The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has updated its guidance for employers and pregnant women in a joint statement.. Pregnant women fall into the vulnerable category. Yahoo is part of Verizon Media. Guidance from the NHS places people who are more at risk into two categories: vulnerable and extremely vulnerable. Some people are at high or extremely high risk of becoming severely ill if they catch coronavirus ('clinically vulnerable' or 'clinically extremely vulnerable'). Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus (COVID-19), including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women. On the face of it, the government expects all previously shielding teachers and school staff to return because "the risks to all staff will be mitigated significantly, including those who are extremely clinically vulnerable and clinically vulnerable.". Government guidance says that: “Children who live with someone who is clinically extremely vulnerable, but who are not clinically extremely vulnerable themselves, should still attend school,” and that, “More evidence has emerged that shows there is a very low risk of children becoming very unwell from coronavirus (COVID-19), even for children with existing health conditions.” Page 2. Further advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people in Tier 3: Very high - BSL. It meant staying at home almost all … use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available. Just know that if you are worried, your GP, school and union can help. Here is the latest version of the letter from the government to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable. What has changed This updated guidance is for everyone who has been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable.If you are in this group, you will previously have received a letter from the NHS or from your GP telling you this. This website and its content is subject to our Terms and Questioning Education Secretary John Swinney in Parliament this afternoon, Mr Greer noted reports of schools in different council areas refusing to put in Teachers and school staff who are most at risk from coronavirus should not return to the classroom next week when England’s national lockdown ends, a … Advice I have had is that being pregnant means you are in the exceptional risk category Not true. Square The National Education Union (NEU) said it is not safe for clinically extremely vulnerable … 27/11/2020, 6:49 pm. The survey of members found that one in five teachers who were shielding because they were clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus had been asked to go into school. It's full of useful advice and information on getting support. How will the new guidance for September change things? Clinically vulnerable teachers are safe to work in schools, provided social distancing measures are in place, the schools minister has said. However, CEV people can return to work and school from 2 December. This includes information about work, school and transport. Government guidance outlines the key workers who must remain active to deliver this education provision in England, which includes childcare, support and teaching staff, social workers and specialist education professio… If you are classed as vulnerable or extremely vulnerable, and you are asked to work in a way you consider goes against the guidelines, or delegated to do a task you feel puts you at risk, then what are your rights? This guidance aims to strike a better balance between providing practical steps to help keep you safe while reducing some of the potentially harmful impacts on mental and social wellbeing that were associated with previous strict shielding. 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Does easing restrictions apply to 70 year olds and over? We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Shielding updates – advice for clinically extremely vulnerable people. Voice adds that if a member of school staff feels their workplace is not taking care of them, members should contact their union for advice about their individual situation. The guidance to the most vulnerable … Individuals in this group will have been identified through a letter from the NHS or from their GP and may have been advised to shield in the past. He stresses that working remotely and in roles that allow for social distancing are options available to schools, and therefore leaders should do their best to accommodate this type of working for staff most at risk. The new advice will help this higher risk group better protect themselves from the virus, without needing to follow more restrictive shielding guidance. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Clarity about the public health reasons for this decision would help build confidence.”. UK News Published: Nov 27, 2020 Last Updated: Nov 27, 2020. Unless pregnant with a pre-existing heart condition (guidelines in the who is extremely vulnerable), you are just in the clinically vulnerable group. While no one can sensibly guarantee safety, it may be possible to further mitigate risk for the clinically vulnerable and, perhaps most importantly, help everyone to feel safe and supported at work. What is the guidance for vulnerable staff in September? It will take time to build confidence.”. London WC1R 4HQ. If you fall into the extremely vulnerable category, you would have received a letter instructing you to shield. This is general advice which is also relevant to teachers. Definition of clinically extremely vulnerable groups - British Sign Language. Pregnant women fall into the vulnerable category. Clinically vulnerable teachers and school staff should work from home – NEU. It states that school leaders should be "flexible in how those members of staff are deployed to enable them to work remotely where possible or in roles in school where it is possible to maintain social distancing.". Since March, teachers who are vulnerable, ... “The issue of clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable staff is a complex one. Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said those who had been told until now to shield for their own safety “will feel very uncertain about returning to the workplace”. Does the guidance suggest these teachers should return to teach in schools? A message for all those teacher-bashers out there. Employers must be especially careful and take extra steps for anyone in their workforce who is vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19). But with the new guidance released on Thursday, it is clear that this will change when all students return in September. “It is a big leap to go from advising them that they should isolate in their homes to it now being safe to return to busy environments when we know that coronavirus has not gone away. However, at this time, it is only advice. Teachers and school staff who are most at risk from coronavirus should not return to the classroom next week when England’s national lockdown ends, a leading union has said. For clinically extremely vulnerable people, the guidance reaffirms that shielding has been paused, but may be reintroduced in certain circumstances, stating, ‘We may advise more restrictive formal shielding measures for the clinically extremely vulnerable in the worst affected Tier 3 areas, based on advice from the Chief Medical Officer. Tes Global Ltd is If you or your child… To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. A representative from Voice: The Union for Education Professionals suggests affected staff should ask for their individual needs to be taken into account. Where staff feel vulnerable, or where they have concerns for those they live with, we would expect the employers to be sensitive. Barton says that the reintegration of vulnerable staff into the school environment will be "very challenging" and that leaders will need to be aware that, "understandably anxious and nervous and it isn’t going to be a quick fix. If you are on the shielding list, you should follow the same advice as everyone else in your protection level. The National Education Union (NEU) has concluded that risk assessments to ensure safety must include individual risk assessments for each member of staff which consider their specific circumstances and the level of risk to them before decisions are taken on how they will be asked to work. What are the 5 best Christmas gifts to get a teacher? ... members should contact their union for advice … The clinically extremely vulnerable group includes those with conditions affecting the immune system, certain cancers and organ transplant recipients among others. Most secondary year groups to start next term online, Use judgement this Christmas – unless you're a teacher, DfE risks a long, dark legacy by threatening schools, Making schools into 'field hospitals' may be 'too much', ‘Extremely vulnerable’ teachers expected back in school, 'Clinically vulnerable' teachers under pressure to work, 1 in 7 schools asks vulnerable teachers to come to work. Advice for the clinically vulnerable previously only applied to those over 70, or with underlying health condition, but new guidance - which comes into … We would expect employers to support their BAME and other vulnerable staff and seek to identify any existing underlying health conditions that may increase the risks to them when working with children. Previously, the advice was that all those aged 70 should stay at home. Vulnerable and extremely vulnerable members of staff have mostly been working from home during the coronavirus pandemic. This means we social distance where working from home is not possible. There’s also extra advice for those at higher risk from coronavirus, which you can choose to follow as well.. You can also find more information for people at higher risk from coronavirus at mygov.scot. I am a TA with asthma and am currently working from home as per the government advice for clinically vulnerable staff in schools.Is anyone else in th Voice is aware of the concerning evidence emerging about the unequal impact Covid-19 is having on BAME workers. Scottish Greens Education Spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has called on the Scottish Government to end the postcode lottery of whether home working and alternative arrangements are being put in place for vulnerable teachers. This is an extract from the Government’s latest FAQs on what you can and can’t do, which focuses on those in Vulnerable groups, those who are shielding, and those aged 70 years and over. registered in England (Company No 02017289) with its registered office at 26 Red Lion The government has asked schools and childcare providers to provide care for children who are vulnerable, and children whose parents are critical to the Covid-19 response and cannot be safely cared for at home. This is in line with NJC guidance. “School leaders will rightly be concerned for the wellbeing of all their staff ahead of a return to school in September,” says Bowen. Since March, teachers who are vulnerable, extremely vulnerable or share households with those who are vulnerable, have been protected by the shielding guidelines. wash your hands as soon as you get home. Who are the vulnerable and extremely vulnerable? From 2nd December 2020 the government will only reintroduce formal shielding advice for those that are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable in the very worst affected local areas and for a limited period of time. Fresh advice has been issued for those who are extremely and clinically vulnerablein areas of Tier 2 lockdown. The 3 tiers are Tier 1: Medium , Tier 2: High and Tier 3: Very High . Letter to clinically extremely vulnerable people from Matt Hancock PDF, 1.34MB, 8 pages This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. It goes on to say these staff members should take care to socially distance and that school leaders should check the latest guidance on keeping vulnerable people safe. “The issue of clinically vulnerable and extremely clinically vulnerable staff is a complex one. James Bowen, policy director at the NAHT, agrees. The unions believe that the guidance is not clear enough for school leaders to be able to make decisions about vulnerable staff. Conditions. Yes. "It remains a legal requirement for all employers to assess the risk in the workplace. It only takes a moment and you'll get access to more news, plus courses, jobs and teaching resources tailored to you, Grainne Hallahan is Tes recruitment editor and senior content writer at Tes. orking remotely and in roles that allow for social distancing are options available to schools, and therefore leaders should do their best to accommodate this type of working for staff most at risk. Information about your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon Media websites and apps. All residents who are over 60, vulnerable, clinically extremely vulnerable or have been told to self-isolate by Test and Trace and are worried about how you will source food and essentials, can call the council’s Ealing Together helpline on 020 8825 7170 for advice. It is one of the areas of the guidance that we feel still needs further clarification, both for the staff themselves and also for school leaders.”, Barton says that the reintegration of vulnerable staff into the school environment will be "very challenging" and that leaders will need to be aware that many of those staff will be "understandably anxious and nervous and it isn’t going to be a quick fix. "Employers may need to undertake individual risk assessments in addition to those covering the site more generally," Voice says. Addressing the education committee this morning, Nick Gibb said schools should be able to ask clinically vulnerable staff – those who are at a higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus – to come back to work at school. places people who are more at risk into two categories: vulnerable and extremely vulnerable. Nevertheless, schools and colleges are expected to take account of the Government’s advice and should make such adjustments that are necessary and reasonable to help protect vulnerable teachers from exposure to the coronavirus. Shielding was a way of protecting 'clinically extremely vulnerable' people who are at a very high risk of severe illness and needing to go to hospital if they catch coronavirus. ", Association of School and College Leaders, Podcast: Staggered starts and mass testing next term, Five ways schools marked a Covid-safe Christmas in 2020, Mass Covid test plans for schools: what we know so far, Teachers' Covid fears mount as schools remain open, Schools backed to refuse 'inoperable' mass testing plan, FE Festive Food Bank: Santa wraps up the campaign, 'We're in a ghost school with empty classrooms', Why it's time for teachers to start saying 'no', How tech can bring real-world conservation to schools, Exclusive: DfE considering delay to start of next term. And it then says that those who "live with those who are clinically extremely vulnerable or clinically vulnerable can attend the workplace". Staff - for example, teachers - who are clinically extremely vulnerable are advised to work from home. It will take time to build confidence.”. This will only apply to some, but not all, Tier 3 areas. by Press Association. This suggests working from home should still be an option for some, despite earlier suggestions that it was safe for all staff to return. Rather they should be allowed to work from home. The advice for Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) people in Blackburn with Darwen is similar to that issued in October when the borough first went into Tier 3. At what age do you hit your peak as a teacher? try to stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from anyone you do not live with (or anyone not in your support bubble) wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds. "Where staff feel vulnerable, or where they have concerns for those they live with, we would expect the employers to be sensitive. Over 60s classed as ‘clinically vulnerable’ for second Covid lockdown in major clinical change to shielding guidance. Clinically vulnerable teachers and … If you fall into the extremely vulnerable category, you would have received a letter instructing you to shield. The Government has ended its shielding advice to individuals who were previously classed as clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), citing the reduced prevalence of Covid-19 in the community. Clinically vulnerable teachers and school staff should work from home – NEU. The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable has been updated in line with Tameside being placed onto the ‘Very High’ COVID-19 Alert Level. Updated advice on protecting the clinically extremely vulnerable, based on the tiers of local restrictions in your area. Rates of transmission during the second wave of Covid-19, however, have become higher than when strict shielding requirements were still in place. People in England who are clinically extremely vulnerable will receive a letter this week urging them to stay at home as much as possible, including not going to work if they cannot work at home, and only to leave the house to exercise outdoors or to attend health appointments. This guidance offers additional advice to the clinically extremely vulnerable over and above the rules for the tiers, which apply to everyone. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says schools will need more details from the government about the scientific thinking behind this change. 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