QE2 Activity Centre – Covid risk assessment

 

QE2 Activity Centre provides activity opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, including adventure activity sessions and day services.

The purpose of this risk assessment is to enable the Centre to continue to provide those opportunities during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

We need to be aware of the potential consequences of our actions on our service users, our staff, their respective families and contacts, and the wider community.

We also need to be aware that many of our service users and activity participants may have additional health issues.

This risk assessment should be viewed as a fluid document which will take into account future developments.

The generic risk assessment identifies that there is a risk of Covid-19 spreading through airborne particles or through particles landing on surfaces, which could result in illness or death.

Control measures in place to mitigate against infection are

• handwashing before participation,
• hand sanitiser available throughout session/day,
• disinfectant spray and/or wipes available to be applied
• social distancing
• appropriate PPE.

All staff should ensure that they understand the need to break down each activity into its constituent parts and put control measures in place to minimise risks at each stage.

The purpose of a risk assessment is not to stop an activity taking place; it is to ensure that the risk is minimised to an acceptable level.

 

PHIL OATES

MANAGER

 

14 August 2020

Revised: 21 September 2020 /11 January 2021/18th February 2021/11 March 2021/17 May 2021

Latest revision: 13 July 2021

 

Vaccinations and testing

All staff who may have contact with service users have been offered the opportunity, and encouraged by management, to have a Covid vaccination.

All staff who may have contact with service users are to have weekly PCR Covid tests and twice weekly lateral flow tests

Regardless of being vaccinated or having regular testing all staff must continue to observe good practice and all precautions regarding wearing of PPE, social distancing and good personal and environmental hygiene.

The majority of service users have been vaccinated and are encouraged to do lateral flow testing.

 

Cleaning and hygiene

Despite the removal of restrictions as of 19^th July 2021 many of the measures put in place to combat Covid remain good practice, particularly improved cleaning and hygiene measures.

Note that effective cleaning routines, wearing of PPE, social distancing and good ventilation remain of paramount importance, especially with new strains of the virus being more transmissible.

It is vital that enhanced cleaning of all areas takes place between sessions and between use of areas and shared facilities such as kitchens/toilets/bathrooms etc.

All areas should remain de-cluttered to ensure effective cleaning can take place.

Enhanced cleaning schedules should be in place ensuring that all hotspot areas and items that are frequently touched are cleaned between use/users.

Keep evidence of thorough cleaning within the setting – eg, written cleaning schedules to be in place, statements of practice around cleaning, and the carrying out/recording of spot checks.

Items should not be shared unless they can be thoroughly cleaned. If they can’t be cleaned they should be either disposed of after use or stored in a lidded plastic container and marked for use by that service user only.

Service users and staff should continue to frequently wash hands/use hand sanitiser throughout sessions, before and after breaks, and between activities.

Note that cleaning products which are anti-bacterial do not work against the virus.  Regular cleaning with detergent, warm water and chlorine based products are more effective.

 

PPE

Despite the removal of restrictions as of 19^th July 2021 many of the measures put in place to combat Covid remain good practice.

There is no longer a legal requirement to wear surgical masks. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the government “expects and recommends” that face coverings are worn in crowded and enclosed spaces and when mixing with people you don’t normally meet.

England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said they will continue to wear face coverings:

• indoors, in any situation which is crowded, or where people are close together
• if asked to by any “competent authority”
• if someone else was uncomfortable, as a “common courtesy”

For QE2 Activity Centre this means that

• if we are working in close proximity to someone else, especially indoors, we should continue to wear masks
• we should take advice from our local authorities, HCC and SCC
• we should listen to our service users and their parents/carers

 

Social distancing

Despite the removal of restrictions as of 19^th July 2021 many of the measures put in place to combat Covid remain good practice.

For QE2 Activity Centre the best approach is to be outdoors as much as possible. Evidence shows that the risk out of doors is minimised.

Respecting each other’s personal space remains good practice.

Where it is unavoidable time spent in proximity should be minimised, especially indoors.

Identify a separate entrance and exit to buildings if possible.

  

Other points for consideration

Evidence continues to show that ventilation plays a significant role in curbing the spread of the virus.  Keep buildings well ventilated, or better still, use open spaces.

Continue to check service users’ home situation on arrival. Check with service users that there is no-one at home who has COVID, who has COVID symptoms, or who are self-isolating.

 

Bubbles

We have zoned our site to avoid bubbles crossing paths. This includes separate toilets for each day service bubble and separate toilets for visitors.

Activity group visitors will not be operating in the same areas as day service users; and there will not be more than two visiting activity group in buildings at any time.

After 19^th July 2021 the strict separation of bubbles will be relaxed, but not abandoned.  Bubbles will still stay together, but there may be crossover for planned activities.

When people from different bubbles are mixing, social distancing should be observed. If meeting indoors masks should be worn.

GREENHOUSE

• day service building, workshop, allotment
• Up to eight participants
• Time: 9:30 – 3:30

BLUE BUBBLE

• A frame cabins, plus garden area
• Up to twelve participants
• Time:  9;45 – 3:45

GOLD DAY SERVICE

• 2nd day service building, including sensory room, plus courtyard
• Up to eight participants
• Time: 10:00 – 4:00

RED AREA

• Sports hall, shared area, includes access to separate toilets for day activity visitors

 

Test and Trace

A central daily log will be taken and kept for 21 days with name and contact details for each person coming on site, including staff, day service users, visiting activity groups and other visitors, with an indication of the where they were (eg, visitor may come for boat trip and not be in QE2 buildings at all; day service users will be in one zone).  An NHS QR code poster is displayed.

 

Activity session protocol

Activity programming

QE2 Activity Centre provision is based on outdoor activities, from canoeing, kayaking and motor boating to gardening, walking and bushcraft.  Some activities take place indoors (for example, indoor climbing walls).  We will prioritise those activities that can take place outdoors but have completed risk assessments for all activities so that we can safely deliver all activities at this time.

Target

• To provide activities for groups of up to eight participants

Pre-attendance awareness

• staff training (Covid awareness, infection control)
• information for visiting staff and service users
• details of participants, consent forms

Staff

• use handwashing/hand sanitiser before setting up
• carry PPE pack containing masks, gloves and gel

Working area

• outdoor activities will be prioritised
• ensure site is clean, uncluttered
• if working indoors, set up room, consider ventilation

Equipment

• equipment clean and in good condition
• plan enough equipment to reduce the need for sharing
• lifejackets/B. Aids, harnesses, etc will be issued by Instructor
• hand sanitiser available throughout session/day,
• disinfectant spray and/or wipes available to be applied between use (if shared use is unavoidable)

Particpant Arrival

• designated start time
• ask about Covid symptoms
• administer hand sanitiser, hand washing facilities available
• visitors will be directed to activity area
• visitors should remain in designated areas

During session

• briefing – reminders on social distancing, PPE, good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene
• demonstrate, use visual aids, gestures and speech to explain rather than hand over hand where possible
• QE2 and Visiting staff members should wear PPE in line with guidance
• staff to apply hand gel or wear gloves where skin to skin contact is unavoidable
• staff to wear aprons when carrying out personal care
• aim for enough equipment so that it does not have to be shared. If that is not possible, disinfect equipment before it is used by another person
• staff and service users should wash hands before and after activities

Toileting

• wash hands before and after
• four toilets designated for male and female visitor use
• regular disinfecting of the toilet area will take place (paying particular attention to seat, handles, taps, door handle)

Following session

• at the end of activity/session participants to wash hands, return to transport
• all equipment to be cleaned/sanitised or quarantined
• area used needs to be cleaned/sanitised

 

 

 

Day service protocol

Target

• To provide a safe, meaningful service for twenty two people per day, within three bubbles.

General

• Seven staff available to operate three bubbles. Non-day service staff are available to cover for sickness. Staggered opening times for each bubble.
• Timings and numbers will be kept under review.
• Staff and service users will remain in their bubbles
• managed drop off, one service user at a time, met by staff member
• Staff member to take temperature, ask about health of service user
• Administer hand sanitiser
• Outdoor seating areas provided. Depending on weather, outside area will be prioritised for use
• Indoor seating areas arranged to help socially distance
• Personal belongings will be stored safely
• Drinks: hydration is important so drinks will be provided; identifiable cups will be provided; staff will be responsible for washing cups

 Briefing

• Covid awareness using visual prompts and exercises: reminders on social distancing, good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
• Handwashing before next session starts, ie, handwashing training

 Toileting

• Wash hands before and after
• After use staff will disinfect toilet area (paying particular attention to seat, handles, taps, door handle)

Activities

• Brief service users and supporting staff on importance of social distancing, good hand and respiratory hygiene
• Maintain social distancing.  Where it is not possible to maintain social distancing wear PPE.  Disinfect equipment that has been handled before/after use
• Staff and service users should wash hands before and after activities

End of day

• Following end of activities service users to wash hands, collect belongings
• Debrief: round up of the day’s activities, covid awareness
• Manage departures.
• Cleaning of rooms and equipment used