Stories and publications Policies Meeting service user in their home Department: Volunteering and community support Activity: Meeting service user in their home Description of activity: Staff and volunteer team meeting a service user in their home to provide emotional and practical support where remote communication is not possible. Legal requirements and guidance for reference: COVID-19 – We have conducted a risk assessment for this session to produce this Safe System of Work, we have referred to the following sources: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#meeting-others-safely https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/homes#homes-7-1 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/925605/PHE_PPE_illustrated_guide_for_community_and_social_care_settings_OCT_2020.pdf LA PPE Guidance for Staff Issue 5 V45 11.6.20 FINAL DCC- available from Westbank All service users are advised of the following: If anyone is experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 (Persistent new cough, high temperature or loss of taste or smell) they must not meet staff / volunteers at their home. On staff / volunteer arrival should ideally phone the service user or ask at a safe distance if users are experiencing Covid symptoms, if so the service user will be advised to return inside, dial 119 to request a test and take the appropriate medical precautions. Details of any meetings will be kept for a minimum of 21 days to assist the NHS track and trace process. Where possible staff / volunteers will take the users temperature before entering the house using a contactless forehead thermometer. Users should identify a room for the meeting; ensure good ventilation i.e. keeping windows and doors open and where chairs tables can be wiped down before / after the meeting. Users should sanitize all potential contact points before staff / volunteers arrival. Clients should dress appropriately for the inside room temperature bearing in mind that the room will be ventilated. Staff / volunteers will not tolerate any verbal and or physical abuse. Staff / volunteers and service users are also advised of the following: To ensure continued good hygiene before, during and after each meeting, i.e. washing hands with hot water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds or regular use of hand sanitiser. All parties must comply with social distancing before, during and after the meeting. Staff / volunteers and clients must stay 2 metres apart, Staff/Volunteers should wear a Type 11 surgical mask and the service user must wear a face covering throughout the meeting, unless in the service users’ case there is a medical reason why a face covering cannot be worn. If two meters is not possible, a minimum of 1 metre social distance plus: Indoors: Minimise the contact time, meaning only essential support to that user be given. Or consider asking for meeting to be held outdoors. Use screens or barriers to separate people from each other Sit back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face). The staff member/volunteer should be paired with one service user so reducing the number of people each person has contact with. This is ‘fixed teams or partnering’ Staff/Volunteer to have use a Type 11 Surgical mask and the service user should carry a face covering at all times. Actual face to face meetings opposite one another should not take place, side by side or back to back and at an appropriate distance is required Limit use of any shared touch surfaces – i.e. tables, chairs, door handles, pens etc. which must be wiped down following use. If items need to be handed to one another identify a “drop off zone” to remove any direct contact. The volunteer or staff member should sanitise their hands once they have left the service users home. Staff/Volunteers are advised of the following: Ensure that someone knows where you are, use outlook calendar for staff and co-ordinator to manage volunteers. If not comfortable that social distancing, appropriate sanitation not completed staff / volunteers will be supported to postpone the meeting until appropriate standards have been met. To carry disinfectant wipes at all times to wipe down shared touch surfaces before leaving the service users home. To carry hand sanitiser to be used before and after entering/leaving a service users home and before getting into their car. To carry Type 11 surgical masks. To carry a mobile phone at all times. Take own food, drink, pens and any other items that may be required. To ensure that there are no known risks for a 1 – 1 meeting. Report any concerns to your line manager. Staff to ensure that contact is limited as much as possible and ideally arrange support between one staff / volunteer and just one service user. Discuss with all service users the content of the SSoW prior to any meeting, send out via email / post if possible and or necessary and have a hard copy to hand during 1-1 meetings. Date: 12/11/2020 Review Date: SSoW will be reviewed and regularly updated in line with government guidance. Review carried out by: Sarah Forde