COVID-19 (Coronavirus) information

COVID-19 information

Page last updated: 3rd April 2020

Message from our Chief Operating Officer

During this challenging time, there is a need for us to change working practices in order to keep our children and staff safe. I need you to know that my number one priority is the safety of those children in our schools, children’s homes and fostering service. I understand that some of the changes to visiting protocols may be upsetting, please be rest assured that we will do all we can to ensure contact takes place, albeit at times using alternative media.

The senior team across our children’s services are committed to supporting our service through this difficult period. Every day we monitor each site to ensure that they have the correct supplies, children are feeling well and various quality aspects. We monitor for government guidance daily and enact it immediately. We have researched and implemented many innovative ways to deliver education in our schools and our children’s homes continue to amaze me with the creative activities they come up with in order to engage children. Our staff are certainly going the extra mile for which I am eternally grateful.

During these difficult times, it is important that we work together to combat this global pandemic. We must ensure that we keep communication lines open and support our children with both their physical and mental health. My team and I will do all we can to ensure that we support each Local Authority, parent, staff member but most importantly our children.

Chris Strong
Chief Operating Officer
Priory Education and Children’s Services

Information on visiting

We are currently implementing social distancing in our education and childcare settings, as advised by the government. All visits will be screened prior to taking place and prior contact must be made with the service to discuss any visits. Individual services will conduct their own risk assessments around visitors and visiting dependent upon the current presentation of staff and young people.

Referrals

Our usual practice of receiving and reviewing referrals will continue. We are committed to working closely with Local Authorities and families to ensure that children and young people have access to education and care. Our services have identified support in their regions for things such as staffing, resource, space if required, and key skills, through their continuity plans.

We understand that Local Authorities will continue to require services for individuals whose changing placement requirements may override the restriction of movement set out by the government. For example, this could include children and young people who may be facing a children’s home closure. We will therefore continue to accept and review these referrals on a case-by-case basis.

For those who will require a new placement but the referral is not urgent, please do send these through to us as normal. Due to the ‘stay at home’ agenda we are reviewing alternative ways in which we can offer assessments through Skype and other online communication platforms, as the three-week period of stay at home is concluded.

Admissions

In the event of a child or young person being referred who is self-isolating, or is confirmed as having COVID-19, we will continue to process this request as usual and seek to offer a placement, once they are cleared as fit to move location. Where a decision has been made to admit a child or young person, please be assured that a thorough pre-admission checklist, which will include robust risk assessment, will be completed. This screening and assessment will take into consideration all relevant factors, such as the location the young person is coming from, their current health, potential exposure to COVID-19 and the current status of the Priory service into which they will be moving. All risk assessments will be signed off by a member of the senior leadership team, who are taking every possible step to ensure the continued safety of all young people and staff within Priory Education and Children’s Services.

Discharges

It is important to us that Priory Education and Children’s Services is able to continue to support you and your service users during this time, and we commit to do all we can to ensure risks are managed and monitored, whilst continuing to facilitate placements, where all parties deem it safe. Discharges are not possible when a young person may be in isolation, we will work in partnership with the Local Authority to ensure support during this time.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Below you will find a helpful list of answers to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) we have been receiving at Priory Education and Children’s Services, regarding COVID-19.

We will be updating the information on a regular basis, therefore do revisit this website page. If you have any questions or specific placement enquiries, please do get in touch.

Q: What steps are your organisation taking to protect your staff and young people?
A: A full business continuity plan is in place for each service. The organisation is following all government/public health advice and communicating with parents/carers, young people and staff. The following immediate steps are in place:
- Hand washing routines
- Screening and managing reduction of visitors
- Cancelling of trips
- Avoiding unnecessary travel
Please also see the Priory blog which is updated on a regular basis, click here to view.
Q: How will your organisation respond if the estimated 30% of the workforce is affected by the virus?

A: Services are assessing staff absence, alongside pupil attendance and required staffing levels on a daily basis. We are taking decisions based on safety on at least a daily basis. As a large organisation, we have access to regional resources which we can access in relation to staff support, providing additional operational assurance and staff numbers.
Q: Are your employees able to access all of the necessary information and documents they need to work from home?

A: We operate through a virtual private network (VPN) and staff have access to this or are being given this as necessary. This is reviewed and actioned daily.
Q: Have you already postponed meetings, events or travel, and what impact has this had?

A: Meetings are being managed as conference calls. Trips are being cancelled for the foreseeable future, travel of staff and managers is being reduced, and all visitors are being screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and other health issues. Our business is large and flexible enough to accommodate the rapid changes being communicated and any impact is being mitigated as far as possible. Any serious impact will be communicated to our local authorities, if identified. We are minimising any impact on children and young people as a priority.
Q: How will you communicate with employees, customers and suppliers if you have to close your offices and premises, including satellite locations?

A: Senior staff are able to work from home and will be able to communicate via secure email to appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner.
Q: If your offices are closed, are you still able to collect payments and pay your bills?

A: Yes, business continuity plans have been put in place which will allow support functions, including sales ledger, accounts payable and payroll to work remotely.
Q: Have you contacted your critical suppliers to discuss their COVID-19 plans?

A: The supplier relationship is being closely managed through regular contact. Our suppliers have their own business continuity plans in place, which we are happy will mitigate any potential impact.
Q: Do you have alternate suppliers?

A: Yes, we have group preferred suppliers which we are liaising with, however we also have a wider supplier network who we have been in contact with to ensure contingency plans, if any issues are incurred.
Q: Are your services sustainable?

A: We are a large national organisation and benefit from the wider support and flexibility that this affords. We have a number of support services in our company which our services can draw upon in order to continue. Our services have identified support in their regions for things including staffing, resource, space if required, and key skills, through their continuity plans.
Q: Will you still be looking at referrals during this time?

A: Yes, our usual practice of receiving and reviewing referrals will continue. In the event of a young person being referred who is self-isolating or is confirmed as having COVID-19, we will continue to process this request as usual and seek to offer a placement, once the young person is cleared as fit to move location.