The government wants YOU to volunteer as a school covid tester

[noelgiraffe]

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/

It will involve contact and an invasive medical test so yes dbs will be necessary. I’d agree to do this to my own child each morning (before they got on school transport and arrived at school potentially infectious). Otherwise the whole thing sounds ridiculous and poorly thought out. If they’d managed to get the saliva tests sorted out perhaps it would have been more do-able but still doesn’t solve the problem that you’re allowing children who may well be infectious to turn up at school.

It’s not exactly brain surgery, it’s nasal swabs that parents have been doing to their own kids since the beginning. Why can’t Kevin’s mum volunteer?

It’s a bit different when it’s your own kids though isn’t it?

Is Kevin’s mum happy to wrangle a crowd of strange teens and stick something up their noses?

I’m happy to teach them solving quadratic equations but yeah, wouldn’t be happy with Nose Duty.

If your complaint is it’s not an appropriate use of very scarce teacher time, I’d agree with you entirely. Nor do I think it’s something teachers should be asked to do if they’re unwilling- it’s not exactly in the job description. If your complaint is schools should be getting a lot more money during these times I’d agree with you (although the comparison to a private company is bizarre).

But sneering about “parent volunteers who’ve watched a video” just seems unnecessary - what kind of qualifications do you want them to have? If it was “staffed by Serco in a portacabin” or “staffed by JVT himself in a state of the art operating theatre” do you think you’d get different test results?

[quote noelgiraffe]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/[/quote]
Actually I wouldn't have a problem with volunteering. I have had the virus don't believe most people can get it a second time (there are always exceptions), fit healthy and not afraid to help out.

However I don't believe anyone except for medical professionals should administer these tests on children.

If the teenagers as self administering fair enough. I would supervise ideally whilst social distancing in gloves and a mask.

The question of whether the tests are accurate enough and whether this is a replacement for isolating properly is an issue.

But sneering about “parent volunteers who’ve watched a video” just seems unnecessary - what kind of qualifications do you want them to have?

You know you get those parents who volunteer to help out on a school trip and then at the end of the day they’re like ‘fucking hell, I’m knackered, how on earth do you do this?’

I suspect that people who are saying ‘yeah, this is fine’ would have no idea what they’re signing up to.

@Theotherrudolph

“World beating test and trace system, staffed by Kevin’s mum in what used to be the hall.”

It’s not exactly brain surgery, it’s nasal swabs that parents have been doing to their own kids since the beginning. Why can’t Kevin’s mum volunteer? If it was staffed by highly qualified nurses would that somehow make it “world beating”?

A childs nasal mucosa is quite delicate, what happens when Kevin’s mum accidentally causes a nosebleed. Does she have medical training? Insurance? What happens when she’s covered in potentially infectious bodily fluids? What happens if child has HIV? Yes it’s an extreme but there is a reason why people doing medical procedures are generally medically trained and insured. Or Kevin’s mum won’t want to hurt or injure anyone and will gingerly swab in a way that’s not going to pick up covid. If you go to the test centre and have the swabs done for you they’re certainly not gentle

this fucking farce is going to go on well into next year isnt it? While they move the goalposts yet again by trying to convince us to do Christmas next June.

@noelgiraffe

But sneering about “parent volunteers who’ve watched a video” just seems unnecessary - what kind of qualifications do you want them to have?

You know you get those parents who volunteer to help out on a school trip and then at the end of the day they’re like ‘fucking hell, I’m knackered, how on earth do you do this?’

I suspect that people who are saying ‘yeah, this is fine’ would have no idea what they’re signing up to.

I have worked in a secondary before and done a lot of work with childrens charities. So you can't write off everyone that volunteers some may very well know what ot would take.

What could go wrong if I volunteer? Teenagers are well known to adhere to rules, especially in groups and even easier if you don't know them well.

They will be cooperative, completely unaware I'm just a volunteer random with no real authority I'm sure. Show those teachers how it's done.

I will sadly have to give this opportunity a miss.

@MercyBooth

this fucking farce is going to go on well into next year isnt it? While they move the goalposts yet again by trying to convince us to do Christmas next June.

Yep

@ByersRd

I was a teacher, I can stick an eppi-pen in an orange....does that mean I can volunteer...😂

Nah, under this government that probably means you’re over qualified.

I don't understand the sneering either.

I've worked on a study for a university before and have been trained in how to take cell samples accurately. Plus H&s and First responder training.

I'd volunteer if it meant helping to keep my ds's school open.

But sneering about “parent volunteers who’ve watched a video” just seems unnecessary - what kind of qualifications do you want them to have? If it was “staffed by Serco in a portacabin” or “staffed by JVT himself in a state of the art operating theatre” do you think you’d get different test result

The sneering is not at those who would volunteer, but that the government thinks any one will do when it comes to schools, as evidence by past form:

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/8156907/Education-reform-ex-army-officers-to-be-fast-tracked-into-teaching-jobs.html

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/1906038.stml

Oh and if the shit hits the fan who will those volunteers run to? Not Ghostbusters.

But there are people in the community who will help and have the training. I was chatting to someone today, 28 years a nurse, srn, rscn, ICU trained, currently on furlough from a cruise line. Willing to help.

We're in a pandemic, the NHS is flat out, do you imagine the govt can magic staff out of nowhere. The point is, school networks can find people locally that central govt can't.

When I had a test a few weeks ago the test centre (taking up about half of the Council offices car park) was fully staffed but deserted in terms of patients, and apparently had been very quiet all day. About half a mile up the road is the local secondary school.
I thought at the time it would be relatively easy to walk students down in, say, tutor groups. They’d have to do their own tests but really it’s not difficult. Or perhaps they could have moved the test centre to the school car park. In fact, why on Earth didn’t they set up test centres in schools in September? Oh I forgot. Schools are magically safe, children don’t get the virus and if they do, they don’t spread it as per government magical thinking.
This “plan” has the potential to backfire in so many ways.

@noelgiraffe

World beating test and trace system, staffed by Kevin’s mum in what used to be the hall.

I actually burst out laughing at this - which is not good as it’s 4.47 and I’ve just woken DH up.

I would be shocked at the incredulity of it all if I wasn’t so disheartened after an exhausting term and then reading the Guardian article yesterday that acknowledged my region had 32% attendance the same week in Nov that South end on sea had 92%. Yup, that’ll be fair next year.

Sorry but what to people actually expect?
The NHS is already cracking. Want to pull medical personnel out of hospital to pop a cotton bud up your PFB nose?

I will volunteer because we need this to happen. Rather just sit back rubbing my hands in glee at them struggling to get the testing off the ground.
I am medically trained but I would have volunteered even if I wasn't.

We’re not allowed to remove splinters from children, but we are allowed to stick wooden sticks up their noses?

That makes sense...

@Carrotcakeforbreakfast

Sorry but what to people actually expect? The NHS is already cracking. Want to pull medical personnel out of hospital to pop a cotton bud up your PFB nose?

I will volunteer because we need this to happen. Rather just sit back rubbing my hands in glee at them struggling to get the testing off the ground.
I am medically trained but I would have volunteered even if I wasn't.

As a parent I will not be allowing a non-medically trainee volunteer to administer a test on m children, especially not my ASD DS.

As a teacher I will not be placing myself in a vulnerable position either.

(What I mean by vulnerable is opening myself up to accidentally hurting children - I’m obviously already vulnerable to catching the virus)

Presumably he volunteer parent will be within 2m of every single child in that year/group...?

I havent had to have my autistic daughter tested yet. No way would she let staff do it.

I wonder if people thinking its fine have ever worked in a school....

I don't want a random volunteer doing this to my children. Presumably parents will have to consent?

No offence OP but someone's got to do it.

Who do you suggest?

I had a covid test and it felt like they were swabbing my brain. I cant imagine trying to do that to a child.
What age is this half baked scheme going to be aimed at? 4 years+?

Will there be actual medical trained staff on site incase something goes wrong or just to make sure they are swabbing correctly. No point in doing all these tests if they are being done incorrectly.

I notice that the schools are being asked to pay for people to do it. I’m also assuming that no additional funds will be being made available from the government to pay for this.

I cant see people doing this to teenager boys who are bigger than them easily.

The kids aren't going to agree.
These tests aren't reliavle. So my fear at testing instead of isolating is its a scam to make attendance figures look better.

I'm cv and I want to know if covid is in the classroom. And I want to keep my child home if it is. I hate that they're possibiy only telling those who are close contacts rather than bubbles.

I think if this is their solution ti the high spread in schools ...it may not work.