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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/

OP posts:
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8
mrshoho · 18/12/2020 09:06

@Piggyinblankets

When you don't have a DBS you have to be accompanied everywhere by someone who does.
Exactly piggy! So to say they will be supervised will mean that a member of school staff will need to be there at all times. It's all very well to say they will be supervised but it's another thing altogether for schools to ensure it is.
Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 09:12

If a person will be 'supervised' that does rather suggest that staff time , contrary to what Gibb said, will be given over to the administering of the process. Non DBS holders are not even allowed to go to the toilet unsupervised.

Piggyinblankets · 18/12/2020 09:13

When we have jabs , for example, (obvs the nurses have full DBS) we still have at least two school staff present to wrangle the kids.

MarshaBradyo · 18/12/2020 09:14

Yes there will need to be a DBS person probably school. But at least if you have five more they are helping.

RedToothBrush · 18/12/2020 09:14

Given that testing has to have parental consent I'm really not sure how this is going to work out.

The local high school has run a trial of testing for two year groups (it took a day each to do). There were about a 1/3 who didn't take part in it and thats in a good area (you can reasonably expect take up in less affluent areas to be lower).

Now the government could make it a condition of going to school that you must have a test. However that raises huge ethical questions and politically is a none viable solution. Parents won't tolerate it. Many can't afford to. And you get massive safeguarding issues. That may not stop the government trying it and seeing how the public react but if they do test the water in this way they are going to get a huge kickback.

So testing is never going to solve the problem. It cant replace the isolation / bubble closure method simply because not everyone will be tested.

So the schools will be taking on the logistics and stress of testing, with minimal actual benefit in most cases. And if there is a positive the prospect of more online teaching for everyone anyway.

It may reduce cases in the community but we have zero evidence whatsoever it will. We have the Liverpool example being held up but that wasn't the first trial of mass testing (the previous two were abandoned and the government pretty much said they just didn't like and agree with the Salford results) and Liverpool may just reflect a restrictions working. A trial in Merthyr hasn't exactly had glowing results (cases are still going up three weeks later).

The fact the instant tests are so unreliable means its entirely possible that they are worse than useless. And we are about to get teachers who have been pushed to their limits to take on this burden of a social and medical experience.

Achristmaspudsskidu · 18/12/2020 09:17

The thing with volunteers is that they would need to commit to doing it and be reliable and available at the last minute.

Things like this are going to require unknown numbers of children to be tested at a moment’s notice. Then maybe suddenly this will increase to many more pupils overnight. Where would these extra volunteers come from?

Round here schools went very quickly from having just a few cases in each school, to loads of cases in loads of year groups in loads of schools. That would need a huge numbers of volunteers at very short notice.

Perhaps MPs can step up? LA workers who are all WFH?

Where will all the pupils and teachers wait whilst the results are being done? All together in the hall-can’t see any problems with that!!

I think that if close contacts with positive cases will be sent home to isolate in all other sectors-offices or hospitals, for example, then that’s what should continue to happen in schools until a better plan is made.

Achristmaspudsskidu · 18/12/2020 09:39

Now the government could make it a condition of going to school that you must have a test. However that raises huge ethical questions and politically is a none viable solution. Parents won't tolerate it. Many can't afford to. And you get massive safeguarding issues. That may not stop the government trying it and seeing how the public react but if they do test the water in this way they are going to get a huge kickback.

Exactly. The admin involved here is going to be immense.

So, the school are informed about a positive case at 11am and staff identify 25 close contacts shortly after. What happens? Normally they’d all be sent home. Under this plan, do they just carry on, the school inform parents and say they’ll test them the next day? So they are told they are contacts but they can carry on sitting in all their lessons that day next to all of the children who weren’t deemed close contacts. Everyone knows. Mixing at lunch, train home etc

What if one of the close contacts is Billy. Billy’s mum doesn’t send in consent for testing but puts him on the bus to school the next day anyway. What happens with him the next morning? What if there are 5/10 other kids in that situation? Where do you actually put these kids that still turn up, with no consent. You could find someone to ring home...no answer.

What if that morning, the 40 kids who are close contacts turn up in the hall and 5 of them plus 3 teachers test positive when the results are in at 9.30.

Those teachers obviously have to go home, but who the hell can teach all their day’s classes at that time? If they’d been sent home at 11am the day before, cover could have been found and work set. Staff now have to spend the morning locating all the close contacts at of these 5 new children. Oh, there are a lot more close contacts today-they are in loads of different lessons... Now we have all of yesterday’s close contacts to test plus another 100! That’s a lot of calls to make/emails to send/volunteers to find/teachers to tell. Meanwhile Billy and 5 others who didn’t sign consent forms are still hanging around somewhere. Oh, Billy’s mate now has a temperature and his mum isn’t answering the phone.

Rinse and repeat?

Whattimeisdinner · 18/12/2020 09:45

Has this disappeared from the news this morning or am I just not looking in the right place...?

Yummyoldbag · 18/12/2020 09:50

There will be agency staff, all organised and ready (and willing) to test, under supervision. So, all my teacher colleagues, you can stop worrying and have a merry little Christmas.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/18/teachers-covid-testing-english-schools-nick-gibb

How to move from the sublime to ridiculous in the space of hours. I KNOW it is a pandemic but am shocked at the public lack of forethought and planning that has gone into this. Why could they not just speak to a few teachers?

Whattimeisdinner · 18/12/2020 09:52

Yummy
It will run like clockwork. 🤪

ineedaholidaynow · 18/12/2020 09:53

How many tests are schools being provided with? You need to be able to act immediately once you are informed of a positive test result. Volunteers need to be available at all times.

MitziK · 18/12/2020 09:53

@PrivateD00r

Oh, one more thing; I am currently doing a PHd part time and have had communication from the uni that no one can be onsite in January until 2 negative lateral test results are obtained, between 3 and 7 days apart...... has someone decided that 50% accuracy means that two tests = 100% accuracy? Blush
Yay. 50% chance of getting a negative once if they have it. 25% chance of getting two negatives if they have it.

How marvellous.

Achristmaspudsskidu · 18/12/2020 10:04

[quote Whattimeisdinner]Ooh look! The jobs are being advertised already!

www.google.co.uk/search?q=jobs+testing+in+schools&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#fpstate=tldetail&htidocid=cxgBwSaXSpgFtoLAAAAAAA%3D%3D&htiq=jobs%20testing%20in%20schools&htivrt=jobs[/quote]
Who wrote that advert?!

Successful candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS and barred list check. (This might not be a thing if schools were to have one of their staff members present)

I’ve never seen a job advert with something like ‘this might not be a thing’ included in it!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 18/12/2020 10:13

The link just takes me to an empty page....

MarieG10 · 18/12/2020 10:13

Our local authority has stepped in and is going to manage it all. They recognise the impossibility of recruiting and employing staff over xmas and then running this first week of January.

Ludicrous

Achristmaspudsskidu · 18/12/2020 10:14

@MarieG10

Our local authority has stepped in and is going to manage it all. They recognise the impossibility of recruiting and employing staff over xmas and then running this first week of January.

Ludicrous

Some sensible news! Whereabouts is that in the country?
Judashascomeintosomemoney · 18/12/2020 10:16

I’ve never seen a job advert with something like ‘this might not be a thing’ included in it!
Indeed. And in any case it’s wrong. It’s irrelevant whether a staff member is present or not. It’s a regulated activity in a specified establishment (ie a school). The safeguarding requirements are quite clear. So these people either don’t know the law or they’re trying to swerve it (wouldn’t be surprised if that’s with the help of the government ‘relaxing’ safeguarding rules to make sure the process isn’t held up by all those dbs checks that would otherwise be required)

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 18/12/2020 10:52

(Posted link on the other thread too)
So that Guardian piece says paraphrasing ‘teachers won’t be doing it they’ve got a job already’ but then says ‘volunteers won’t need dbs checks because they’ll be supervised. Supervised by whom, Nick???
(And btw Nick carrying out a regulated activity in a specified establishment still requires a dbs check even if there is a supervisor present. But hey, safeguarding kids isn’t important is it?)

FiggyPuddingFiend · 18/12/2020 10:53

A school is a regulated workplace, therefore those working in a school who may come into contact with children must have an enhanced DBS (this includes admin staff, cleaners, caretakers etc). So anyone paid to be a covid tester will need a DBS whether they are supervised or not. A closely supervised volunteer potentially doesn't need a DBS, however they do need to be supervised by someone who has one at all times. So not really practical, you may as well get the DBS checked person to do the covid testing...

FiggyPuddingFiend · 18/12/2020 10:55

If the volunteer was to be doing a regulated activity, such as carrying out the tests (regulated under healthcare/medical), then they would need a DBS regardless.

FiggyPuddingFiend · 18/12/2020 10:58

From this I think:

  1. If you are paying them - they need a DBS
  2. If they are performing the tests on children - they need a DBS
  3. If they are a volunteer in a different role, cleaning the bays, admin, processing results - they need to be supervised by someone with a DBS at all times
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