The branch is happy to report that testing is now available via NHS Grampian at 4 sites for those identified by Aberdeenshire Council as a Key Worker (list below, being expanded regularly).
The testing will take place in a drive-thru format at Aberdeen Airport, ARI, Jubilee Hospital in Huntly and Linkswood Medical Practice in Elgin.
This is for key workers showing symptoms of Covid-19 and their families as appropriate.
If a key worker has symptoms of fever (≥37.8°C) or a new persistent cough and has to self-isolate for 7 days, then they can request to be tested. A negative test result for a key worker will allow them to return to work once they are well enough even if that is before 7 days
If a key worker is in household isolation for 14 days because they live with someone who has symptoms of fever (≥37.8°C) or a new persistent cough, then they can request a test be offered to their household member(s) with symptoms. A negative test result for a household member of a key worker will mean the 14-day household isolation period is lifted immediately and the employee can return to work.
Tests can be requested by completing this form and returning it to this email address.
Please be aware that the form cannot be accessed on a mobile phone that is not word enabled, it can only be accessed via a computer, laptop or tablet. If employees require assistance accessing the form they can contact Aberdeenshire Council’s Occupational Health Nurse derrick.strong@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or on 01467 533223 who can complete the form with them over the phone and submit on their behalf.
Results will be provided to the individual who has had the test via telephone call or text message. After submitting the form you should be contacted within 24 hours by NHS Grampian and should receive your test results 24 hours after having the test.
Employees must inform their line manager that they have requested a test and notify them of the outcome. Line Managers must update the employees record of absence on iTrent immediately when they are notified of the result by the employee.
Key Worker Guidance
Key worker posts are defined as posts providing essential services to support the vulnerable and aid community resilience, and who are required to be on the front line in order to perform their role. Other roles are essential, valued and important. The below provides clarity on testing for a number of roles that cannot be performed in other ways. This includes employees who have been mobilised into one of the posts or service areas outlined below. If you would like a role to be considered on this list, speak to your line managers for agreement then onwards through HR, via Glenda Gray.
Further information can be accessed on the council daily bulletins -15th April 2020
Category 1: Health and Care workers supporting critical primary and community care provision as well as staff providing childcare/learning for Category 1 staff.
Home Care
Care Home Staff: Managers, Assistant Managers, Care Assistants, Domestic Assistants
Teachers, PSAs (for Hubs)
Residential Child Care Officers (Children’s Homes)
Very Sheltered Housing: VSH Officers
Sheltered Housing provision of support
Cleansing Services staff supporting ECS and Category 1 establishments
Drivers supporting H&SCP and NHS
Homelessness: Hostel Assistants, Housing Officers
Category 2: Wider public service workers providing critical welfare services.
Social Workers
Family support Workers
Local Area Co-ordinators in Children’s Services
Social Care Officers
Respite Workers
Care Managers for Older People
Joint Equipment Centre (for equipment and support for elderly discharged from hospital)
Environmental Health
Housing staff providing essential visits and repairs
Category 3: All workers in the public sector where there would be a significant impact on Scotland if the work is not undertaken.
Waste Collection and Disposal: Technical, Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in Waste Collection and Waste Transfer activities
Street Cleansing: Supervisory and Operational Personnel involved in Litter Bin emptying
Winter Maintenance: Technical, Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in Winter Maintenance Operations
Emergency Road and Bridge Repairs: Technical, Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in the management and delivery of response to emergency defects across the road, bridge and lighting network
Quarry Service: Technical, Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in the production of road maintenance materials necessary for the response to emergency defects across the road and bridge network.
Burial Bookings: Personnel involved in the administrative booking of interments and lair sales
Interment Service: Technical personnel involved in lair identification. Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in lair opening and closing. Operational personnel involved in interment assistance to Funeral Directors.
Excess Death Management: Technical, Supervisory and Operational personnel involved in additional duties associated with the delivery of the Excess Death Operational Plan.
School Catering: Cooks, Assistant Cooks
Vehicle Maintenance including Vehicle/Fleet Management e.g. licence obligations, insurance, RFL
Property Maintenance: Engineering Team (Engineers dealing with reactive heating (failures, gas safety) and Energy Engineers dealing with building controls and financial payments to suppliers (energy suppliers), Cleaners (key properties)
Payroll: Payroll Supervisors, Payroll Assistants
Health & Wellbeing:
Procurement: Supplies critical to ongoing incident
Finance: Payments – to suppliers, pensions, adoption, fostering and kinship for children
ICT: Network connectivity and unified communications
Trading Standards
Animal Welfare
Teachers (not in Hubs)
Gypsy/Traveller Liaison Officer
Tenancy Services Housing Officers (essential support for vulnerable individuals, in rent arrears)
Registrars
Solicitors
Estates Manager and Area Teams – Making space available to critical services (e.g. PPE storage) and the voluntary sector (e.g. emergency foodbanks).
Estates Manager and other Estates officers (going forward) – Supporting tenants affected by the impact of Covid-19 to aid their survival.
Asset Management Team Leader – Managing the Council’s property resources to support critical services.
Essential Work
Employee relations guiding and supporting managers, employees and trade unions on matters connected with the critical incident.
Health & Safety related training to support people into critical roles at short notice.
Hosted Social Work services e.g. prisons, mental health, etc.
Looked After Children away from home.
Commercial Development Managers – Contributing to Essential Workstreams as team members.