COVID – 19 PANDEMIC POLICY STATEMENT
A pandemic is where the number of infections of some disease exceeds
expectations and the disease is widely spread. This policy is factored on the
recent global pandemic caused by the spread of Covid-19. In the event of the
increased infection (R Rate) and the Government/Public Health England (PHE)
directions Ebenezer Community College (ECC) will act swiftly to adjust our
delivery model for the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders.
The following actions must take place
Readiness for Lockdown
The following preparations are in place for the implementation of a Pandemic
Lockdown Plan:
ECC have ensured that all learner’s next of kin details are on the management system.
All learners will be informed of the Covid-19 prevention processes and given information on remote learning.
All learners are required to confirm the IT facilities in their home.
All learners are required to provide consent for use of WhatsApp groups and also submit their current email address
All staff will be notified by telephone and emails in the event of a lockdown situation.
All learners and their employers will be informed by telephone or email in the event of a lockdown situation.
When Government advises of the reduction of infection and notifies the return to work then staff and learners will be advised so that they can make preparations to return to the premises following the above control processes.
Full Nationwide Lockdown
1. All learning sessions and visits to employers will be cancelled
2. All learners will be sent home and informed of the closure
3. All communal areas and offices will be closed
4. Any learners or staff who are feeling unwell will be advised to arrange a Covid test
5. Staff will be advised to work from home with necessary guidance
6. Cleaning staff, wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),
will concentrate on removing rubbish (e.g. used tissues) and on cleaning the training areas, bathrooms and kitchen, especially hard surfaces, door handles and door edges, which will be major sources of contaminationAppropriate training will be given and PPE must be worn and used.
7. The Internet will be used to communicate with staff, learners and employers to ascertain if there are any Covid cases connected to ECC to enable decisions to be made regarding contacting PHE.
National Restrictions (Plans if re-introduced)
1. All learning sessions will continue in ECC and online but visits to employers will be cancelled
2. Learners will be informed that they should continue to attend college where possible
3. All communal areas and offices will remain open and everyone will follow
ECC protocol and procedures
4. Any learners or staff on return to work will be requested to have a Covid-19 test and provide results before commencement of duties
5. Staff will continue to work in the College unless they are clinically extremely vulnerable
6. Cleaning staff, wearing appropriate PPE, will concentrate on removing rubbish (e.g. used tissues) and on cleaning the training areas, bathrooms and kitchens, especially hard surfaces, door handles and door edges, which will be major sources of contamination. Appropriate training will be given, and personal protective equipment must be worn and used.
7. The Internet will be used to communicate with staff, learners and employers to ascertain if there are any Covid cases connected to ECC to enable decisions to be made regarding contacting PHE for guidance.
Regional Tiers
The tier system was reviewed in November 2020., From and from December 2nd onwards in all three tiers, Medium Alert, High Alert and Very High Alert ‘everyone should attend school or college as normal, unless they are self-isolating. Schools, universities, colleges and early year’s settings remain open in all tiers’ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#medium-alert
At ECC, further plans may include:
Tier 1: All learners attend as normal with social distancing capabilities.
Tier 2 & 3: Based on Learner numbers within ECC, the majority of Learners will attend as normal. If there are too many learners within each class then there wil be a move to a rota system; for example, half of the learners attending the college in the morning and half in the afternoon, with remote delivery in the opposite morning/afternoon.
Tier 4: All training and delivery will be moved to remote learner in line with government, PHE and Dfe guidance. Risk assessments will be carried out periodically to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, students and visitors if required for any reason to attend college.
Tier 5: All training and delivery will be moved to remote learner in line with government, PHE and Dfe guidance. Risk assessments will be carried out periodically to ensure the safety and well-being of staff, students and visitors if required for any reason to attend college.
Single Point of Contact
The Manager of Operations is the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for Ebenezer
House. The Lead Safeguarding Officer supports the SPOC. The SPOC will engage with the track and trace process.
The SPOC and The Lead Safeguarding Officer’s role, is to support both learners and employers by:
Preventing any cases of Covid-19 by advising the Management team, Board of Trustees and Work placement Employers on control measures for Ebenezer House and employer
Reporting any confirmed case of Covid-19 within Ebenezer House to PHE
The SPOC can be contacted on 0208 800 6621 or Ernestkwateng@eclc.org.uk
Risk Assessments
The College has in place a full comprehensive Covid-19 Risk Assessments for staff, learners and visitors. The risk assessment is updated regularly or in the event of changes implemented by Government. System of Controls Procedures
Procedures for entering The College
1. Staff, learners and visitors must firstly queue at 2m intervals outside of The College before being asked to enter.
2. On entering The College staff, learners or visitors must sanitise or wash their hands immediately and wear a mask.
3. The staff, learner or visitor must confirm that they are not experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms and their temperature will be taken each time they attend.
4. Visitors are required to complete a track and trace document that is retained for 21 days.
5. The staff, learner or visitor are prompted to wash their hands more thoroughly in line with government guidance
6. Ebenezer House has implemented enhanced cleaning regimes throughout the college.
7. Contact between individuals has been restricted and social distancing is maintained at 2m.
8. All staff, learners or visitors wear PPE in line with Government advice for Further & Higher Education.
Additional Information can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus?gclid=CjwKCAjwqML6BRAHEiwAdquMnZbxP8Y
mLXEndeNfUVWVteKYDV
w-plgye6fcyW98AUQ1Zu_kcO0K-BoCH4cQAvD_BwE
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/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/close-
contact-services
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-
tracing/?gclid=CjwKCAjwqML6BRAHEiwAdquMnRgQkfjwLX73kkgydRtN14sYZFt
bCmlMao9SiSRpqLhuv5Xp0vErphoCY4oQAvD_BwE
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-
further-education- provision/what-fe-colleges-and-providers-will-need-to-do-from-
the-start-of-the-2020-autumn-term