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The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester

716 replies

noelgiraffe · 15/12/2020 23:42

The govt have proudly announced that there will be mass testing in secondary schools, colleges and special schools from January.

What the headlines don’t quite convey is that schools will be expected to set up and man their own testing centres and that this make-shift testing of close contacts of positives will replace close contacts having to isolate. The tests pick up about 50% of positive cases so I’m sure this will be fine.

Covidy kids will be getting the bus to school to queue up and be tested by people who have watched a video and a couple of online worksheets.

Even better, they want those people to be YOU!

“The document says that reasonable costs for additional workforce will be reimbursed.

It adds that a school may want to hire temporary staff, such as agency and contract workers, or draw on volunteers such as parents, retired teachers, Red Cross, St John Ambulance and community organisations.”

If you can’t help in person, perhaps you can support by talking positively about this effort on social media and parenting forums?

“Under a section labelled “social media guidance”, the document reads that “consistent, accurate and positive communication about testing activity is essential”.

They want to see “proactive public social media using agreed materials” and schools are encouraged to “monitor your existing social media channels, parents forums etc. and provide any feedback”.”

Come on folks, do your bit!

schoolsweek.co.uk/7-staff-roles-2-hour-training-and-dhsc-sign-off-on-press-schools-given-mass-testing-instructions/

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Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 18:48

I think schools are doing ‘targeted’ mass testing... as explained in article.
Could be wrong though.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 18:50

Read the link, it’s not about close contacts:

“Those students attending face-to-face education in the first week of term will be offered the first testing dates.

Testing will be optional but strongly encouraged, particularly in areas of higher prevalence of the virus. Consent will be required from the student or parent as appropriate.”

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Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 18:55

I can see that noel
The two articles are different.
The one I linked implies that in schools they will target those who have come into contact with Covid & test them so that they don’t have to isolate. The Gov. U.K. article is not detailed enough.
This is the trouble YET again.

Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 18:58

The government has today (17 December) confirmed that all secondary schools and colleges in England will be able to test MORE of their staff and students in a round of free coronavirus testing from the first week of January.

Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 18:59

MORE not all.

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 19:01

There are two different government announcements. This one from Tuesday about the testing of close contacts every day for 7 days instead of isolating
www.gov.uk/government/news/secondary-schools-and-colleges-to-get-weekly-coronavirus-testing

And the one from today about mass testing kids twice, two days apart. It’s two different announcements. The second one references the first one and says it’s in addition.

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Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 19:05

It’s annoying noel... Like a bloody jigsaw.
I just feel sorry for the HTs who have ‘finished’ for the holiday today and now have this to organise.
It’s never ending.
Our Government are clueless.

SantaAssociationRepresentitve · 17/12/2020 19:09

They are too incompetent to get a decent number of test kits out to all secondaries. I reckon they will send each secondary 50 tests and claim job done. There will be a photo of the Gavin Williamson idiot watching a child being test from a suitable distance

Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 19:17

Santa
You are right. It will not happen as ‘planned’ (or not planned...)

mrshoho · 17/12/2020 19:31

oh you bet @SantaAssociationRepresentitve. Can just imagine the balls up. "We underestimated the number of tests" "The bad weather" blahahblah

sarahC40 · 17/12/2020 19:34

We can’t get enough people to be paid as exam invigilators in a leafy suburb. God knows where these altruistic souls will flood in from.

ineedaholidaynow · 17/12/2020 20:02

Why couldn't they announce the 2 things together, it's like someone forgot to add a second paragraph to their announcement, which to be fair I wouldn't past them!

noelgiraffe · 17/12/2020 20:05

Because they’re making it up as they go along. The staggered start decision wasn’t made till lunchtime today and I suspect was in response to schools saying ‘when are we supposed to set up a covid testing centre, we break up tomorrow?’

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BungleandGeorge · 17/12/2020 20:11

@Piggyinblankets

DBS checks are not portable.
They are if you pay for the update service
ByersRd · 17/12/2020 20:13

Would happily volunteer and dbs checked. What’s the drama?

Great new @farfallarocks

I need 20 volunteers full time in one school. There are 92 maintained secondary schools, plus academies in my LA.

I hope you are bringing your friends to volunteer too?

And which role do you want? Admin to check I'd and permissions, admin to record the test, marshalling the queue, swab taker, cleaner...perhaps you could be in charge of clinical waste disposal or sitting with the children who test positive until their parents arrive....

Look forward to meeting you and your friends.

ByersRd · 17/12/2020 20:14

DfE daily update regarding this arrived at 18.20 tonight....

mrshoho · 17/12/2020 20:19

@ineedaholidaynow

Why couldn't they announce the 2 things together, it's like someone forgot to add a second paragraph to their announcement, which to be fair I wouldn't past them!
It's as though today's announcement of mass testing was rushed out because the one yesterday although hailed as mass testing was nothing of the sort. Clear and consise info as to be expected!
ByersRd · 17/12/2020 20:21

I just feel sorry for the HTs who have ‘finished’ for the holiday today and now have this to organise.
It’s never ending

HT's in my LA are not organising this over the holidays (too busy with track and trace and rearranging training due to the last minute changes around that too)
HT's will be involved in training from the 4th of January once the LA has had time and capacity (our staff during their Christmas break too) to put together guidance documents, health and safety advice and risk assessments. Safeguarding will have to be considered and policies followed around recruitment of volunteers. Volunteers to be found and trained.
Testing will not start anywhere close to the 4th, it's just not possible.

IloveJKRowling · 17/12/2020 20:22

I thought part of the point of needing schools open was that their parents needed to work. Well they can't volunteer to do this AND work at the same time.

And retired people (you know, those most at risk from covid) are hardly likely to volunteer. It's ridiculous.

Maybe the Serco shareholders could pitch in given how much of our taxpayer money they've pocketed.

MitziK · 17/12/2020 20:26

*DBS checks are not portable.

They are if you pay for the update service*

Not exactly. They're directly portable if you work within the same organisation, so if you work for a school run by the local authority, you can also work for another school run by the same local authority without having another DBS. But if it's academies, a different local authority, a different NHS trust, a different employer, etc, then it's another DBS application every time. Whether or not it covers exactly the same workforce/level of disclosure.

At one point, I had a volunteer one for my council for Adults, a Child standard, a Child Enhanced, an Adult Enhanced for one NHS Trust and another Adult Enhanced for another NHS Trust. All registered with the Update Service. DP has three running at present - one for the main job, one from the local authority from one school and one from a local college.

Registering for the Update Service does seem to make actually getting new ones quicker, however.

farfallarocks · 17/12/2020 20:41

Enhanced DBS is and last 3 years

Piggyinblankets · 17/12/2020 20:41

That isn't correct. See above.

I have tow separate Enhanced DBSs.

Piggyinblankets · 17/12/2020 20:42

two.

Whattimeisdinner · 17/12/2020 20:55

But if it's academies, a different local authority, a different NHS trust, a different employer, etc, then it's another DBS application every time. Whether or not it covers exactly the same workforce/level of disclosure.

Supply teachers can work across different areas, different authorities, different schools. A day here, a day there. They don’t need a new DBS for each school they work in.

ineedaholidaynow · 17/12/2020 21:00

For supply teachers is that because their DBS is registered with their agency ie their employer

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