HCB STATEMENT & ACTION ON COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) June 2020
HCB’s small office-based team continue to undertake work from home, however we are starting a gradual opening of our main office to a small amount of team members, as allowed by our internal risk assessment and the provision of appropriate PPE. Whether in the office or remaining at home all staff continue to follow advice to prevent the spread of Covid-19 including frequent hand washing and self-isolating within the home should they show any symptoms of the virus.
We are mindful of the Government’s recent changes to lockdown restriction and the move to ‘Phase 2’ which does allow for some non-essential contact. Having reviewed the available guidance and completed all necessary steps we are able to share this update. From 1st July 2020 HCB Initial assessments will still be telephone/virtual in the first instance and this will remain the case until such a time as general loosening of restrictions on all non-essential contact has occurred. If following this assessment or during initial discussion with the client or person being assessed, it becomes clear that an assessment in person is justified the following steps have been agreed:
- Benefits of a face to face assessment must be considered to outweigh the risks of possible infection transmission.
- Agreement in principle with the Client for this assessment to go ahead must be received before any further discussion with the person being assessed.
- Screening questions for covid-19 will be completed before any further steps are taken.
- Fully informed consent of the infection transmission, risks, and implications there of as well as steps HCB has taken to limit these (inclusion provision of PPE) must be clearly set out and documented in the case manager’s report and/or client records
- HCB have a full, documented, and up-to-date risk assessment for all client facing work in place and individual risk assessments will be undertaken and documented before any face to face assessment is completed.
- Only the person being assessed can be present for the duration of the appointment.
- HCB infection control policy has been updated to include PHE covid-19 guidance.