Frequently asked questions for Trust staff

Please speak to your manager in the first instance.  We appreciate staff do not want to take all the leave they have booked when they cannot go away and if staff levels are depleted the Trust will appreciate staff cancelling their leave.

However, you may still need rest breaks during this difficult time to maintain your own physical and mental wellbeing keep them well.

During these exceptional circumstances, there may be instances where staff are asked to delay pre-booked leave in order to provide continuity of services for patients and support for other members of staff. In these particular circumstances, this position will need to be discussed with the individual in a sensitive manner.

We are aware staff will want to take a large proportion of leave in the later part of the year and that may not be possible due to service need and staffing levels.

The Trust will look at this situation at a more appropriate time to discuss a solution to make sure that you don’t lose out.

If you develop symptoms while on annual leave you should contact your manager immediately.

You can request that your leave is changed to special leave if you have a positive PCR test.

If you would like to volunteer to provide cover for a clinical role this will be managed by the bank office so you should contact them. Cover for non-clinical roles will be managed by HR through the talent pool.

For the talent pool we are working through a process with managers to identify whether staff are working in critical or non-critical roles. We are also asking managers to identify any non-clinical critical roles they have which require covering. We will look to redeploy staff where their work has either ceased or significantly reduced into critical roles to keep services operating.

This work is ongoing. If you are needed to work in another area, you will be contacted.

If you are interested in volunteering only please visit https://www.goodsamapp.org/nhs
or contact Jane Milner, head of Trust volunteering services.

We will continue to recruit clinical and essential staff during this period.

If you are isolating in line with the recommendations it is important that you do not suffer any detriment for doing the right thing.

You will therefore receive an average of your last 3 months salary for the period. This will include any enhancements/bank shifts and overtime worked in that period.

You should contact your manager and confirm that a member of your household has Covid symptoms and you are isolating for 10 days.

You and your household should book a PCR test and remain isolating until you have the test results.
You cannot come into to work if a member of your household tests positive for Covid-19.

If a member of your household tests positive for Covid you should work at home. If your role is one that cannot be undertaken at home the Trust will try to find meaningful work for the duration that you are unable to attend the workplace.

There is different advice from the Government for employees not employed by the NHS. As an NHS employee you cannot come into the workplace, you may socialise and are not required to isolate as per the advice below:

From 16 August, you will not be required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with Covid-19 and any of the following apply:
• you are fully vaccinated
• you are below the age of 18 years 6 months
• you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved Covid-19 vaccine trial
• you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Fully vaccinated means that you have been vaccinated with an MHRA approved Covid-19 vaccine in the UK, and at least 14 days have passed since you received the recommended doses of that vaccine.

You should contact your manager and confirm that you are self-isolating for 10 days.

You and your family should book a test and remain isolating until you have the test results. Should your family members test be negative you will be able to return to work prior to the expiry of the 10 day isolation.

If you can work from home, your manager will try to arrange the appropriate equipment to enable you to do so. In this case you will be classed as working but you will be paid your full normal pay.

If you are unable to work from home you will be placed on special leave for the period of isolation and paid your full normal pay.

This will include a 3 month average of any enhancements/bank shifts and overtime.

Please note that you will only be paid the above if you have a confirmed PCR test that is positive for Covid-19.

Please refer to the flow chart to check with the member of staff if they have the correct symptoms and need to isolate.

Discuss with the member of staff if they are able to undertake their role or any other role from home during this period.  Even if they are working at home you must report this on SharePoint under the ‘working at home’ category

If they cannot work from home follow the SharePoint guidance to report the member of staff on the SharePoint absence monitoring tool. If the member of staff is on E-rostering, report this as special leave.

Managers should ensure they record staff absence on SharePoint immediately.  This is to make sure that the member of staff and/or their family member are registered for testing purposes. Please also remember to put the correct absence end date.

Bank workers are an essential part of the NHS workforce.

The Trust is encouraging bank workers to book shifts in advance where possible.

If you need to isolate because you or one of your family has symptoms, you should contact the bank office who will go through the information with you. You will be paid your normal full pay including enhancements for any shifts that you have already pre-booked with the Trust. You must also get a PCR test.