Health, safety and wellbeing

As we progress through each of the four phases of the Scottish Government’s route map, Quarriers will continue to follow the relevant guidance issued by Government bodies such as Health Protection Scotland and the Health and Safety Executive with regards to the health, safety and wellbeing of staff, people we support and volunteers. To achieve this, we will supply you with as much support and information as is necessary, and will carry out all reasonably practicable measures to ensure the safety of staff, the people we support, volunteers and any visitors to our service or departments.

There will be regular communications as this guidance will change as we progress through each Phase and Government guidance evolves. No single piece of guidance issued will fit all aspects of Quarriers’ services. Therefore, our aim is to adapt any guidance and risk assessment locally, depending on the needs of the people you support and your service’s support model. We will support you in the following areas:

New guidance: From Thursday 25 June, staff on shift will be required NEW to wear medical grade face masks at all times within:

Quarriers’ adult and children’s care homes

All Quarriers’ respite services

All Quarriers’ HMOs

The William Quarrier Scottish Epilepsy Centre

PPE: We will continue to invest in and provide essential and approved PPE.

COVID-19 checklists: These checklists set out actions which need to be completed before services and office bases can reopen, and implemented by those which have remained in operation. Services may already be carrying out several of these checks and this serves as a standardised prompt to ensure good and consistent practice across all services and departments.

Health, safety and wellbeing (continued)

Videos: Working Safely During COVID-19. These seven videos show common scenarios such as arriving at work and moving around safely at work.

Risk assessments and associated guidance:

This includes worked examples of service risk assessments with accompanying notes on how to apply these to your service. Guidance will be issued and any necessary adaptations to the internal layout of our buildings and services will be carried out to meet essential physical distancing requirements. This is achievable through a range of measures that will be found in guidance for risk assessing our buildings. • Cleaning: Enhanced stock of cleaning supplies will be provided to meet increased hygiene measures. Regularly touched surfaces should be cleaned at least twice daily. Clear measures to be taken should a positive case arise in the workplace. Staff will be required to sign that they have read and understood Quarriers’ COVID-19 protocol, and will adhere to the control measures that have been put in place for the protection of themselves, people we support and volunteers. Those not returning to the workplace during Phases 1 and 2 are encouraged to maintain good work-life balance for your own health and wellbeing. Consider how you can set up your home working arrangements in line with display screen equipment (DSE) guidance, take regular breaks and adhere to regular working hours, as well as referring to the wellbeing links on the Intranet.