New employer a bit annoyed

[ConorMasonsWife]

Hi,

I started a new job in a small learning disabilities assisted living facility 2 weeks ago, I have done 9 shifts and last Tuesday someone I was shadowing tested positive, still no proper PPE was in place(2 visors being wiped over between uses between day senior and team leader boiler suits for the team leader and senior only, just a thin surgical mask and latex gloves for me and other HCA's).

I got tested Wednesday and tested negative; by Saturday two tenants had tested positive, they placed me on the side with positive cases with just a mask and gloves still while others got to choose to leave the side. I actually don't mind working with people with covid, someone has to but the attempt at PPE for HCA's was a bit poor, on Saturday I was spat at, on Sunday I was kissed.

I now have a temperature of 39.6 and I'm shivering quite bad, a cough too which isn't too bad but I was due to be on Thursday and I rang earlier to say I've had a covid test today and if the results aren't back or they're positive I won't be in Thursday, it was the team leader I spoke to and she was very rude to me, saying I should come in anyway and they'll decide whether to send me home. I realise first impressions matter but I wouldn't be in the position possibly(not necessarily), if I had been provided with proper PPE, and I'm going based on the guidelines, I don't want to risk spreading it to others further.

They wouldn't be able to get rid of me with me being so new and not coming in already would they?

Thanks for your replies!

[PullTheBricksDown]

That's shocking. How dare they put you and your clients at risk by telling you to come in. No wonder we have a way to go yet with Covid. For months now the advice has been stay at home if you have symptoms!

[CorianderLord]

Send an email detailing your symptoms so you have a paper trail if they refuse?

[IloveJKRowling]

OP, well done for doing the right thing and reporting them and I hope you're better soon. I hope you can manage ok while isolating & recovering.

They sound like terrible employers, but once you've recovered (which hopefully will not take long) and done your 10 days you will have immunity so if they give a tiny shit about their residents at all they should be welcoming you back with open arms.

You sound absolutely lovely by the way. They're lucky to have you.

Terrible the senior management have better protection than other workers - that tells you a lot about them straight away.

[Bedraggledmumoftwo]

Hope you feel better soon.doesnt surprise me reading the above. Have you also reported your positive test to the employer? Not that it sounds like it will change their behaviours but just in case it does

[ChasingRainbows19]

Why do the senior team leaders get lots of ppe? Bet they aren't doing as much 1:1 or close contact as the HCA? It’s not your fault you caught it, absolutely theirs! You should of had bare minimum apron, gloves, visor/goggles and mask. The tenant shouldn’t have been volunteering either.

This is all so ridiculous. I doubt they are even reporting the positive cases, otherwise it would be obvious an outbreak is occurring due to poor infection control.

Glad you reported it’s unsafe, how dare they give you grief for catching covid from their shoddy methods to protect you and their service users.

Get well soon.

[Jeremyironseverything]

Get well soon. The volunteer should be self isolating if they've been in contact with positive people.

Your poor dh having to miss his exam..

[PineappleUpsideDownCake]

Wow. Hope you are okay.

[AwaAnBileYerHeid]

Also report to CQC

[ConorMasonsWife]

As expected my results are positive for covid. I have reported them as well by the way.

[Mydogisagentleman]

I work in supported living 1:1 with a woman who has learning disability.
From the moment I start work, I’ve got a blue surgical mask on if I am within a metre of her, I wear a plastic apron and disposable gloves for personal care and temperatures are taken 4 hourly.
My organisation that supports 150+ people, with a staff team double that has had no cases of C19 amongst the service users and 4 in the staff.
Your firm deserves to be reported

[ConorMasonsWife]

They have a lot of boiler suits(which I don't expect), don't think many visors, I think it is just the 2, no aprons left, about 4 boxes of gloves left in the stock room from what I saw so they will go quickly, and quite a few N95 masks but they're only for the seniors and team leaders again. I think it's the deputy manager that is meant to order more. I also thought surgical masks should be changed frequently but that's not allowed, but they're also still sending one of the tenants out today to his volunteer job even though I didn't think that would be allowed either.

[Hayeahnobut]

If they're struggling for supplies they should be able to contact the LA who act as a hub for distributing PPE. I'm aware that some areas are having supply problems again, but at the very least that call needs to be made so they are on the waiting list. Even with that in mind, you're doing the right thing in contacting CQC, your concerns are valid and they need to investigate.

[TokyoSushi]

Sounds awful and like you're doing exactly the right thing. Do they physically not have the PPE? Or they just don't have the correct procedures in place? Who is responsible for keeping up their supplies?

Hope you're much better very soon.

[ConorMasonsWife]

And I'm reporting this morning by the way

[ConorMasonsWife]

Just gloves and a surgical mask in answer to the question about the PPE, apparently they had lots of plastic aprons but they've been 'misplaced' or 'used up' there's no glasses or visors for HCA's, the team leader and senior have one but they swap it with the night senior and night team leader when they come anyway, it's just a 'don't touch it for 10 minutes to let the germs die' situation which is absolutely bonkers to me. And thank you, I'm okay but I ache and i have a bad fever, it was 39.8 last night again, but I'm doing okay, I'm glad I chose to say no to going in, I know these things aren't ideal but it's a pandemic and it would be very selfish and stupid of me to go in when my temperature is this bad and I have a mild cough with no sense of smell.

[Spidey66]

Report to the CQC for not providing proper PPE.

[EnjoyingTheSilence]

No wonder this virus is spreading again.

@ConorMasonsWife you are doing the right thing by not going in, hope you feel better soon and definitely report them.

[AGeeseGoose]

I hope you had a good sleep and are feeling ok today OP

[HarrietOh]

Fever AND no sense of smell and they want you in work?! That’s madness!

[bringbackCabanas]

What PPE were you given, OP? Standard for positive cases would be surgical mask, gloves, plastic apron and goggles or visor.

[kazza446]

This is dreadful! Are you in England? If so, please ring Care quality commission on 03000 616161 to let them know. Peoples lives are being put at risk

[ConorMasonsWife]

@AGeeseGoose

That’s an outrageous thing for them to say! They’ll decide whether to send you home? Absolutely report. I hope you’re feeling better soon

Thank you, me too, I'm not sure if I definitely have it but my temperature is creeping up higher and paracetamol isn't doing a lot, I have no smell but I do have taste, a cough but it's not awful, a bit of a burning sensation at the top of my chest, feel sick and my eyes hurt. Oh and I ache like billy'o! But not a patch on lots of people, hopefully I'll be back to normal soon!

[bathsh3ba]

That is awful. My sister is in an assisted living facility for people with learning disabilities and they have a fantastic system going and have so far had no cases among residents or staff while still maintaining family contact. It can be done better. My only advice is to try to find a better employer...

[AGeeseGoose]

That’s an outrageous thing for them to say! They’ll decide whether to send you home? Absolutely report. I hope you’re feeling better soon

[doloresclaiborne]

www.acas.org.uk/working-safely-coronavirus/if-someone-has-coronavirus-at-work