Covid-19 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 between use by different individuals (if shared use is unavoidable);
plus maintain 2m or 1m+ social distancing
wear 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

Revised 11 January 2021 Revised 18^th February 2021

UNTIL April 6^th 2020 ONLY THOSE WHO ARE “RED” RATED SHOULD RETURN TO BUILDING BASED DAY SERVICES. ALL OTHER SERVICE USERS SHOULD STAY AT HOME.

STAFF SHOULD WORK FROM HOME IF THEY ARE ABLE.

STAFF WHO DO ATTEND MUST FOLLOW THE EXISTING GUIDELINES, NOTING NEW DIRECTIONS

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 have been offered the opportunity, and encouraged by management, to have weekly Covid 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.

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.

Cleaning and hygiene

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 be 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

Staff should wear PPE face masks covering both the nose and mouth. These should be PPE face masks and not just face coverings.

Service users should also wear PPE face masks, again ensuring both nose and mouth are covered – provided the individual can tolerate this.

Where they are not able to tolerate this, they can wear a face covering but this should where possible be suitably thick (three layers)

and they must keep a minimum of 2 metres distance from others.

Face and mask touching is a risk and whenever possible ensure that hands are washed and masks changed if touched.

Social distancing

Social distancing should always be maintained at 2 metres or more by staff and service users – 1 metre plus is not sufficient.

Identify a separate entrance and exit to buildings if possible.

Good ventilation

Evidence continues to show that ventilation plays a significant role in curbing the spread of the virus. Providers should therefore revisit how they are keeping the spaces they are using well ventilated, or better still, how they are offering access to open space/outside support.

Other points for consideration

With the infection becoming more prevalent, it is even more important that the home situation is checked before offering face to face support to service users. Check with service users that there is no-one at home who has COVID, who has COVID symptoms, or who are self-isolating.

Service users should not be coming into services using public transport at this time.

The same rules apply to staff as to service users, that they are not mixing across clients wherever possible, and are not taking unnecessary risks, such as car sharing.

Staff should ensure they are 2 metres apart when taking breaks and ensure the area they took their break in is cleaned thoroughly afterwards.

join the bi-weekly IPC call, or catch up with the recordings, to ensure their knowledge is maximised in this area.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.

Procedure if someone shows Covid-19 symptoms

– Ask carers and service users to alert you straight away if they feel unwell and not to attend if that is the case.

– If someone becomes unwell at the service, they should be sent home and follow the self-isolation guidance.

– While waiting to be collected, they should be moved, where possible, to Cabin 5. Ensure adequate ventilation, open windows

– A staff member may accompany them, wearing appropriate PPE disposable gloves and apron, fluid-resistant surgical mask (and possible eye protection is advised by risk assessment). Depending on circumstances the staff member may remain outside Cabin 5.

– If it is not possible to use Cabin 5 the person, remove other staff and service users to another area.

– Cabin 5 bathroom may be used by a person with Covid symptoms while awaiting transfer. This should not then be used by anyone else before cleaning has taken place.

– The staff member should wash their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water after any contact with someone who is unwell

– The staff member helping does not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves or the service user tests positive

– The bathroom and area used should be cleaned and disinfected using standard cleaning products before being used by anyone else.

– If it is an emergency, they are seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk call 999

PPE

QE2 Activity Centre will provide appropriate PPE, including face coverings, masks or visors, gloves and aprons, for when it is not possible to maintain 2m or 1m+ distancing, for example when administering first aid, personal care or taking temperatures on arrival.

Additionally, if an individual’s risk assessment indicates that poor respiratory hygiene is an issue then PPE should be worn.

Visiting staff members should wear PPE in line with their employers’ guidelines

Service users need not wear face coverings but will be encouraged to do so

Safe disposal of PPE

To be disposed of in black bags in touch free waste bins.
In the event of a suspected case of Covid PPE and other associated waste would be double bagged and stored for 72 hours before being put in general waste.

Cleaning

Prior to re-opening work has been carried out to paint and decorate buildings, and remove clutter
Buildings will be cleaned each evening so that each day starts with a clean building.
During the course of the day cleaning will be carried out by staff as and when necessary, concentrating on surfaces and hotspots
Each room will have access to hand sanitiser.
Staff will have a PPE pack with masks, gel, gloves, aprons.

Other users

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 one visiting activity group on site at a time. Other visitors, eg, maintenance visits, are being scheduled outside day service hours.

Test and trace policy

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

Keeping up to date

Staff have completed Infection Control and Covid Awareness training
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus plus SCC and HCC and carer support groups.

Sharing information

With staff

All staff have contributed to the development of our plans to reopen; their views have been listened to and reflected in the plan.
Staff have been heavily involved in writing assessments
Staff are briefed on developments as they occur

With service users

illustrated information sheet sent to services users;
video made to show “return to QE2”
through zoom calls

With carers

post and email

Service user risk assessments

Preliminary risk assessments have been carried out for each service user following discussions with carers. These will form the basis of discussions with LA LD teams

Fire risk assessment

We have reviewed our fire risk assessment and found that there is no need to alter fire evacuation policies; fire exits remain viable, fire point remains viable.

Social distancing should be maintained at Fire Assembly Point

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. The exception is swings and zipwire, which involve close-up interaction when checking harnesses, shared equipment is unavoidable and they are quite physical activities.

The current social distancing rule is still that the distance is 2m, except in cases where this can’t be achieved, in which case the 1m+ rule can apply.

Other preventative measures

The + refers to other preventative measures

Carrying out activities outside
Avoid being face-to-face with people who aren’t part of your household. Keep your distance or try to stay side-to-side
Limit contact time – the longer you are exposed to an infected person – whether they are showing symptoms or not – the higher your risk of catching the virus
Open windows – Keeping rooms well ventilated can reduce the risk of Covid-19.
Talking quieter, not shouting, not singing will reduce the risk of spreading

Service users

Service users don’t have to wear face masks – but it is good practice for them to. We should encourage it and part of that is good modelling.

COVID RISK ASSESSMENT activity action points

Activity

Action Points

Before activity

Details of participants

Control of the working area:

Site clean, newly painted, uncluttered

Equipment clean and in good condition

Preparation

QE2 staff will carry PPE pack containing masks, gloves and gel

Repetitive cleaning hands for all participants before activity starts

Source equipment beforehand: enough equipment to reduce the need for sharing

Work outside where possible

During session

Maintaining 2m social distancing

Or 1m+ if that is not possible

· Visiting staff members should wear PPE in line with their employers guidelines

· Service users need not wear face coverings but will be encouraged to

· Staff to wear gloves (or apply hand gel before and after) 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

Hand sanitiser available throughout session/day, disinfectant spray and/or wipes available to be applied between use by different individuals (if shared use is unavoidable)

Demonstrate, use visual aids, gestures and speech to explain rather than hand over hand

Following session

At the end of activity/session participants to wash hands

All equipment needs to be cleaned/sanitised

Area used needs to be cleaned/sanitised

COVID RISK ASSESSMENT Activity session protocol

Pre-attendance awareness
Staff training
Information for service users, information for visiting staff
Staff arrival
Staff to use hand sanitiser before opening up; handwashing after entering the buildings for indoor activities
Staff to ensure working areas are clean and tidy, without clutter.
Set up room, consider ventilation
Participant arrival
designated start time
managed parking, instructor to be on hand to give directions,
Staff member to take temperature, ask about health of service user
Administer hand sanitiser
Visitors will be directed to activity area and discouraged from loitering
Briefing
reminders on social distancing, good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene.
Toileting
Wash hands before and after
Two toilets designated for male and female visitor use
After use visiting staff will disinfect toilet area (paying particular attention to seat, handles, taps, door handle)

Activities
Outdoor activities will be prioritised
Maintain social distancing
Where it is not possible to maintain social distancing QE2 staff should wear PPE; service users need not wear masks; visiting staff should wear PPE in line with their employers’ guidelines
Disinfect equipment that has been handled before/after use
Staff and service users should wash hands before and after activities

End of session
Following end of activity visitors to wash hands, return to transport

COVID RISK ASSESSMENT Day service protocol

Target: To provide a service for twenty two people per day, within three bubbles.

We will work with Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council to prioritise returnees.

We have seven staff available to operate three bubbles. Non-day service staff are available to cover for sickness.

There will be staggered opening times for each bubble and each bubble

GREENHOUSE: day service building, workshop, allotment

GOLD DAY SERVICE: 2nd day service building, including sensory room, plus access to Centre canteen and garden

BLUE BUBBLE: cabins 2, 3, 4 and 5

RED AREA: Sports hall, shared area, includes access to separate toilets

Pre-attendance awareness
Staff training
Information for service users
Information for parents
Staff arrival
Staff to use hand sanitiser before opening up; handwashing after entering the building
Staff to ensure working areas are clean and tidy, without clutter
Set up room, consider ventilation
Service user arrival
Each bubble will consist of
not more than eight service users with two staff (GreenHouse and Blue group) or
six service users with two QE2 staff and 1:1 cover where needed (Gold, higher support needs).
These numbers will be kept under review
staggered start time for bubbles
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
First session 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
One staff member to be allocated to car park duty to manage departures.
Cleaning of rooms and equipment used