COVID-19 Staff Responsibilities Guidance

21/22 Spring Term

In order to continue to protect our community’s health and support our collective wellbeing as we continue to adapt to living with COVID-19 we recommend that staff during the 21/22 Spring Term follow the guidance set out below.

  1. Abide by all national public health regulations brought in to stop the spread of COVID-19 and follow specific guidance on health measures, together with local public health guidance. This includes complying with
  • any national or local restrictions
  • guidance on testing if experiencing symptoms
  • guidance on testing if you are a close contact of a positive case
  • quarantine regulations if you are travelling from outside the UK
  1. You must self-isolate as soon as symptoms develop, or when you receive a positive test result, if you do not have symptoms. Symptoms associated with COVID may initially feel like a seasonal cold that develops into a headache followed by sore throat, runny nose and fever (including a high temperature[1], a new, continuous cough[2] or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste[3]). You must follow the current government guidelines on self-isolation, which can be found here.

 

  1. If you are advised that you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, while you are not required to self-isolate you are advised to take daily Lateral Flow Tests (LFTs) for seven days. If one of the LFTs is positive, you must self-isolate immediately and you should report your test result on uk. It you are not vaccinated, you must isolate for 10 days immediately.  If you test positive with a lateral flow test, you do not need to order a follow-up PCR test if you do not have symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you will need to take a PCR test.

 

  1. If you own a compatible iPhone or Android mobile phone, we recommend that you download the NHS COVID-19 app and scan the QR code displayed in the reception entrance (and or in communal areas) each day as you enter The Courtauld’s premises at Vernon Square, Somerset House and Duchy House.

 

  1. Immediately inform The Courtauld via COVID@courtauld.ac.uk should you have symptoms, have tested positive for COVID-19 or if you are contacted as part of the ‘NHS Test and Trace’ scheme., If contacted by the latter, follow self-isolation guidelines confirmed by NHS Test and Trace.

 

When contacting COVID@courtauld.ac.uk, if possible please provide details of

  • Anyone you may have been in contact with at The Courtauld in the 48 hours prior to the date of the test
  • The date your symptoms started
  • The date you tested positive
  • If the test taken was an LFT or PCR

 

  1. If you receive a positive test result, you may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace who may seek to determine your close contacts. Please engage with the service if you receive the call or a text message. It is important to confirm that you are a member of staff at The Courtauld and to quote the postcode of the site where you normally work, Vernon Square (WC1X 9EW) or Somerset House (WC2R 0RN)

 

If you are unwell, please take the time as sickness leave. If you are self-isolating and able to work, discuss working from home with your Manager. If you have caring responsibilities that mean you cannot work but need to take time off, you may be able to use your Special Paid Leave allowance – please discuss this with your Manager.

 

  1. Regularly i.e. twice a week or every 3 to 4 days) take a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) during the Spring Term, via the use of home testing kits either provided by The Courtauld or obtained directly via this web link.Please report your test results each time at gov.uk/report-covid-19-result.

 

  1. The Courtauld may carry out random on-site spot checks to verify members of its community are engaging in Lateral Flow testing. To support this, please ensure that you have a photo of your most recent negative test or your email / text confirmation that you have received from NHS Test and Trace.

 

  1. Continue to practise effective hygiene methods to limit contact transmission, including:
  • Regular, thorough handwashing with soap
  • Using hand sanitisers
  • Ensuring good respiratory hygiene is adopted for example, sneeze into your elbow, dispose of used tissues correctly and cover your mouth when coughing
  • Correct wearing and disposal/washing of face coverings
  • When meeting others to whom you are not regularly in contact, to do so appropriately distanced if practical and to only meet in a well-ventilated room (i.e. one with openable windows) or if possible outdoors.

 

  1. Try wherever possible to maintain appropriate physical distancing from those you do not normally meet, and if you meet others indoors, do so in a space that is well ventilated.

 

Support ventilation arrangements by keeping at least one window open in rooms in which you may be working.  For those occupying shared and or individual offices you are requested to take responsibility for opening and closing windows in these rooms yourself to suit your own level of comfort. For staff in shared offices, you should keep windows and doors open (when safe to do so) to encourage the movement and flow of air through the rooms without causing discomfort.

 

  1. Follow both UK Government guidance and The Courtauld’s policy on wearing face coverings on Courtauld premises. Our updated face coverings policy can be found here.

 

  1. Show respect and consideration to fellow staff, students, volunteers and all visitors to The Courtauld and the wider community. This includes if you are asked to follow or reminded of any of The Courtauld’s COVID-19 safety measures.

 

  1. If you invite visitors to any Courtauld premises, you will be responsible for making sure they are aware of relevant Courtauld COVID-19 policies, and will be responsible for ensuring that they are engaging in and able to evidence regular LFD testing.

 

  1. The Courtauld also recommends that all staff take up their full course of COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters where applicable.

 

The Courtauld has undertaken an organisational risk assessment for all Courtauld activities and this assessment will continue to be kept under regular review. We will continue to implement a range of sensible and proportionate control measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to our staff and students. This will include:

  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting regimes
  • Making available hand sanitiser, wipes and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on site in key areas
  • Monitoring and making adjustments to the fresh air in-take to mechanical ventilation systems and monitoring of CO2 levels in teaching spaces, studios, library spaces, gallery rooms and other spaces as may be deemed appropriate and necessary, to maintain appropriate levels of ventilation
  • Providing clear guidance to students about how to look after their health and wellbeing, how to seek support, and how to raise concerns
  • Encouraging staff and students to take up their full course of vaccinations
  • Encouraging staff and students to take regular LFD tests
  • Communicating any changes in guidance quickly to our staff and students

 

This policy will remain in effect until at least 19 April 2022, or until further guidance is received from the UK Government.

 

 

[1] This means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

[2] 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)

[3] This means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Citations