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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to be part of the school team carrying out Covid tests on students?

36 replies

FastAbsorbing · 04/01/2021 10:21

I have NC for this just in case.
I work in a secondary school but I am not a teacher, I work in support. Back to work today, there are heavy hints about becoming part of the team that will be doing the lateral covid test on students.
Time-wise, I can do this as my job is dependant on students being there. However, I don't feel comfortable doing this as I feel it exposes my to the risk of infection which I could potentially bring home to my own children.
Am I being silly, in that there's no risk in performing these tests and I should just get on with it to help out?
Where do I stand with this?

OP posts:
Alexandernevermind · 04/01/2021 10:24

Do you think that the tests needs doing to slow down the spread, or would you prefer not to be there at all?

SadderThanEeyore · 04/01/2021 10:26

I don't think anyone is unreasonable in not wanting to do something like this; however you would probably actually be safer as you would have to have ppe (and training) and would be very conscious of your actions all the time. Also contact would be very brief.
I think there is a higher risk in the normal classroom environment.

Clymene · 04/01/2021 10:26

You won't be doing the tests - they are self administered

Alfaix · 04/01/2021 10:27

Would you actually have to swab or is it just carrying out the test once they have swabbed themselves?
Is full PPE provided- you need apron, gloves, IIR mask and visor for L2 PPE.

farfallarocks · 04/01/2021 10:29

Our school has just asked for parent volunteers and had huge response. I think we all have to pull together in a crisis and show some grit unless you are particularly at risk from the virus

ivfbeenbusy · 04/01/2021 10:29

Christ so much for everyone contributing to the war effort eh 🤷‍♀️

Original poster
FastAbsorbing · 04/01/2021 10:42

It's not that I don't want to help, I do, it's just that I don't know if I want to get involved in something that would add extra risk to my own family, but maybe it won't, I don't know. PPE and training will be provided. Would you do it?

OP posts:
farfallarocks · 04/01/2021 10:47

@FastAbsorbing yes and I have volunteered to do it at school

Original poster
FastAbsorbing · 04/01/2021 10:50

thank you @farfallarocks could you tell me a bit of what's involved please?

OP posts:
LadyCatStark · 04/01/2021 10:52

As long as you have PPE then you absolutely should do it. What if all the NHS and care workers said they didn’t want to work with people with Covid and we let off??

WouldBeGood · 04/01/2021 10:53

I wouldn’t do it if you have to actually administer the tests, not because of fear of exposure but because you’re not trained to do it and it could leave you open to complaints and claims.

Brighterthansunflowers · 04/01/2021 10:54

Surely secondary school pupils will administer their own tests anyway? So you’d just be giving them instructions and processing it when they’d done it?

I think you should find out more about the PPE and safety measures but generally unless you or someone you live with is extremely vulnerable I think you should do it. You’re in school anyway so already exposed to that risk, contact with each pupil will be very brief so not really increasing your risk

Twickerhun · 04/01/2021 10:55

They are self administered tests so you just have to sort them out and manage the process surely?

Feministicon · 04/01/2021 10:56

@LadyCatStark

As long as you have PPE then you absolutely should do it. What if all the NHS and care workers said they didn’t want to work with people with Covid and we let off??
That is NOT the same thing now is it 😂
Comefromaway · 04/01/2021 10:59

I wouldn't do it. I'm quite squeamish with regards to things like that. I assume that if yu choose to work for the NHS you are ok with medical procedures. I'm not. I drove my husband and daughter to the testing centre for tests but had to look away whilst they were having it done.

Not all pupils will be able to administer their own test though. They did these tests at my son's college before christmas. He wanted one, but opted out when he found out it was self-administered. He just would not have been able to do it.

Viciouslybashed · 04/01/2021 10:59

I don't think you should be pressurised into doing something so far out of your job description. You are not a medical professional. I don't see why support staff should do it. We need the volunteers to be stepping up and taking it on. I for one will not be bullied into doing anything I don't feel comfortable with and don't think the voices of mumsnet should guilt you into it either.

Feministicon · 04/01/2021 11:00

I’m presuming I’m going to be in the same boat OP, not a teacher but student facing role in a secondary school. I’ve heard nothing from the school as a parent or as a member of staff so I’m not sure if they even want me in 😂 I’ve taken a space for my DS at his primary so need to know whether I can release that or not, shambles really. If they want me to test I’ll certainly do it with PPE otherwise I’ll just be sitting there doing nothing.

UghNotThisAgain36 · 04/01/2021 11:02

My DP has volunteered at my DDs secondary (he is ex-military). He sees it as his duty and I am very proud of him. He is being contacted this week RE training etc. I would do it also, but homeschool plus wfh don't allow me the time.

In terms of risk, he lives alone, only sees me and my two DC (support bubble) as his parents are carers for his 94 year old grandmother. He is a healthy 40 year old and the DC and I are not CEV. I'm assuming he'll be provided with the appropriate PPE and be tested regularly himself.

Viciouslybashed · 04/01/2021 11:04

@UghNotThisAgain36

My DP has volunteered at my DDs secondary (he is ex-military). He sees it as his duty and I am very proud of him. He is being contacted this week RE training etc. I would do it also, but homeschool plus wfh don't allow me the time.

In terms of risk, he lives alone, only sees me and my two DC (support bubble) as his parents are carers for his 94 year old grandmother. He is a healthy 40 year old and the DC and I are not CEV. I'm assuming he'll be provided with the appropriate PPE and be tested regularly himself.

Good for him that's brilliant. If it is volunteering and putting yourself forward then that is an entirely different scenario to being forced into it through work.
UghNotThisAgain36 · 04/01/2021 11:08

"Heavy hints" are not the same as being forced. The OP can and should say no if she doesn't feel confortable doing it.

Viciouslybashed · 04/01/2021 11:11

@UghNotThisAgain36

"Heavy hints" are not the same as being forced. The OP can and should say no if she doesn't feel confortable doing it.
I suspect it will be something she is made to feel she can't refuse. Hopefully she will if she is not comfortable.
InTheLongGrass · 04/01/2021 11:18

Have you looked at the different roles required to do the testing? Several are administrative.
I'm pretty sure I will be asked to help - none student facing secondary, but with few kids in the building, I have very little to do. I've decided ideally I dont want to be supervising the swabbing as I think someone who knows the kids better would be more likely to succeed, but anything else would be ok.
Yes, it is higher risk than the general community, but it is also required. I have the skills to do the data inputting or test processing, and am thinking to ask for those roles if requested to assist.

WanderingMilly · 04/01/2021 11:19

Yes, I am supposed to be helping out with the testing, we start mid-week.

In itself, it isn't too onerous although more involved than I imagined, with 'team leader', 'test tube preparer', 'result recorder' and so on roles, and each has online training to do first. Of course we'll have PPE, the staff and children will do the actual swab themselves, and of course I want to be helpful.

BUT.....and it's a big but.
Part of me thinks, if we've got to this stage, honestly, we should be shutting down schools entirely and concentrating on vaccinating everyone. And the rest of me thinks, my school isn't particularly safe anyway and this makes it seem even less so, and besides, I'm part-time support staff with a small part to play, I really didn't sign up for this when I took the job on. I really don't want to do it and don't even want to be there.....

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 04/01/2021 11:21

YANBU to feel uncomfortable OP.

I'm a teacher and will be helping with testing from tomorrow. The support staff were asked to do it but only one said yes as the others are either high risk or live with people who are. I volunteered because, aside form the fact that I have had COVID, I'm very low risk and I figure taking one for the team so to speak is the right thing to do. Also I'm part time so have more free periods than other teachers. I'm one of the only part time staff members and it's only fair it's me.

But nobody is being unreasonable in not wanting to do it.

JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows · 04/01/2021 11:22

@ivfbeenbusy

Christ so much for everyone contributing to the war effort eh 🤷‍♀️
That's really not fair. No one should be out in a position they're not comfortable with there'll be plenty of other willing and able!