Category: Austerity
Care Workers in London Borough of Barnet Please read
If you are a care worker in Barnet please please click on the link below for details of the type of PPE you should be wearing in your workplace.
Priorities for PPE Allocation (v7)
Front line worker: What should you do if you have someone else living with you?
Below is the latest government advice for those workers who live with someone who is defined as at risk from the Coronavirus.
“Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19”
Updated 30 March 2020
Background and scope of guidance
This guidance is for people, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) because of an underlying health condition, and for their family, friends and carers. It is intended for use in situations where the extremely vulnerable person is living in their own home, with or without additional support. This includes the extremely clinically vulnerable people living in long-term care facilities, either for the elderly or persons with special needs.
Shielding is a measure to protect people who are clinically extremely vulnerable by minimising all interaction between those who are extremely vulnerable and others. We are strongly advising people with serious underlying health conditions (listed below), which put them at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19), to rigorously follow shielding measures in order to keep themselves safe.
- Minimise as much as possible the time other family members spend in shared spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms and sitting areas, and keep shared spaces well ventilated.
- Aim to keep 2 metres (3 steps) away from people you live with and encourage them to sleep in a different bed where possible. If you can, you should use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. Make sure you use separate towels from the other people in your house, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand-hygiene purposes.
- If you do share a toilet and bathroom with others, it is important that they are cleaned after use every time (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with). Another tip is to consider drawing up a rota for bathing, with you using the facilities first.
- If you share a kitchen with others, avoid using it while they are present. If you can, you should take your meals back to your room to eat. If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry the family’s used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm water and dry them thoroughly. If you are using your own utensils, remember to use a separate tea towel for drying these.
- We understand that it will be difficult for some people to separate themselves from others at home. You should do your very best to follow this guidance and everyone in your household should regularly wash their hands, avoid touching their face, and clean frequently touched surfaces.
If the rest of your household stringently follow advice on social distancing and minimise the risk of spreading the virus within the home by following the advice above, there is no need for them to also shield alongside you.”
Read more advice here
Barnet UNISON statement:
If you have any questions or concerns email the branch at
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
You can keep up to date with Barnet UNISON here on our
Website here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/
Do you work in a care home or school? Dial Helpline details below.
Do you work in a care home or a school ?
Do you have some concerns about Coronavirus and what procedures should be in place in your work place?
Why not give the helpline a call?
Barnet Council have set up a Public Health (PH) helpline for care homes in Barnet.
The number is 0808 281 3210, choose option 5, which will state:
“If you are calling from a care home, school or are a Councillor needing public health advice, press 5.”
The PH Team will be able to talk you through the infection control procedures and organise PPE delivery, via covid19.
End.
Home Visits Guidance Barnet Public Health 30th March 2020
To view the advice please click on the link below
2020.04.01. Covid_19 Advice to Staff visiting homes 30.03_JD
Enough is enough. PPE for all care workers now.
Please sign this petition
We demand Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is made immediately available for all care workers.
It is time for a change in the Public Health guidance on wearing PPE.
All care workers need to be provided with PPE (mask and gloves etc.) and training in how to use it.
Until now you have to be working with someone known to have the virus to have PPE.
That may have been right back then but now it’s got to change.
Care workers need PPE.
PPE needs to be provided on the assumption any of us could have Covid-19.
We can’t afford our care workers being exposed to the virus or passing it on to service users.
It takes just one case in a care home and suddenly care workers will be sent home to self-isolate.
But who looks after the residents if you send the care workers to self-isolate?
We don’t have enough care workers to work to this strategy which is why ALL care workers must be provided with PPE.
We can see there isn’t enough PPE for the NHS but this should not be a reason for not making this demand.
If care homes start falling where do you think this will end?
More admissions to hospitals!
If this Government can’t ensure there is enough provision of PPE then they should step aside and let others take over.
It’s already happening and we can’t stay silent on this any longer.
It’s a simple demand – PPE must be provided for all care workers.
No excuses, no delay.
End.
Barnet UNISON Pays Tribute to The Little Chief, Susan Sullivan
We have sad news to communicate with our Barnet UNISON community.
Susan Sullivan has become the first fatal victim of the Coronavirus we know of in our community.
She wasn’t a member of Barnet UNISON but she made her contribution and she made it count. She was one of two people who put their names to efforts to bring a judicial review against the Council for bringing the disastrous Capita into our services.
Susan had a learning disability and was a user of Barnet Council services so understood the value of the services provided by many of our members. This was what she sought to defend. She valued us.
We came to value her as she appeared on a number of demonstrations and took part in occasional meetings. Of course she did so with the full support of her parents, John and Ida. They have all been valuable members of our campaigns which saw John publicly speaking out in solidarity with our striking YCB colleagues on a number of occasions including the House of Commons.
We often heard John refer to his daughter as “Little Chief”. We cannot thank them enough for their comradeship and solidarity.
Our thoughts are very much with them in their grief and now worry about the potential progress of this virus within their family.
R.I.P Susan Sullivan “Little Chief”.
Three workers in the Dust truck is not safe
The threat of COVID 19 both real and perceived is growing stronger every day especially amongst front line workers who are being asked to carry on a deliver services as normal.
But these are not normal times. We are in a global pandemic which is sweeping across the globe, some countries faster than others.
The response from workers in public services is incredible people are offering support to other services which are under serious pressure.
Once such service that needs to continue otherwise there will be another type of public health risk is the Waste and Recycling Service.
There can sometimes be 3 or 4 workers sitting inside a vehicle a clear contravention of the government advice on social distancing.
Earlier this week Barnet UNISON wrote to Barnet Council requesting urgent measures to be put in place to safeguard our member’s health and safety.
Our demands are as follows:
1. Cleaning regime.
The inside of the vehicles are subjected to thorough cleansing regime each day.
That Hand gel is provided for each team every day. Please note there are no toilets available for these staff to use therefore no access to water and soap.
Cleansing wipes to be provided to each team every day.
Gloves and masks to be provided to each team every day.
Provision of toilet facilities for the workforce
Procedure to change how they currently work to reflect government advice about social distancing.
2. Bonus/recognition payment
Workers have asked that the Council pay a bonus to the reflect the recognition of the work they are currently providing under difficult circumstances.
3. Mental Health
To increase awareness of counselling support for staff working on the frontline during this national crisis.
4. Food and supplies
It is well documented that access to supermarkets is proving problematic and for the key workers it will more difficult for them to access supermarkets as they are working. Barnet UNISON has asked Barnet Council look to secure means by which food and supplies can be provided on an order basis for key workers.
***** Barnet Council have responded see below:
Cleansing
Hand sanitiser gel has been issued to the crews and drivers have a supply of hand wipes for them and the crew to use. Drivers can request more from the Supervisors once their supply has gone. Drivers are also being issued with cleansing wipes so that they are able to wipe down surfaces, handles and steering wheels in the cab. We have also progressed arrangements to implement a cleansing regime for vehicle cabs. Nitril gloves are currently also available on request for those who may wish to use them.
We have sourced resource that will be undertaking a deep cleanse of the RCV cabs on Saturday this week. Following this, we will have a team of four people working from Monday to clean the vehicle cabs. RCV’s will be cleaned on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and Street Cleansing vehicles will be cleaned on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Payment.
No bonus payment will be paid to key workers.
Mental Health
Mental Health First Aiders to be made available for staff to contact and discuss their issues.
Food and Supplies
No.
End.
Housing Restructure Update
Dear member,
I hope you and all your loved ones are well.
See attached or below.
This is the latest update from management in regard to the ongoing Consultation in Leasehold, Neighbourhood, Rental Income and Customer Contact Centre.
I have not been able to consult with you on these proposals or call a meeting with you to discuss whether these proposals change the position agreed upon the last time we met on the 11 March 2020.
The position then was for a dispute to be lodged at JNCC and thereafter enable an indicative ballot of members effected by as to what industrial action you are prepared to take.
Obviously the Corona Virus has markedly changed priorities.
The next scheduled JNCC is on the 3 April 2020 – so given that management have moved their position, put some further risk mitigating measures in place and moved the interview dates for ‘at risk’ staff to the 1st of June
Should UNISON lodge the dispute?
Or wait and continue further dialogue?
Please reply to this email and indicate either 1 or 2.
- LODGE DISPUTE NOW
- DO NOT LODGE AT THIS TIME
Let me know your thoughts –
In solidarity
Stay safe
Patrick Hunter
UNISON Convenor for The Barnet Group
We Need To Hear From You
IMPORTANT:
We are attending weekly skype meetings with Barnet Council every Wednesday morning.
Barnet UNISON statement:
If you have any questions or concerns email the branch at
contactus@barnetunison.org.uk
You can keep up to date with Barnet UNISON here on our
Website here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarnetUNISON/
Twitter https://twitter.com/barnet_unison