locations in relation to the numbers of employees a) who have reported symptoms of COVID-19 b) who are otherwise self isolating (including those who are working from home due to underlying health conditions) c) who are attending workplaces (including where the frequency this is expected is reduced)?

• What information has been requested, and how will this be reviewed, from individual offices/locations to ensure that Government guidance in relation to ‘social distancing’ is being adhered to? How is this being managed in specific settings such as open plan offices, prisons or Courts?

• Specific to Approved Premises, what measures as regards ‘social distancing’ have been taken to safeguard workers in these properties, and distributed to them, given significant anxiety expressed by members working in these buildings staff who effectively share the same space for the duration of their shifts, which presumably increases the likelihood of infection over and above other NPS workers. Also, has a clear plan been developed and issued to all staff yet regarding the scenario of a resident displaying COVID-19 symptoms – how are AP Managers and staff to manage this situation, especially if an individual refuses to self-isolate as required (presumably in their room for the whole duration)?

• What consideration has been given to the indefinite suspension of all performance measures and targets for the duration of this pandemic, and what mechanism is in place to review this as the situation develops?

• What steps are being taken in relation to individuals being released from prison, for example requiring these individuals not to attend offices for an appropriate post-release ‘self isolation’ period? What work has been undertaken with your counterparts in the prison system (public and private) as regards the potential pre-release testing of prisoners immediately prior to their release into the community?

• Will you consider the urgent introduction of the following measures for staff who currently use public transport – an activity which it is accepted increases the risk of infection and it’s spread – and who you require to continue to commute to work a) to fully reimburse pay car parking costs (at a nearby public car park to their office) if this will enable workers to use their own vehicles to travel b) to enable workers with a valid driving licence, but without access to their own vehicle, to use hire cars, with all costs – including parking near the office as discussed above – fully met by the employer c) to pay in full for taxis for any workers without a valid driving licence or access to a vehicle who no longer wish to use public transport on the grounds of their own safety.

• Has an increased cleaning regime/schedule been introduced in all areas of properties used by service users and where workers are located in close proximity to each other? If not, when will this commence? If there are no plans to introduce such a regime/schedule in all properties what is the justification for this?

• Have additional washing facilities or other products (i.e. hand sanitizers) been ordered for, delivered to and replenished as required at all properties where service users attend and have direct contact with workers, or where workers sit in close proximity? If not, when will this commence? If there are no plans to order, distribute and replenish as required such products what is the justification for this?

• Have appropriate items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) been ordered for all staff who will be required by the employer to have continued direct contact with service users, others (for instance Court staff or employees of other agencies/companies visiting work locations) or those who work in close proximity to colleagues? If not, when will this commence? If there are no plans to access and distribute PPE to these workers immediately what is the justification for this?

Thank you in advance for your response.
Sent on behalf of Napo Northumbria Branch Executive