Council workers and coronavirus

[YouLando]

I have a relative who's a council employee, and a single parent. She's been told that she cannot do her job from home, but she has no childcare from Monday when the schools will be closed, so will have to stay at home on no pay to look after her 7 year old DD.
Her parents are in their 70s, so can't do childcare, and her ex-partner and father of her DD is completely unhelpful at the best of times, and is not local anyway. Is there any help available in cases like this? I'm guessing that her contract states that childcare leave is unpaid, like many people's. But there must be many people in her position, so what are they supposed to do?

Contact the local education authority?

What would the LEA do?

If she works for the council she will fall into the key worker category and should there fore get a school place for her child when she is working.

If she’s not a keyworker and can’t access childcare - might she not be one of the people the government help of paying 80% of wages could apply to? Or will it not apply to public sector?

Not everyone working for the council is a keyworker!

Does her department provide essential services?

I don't think she falls into the key worker category, and this govt. scheme doesn't cover govt. employees, as they're already paid by the govt.

I work for a LA and our guidance is that she would be paid even if she cannot work.

"If you are unable to work from home because of your personal circumstances you should discuss this with your line manager, you will continue to receive full contractual pay during this period"

If she is required to be in working, then she will be a key worker and will be entitled to a school place if she needs one.

Each local authority will have it's own policy though.

It's highly likely that her role will fall into a key worker category if she works for the local council and can't work from home.

Thanks Chilly. She isn't a key worker though. She's been told that as her job is office-based she can't do it from home, so has to go into work, or either stay at home on no pay. I'm guessing that different councils have differing employment contracts; it's interesting that yours states that an employee would be paid.
I work part-time for part of the civil service (as an agency worker), and as my place of work is still open I have to go in, or not get paid, and I can't wfh. Luckily my DH works in the Further Education sector and he can wfh and oversee DD10's home schooling...

Sorry, I wondered if the LEA would have a list if schools who could take her- or put pressure on a school ?
Maybe a letter from her employer to back up her need for a place?

I'm in a similar situation, although I am a key worker. One childs school is open, the other childcare facility isn't. Not sure what on earth I'm supposed to do.

Thanks Bargebill19