Covid-19: Daily communications update 30.03.20, 16:46hrs

HR

As mentioned by Jeneva Allison in the all staff briefing earlier, please see information below on new Covid-19 staff terms and conditions published by the government.

Key highlights:

Pre-employment checks

We can accept scanned copies of documents for ID checks, right to work and DBS checks
Obtain at least one reference from the current or most recent employer
Fast track DBS against the children’s and adults barred list could be obtained within 24 hours
Working Time Regulations remains in force, but with local flexibility

Self-isolation

Staff who are sick and in self-isolation, due to Covid-19, will receive special leave with full pay
They will receive special leave (coded on ESR as Covid-19) and will not be deemed on medical suspension
This should have no impact on local policies, as it is a temporary national provision / entitlement
If staff self-isolate, but continue to work, then no record of sickness should be made
Agency workers and staff employed via a personal services company, who are going into self-isolation, will not be entitled to any pay from the NHS

Sick leave

Sec 14 of Agenda for Change (A4C), on sick pay, will be paused for the duration of the pandemic, for Covid-1
That means if someone is off due to Covid-19, they will continue to receive full-pay, irrespective of their sickness absence record
Covid-19 sickness; and Normal Sickness Absence are to be reported separately via ESR
Covid-19 sickness will not trigger normal sickness absence triggers
If someone is off-sick for other reasons, other than Covid-19, then A4C will apply, (bar half-pay and no-pay will be suspended)

Annual leave

Considered annual leave should continue, subject to operational requirements
Maintaining staff’s health and wellbeing remains paramount
Staff must have taken their statutory minimum of leave in each year, i.e. 20 days (or as close to this as is operationally and practically possible)
If staff have taken 28 days, (including bank holidays) consideration could be given to allow the selling of leave, that are over and above the 28 days
Staff can carryover annual leave into the next leave year, up to 2022

Maternity/shared parental/adoption leave

Staff can work up to 10 keeping in touch (KiT) days, without bringing their maternity or adoption leave to an end
Staff on shared parental leave can work up to 20 days ‘shared parental leave keeping in touch’ (SPLiT), without bringing their maternity or adoption leave to an end

Overtime

The Working Time Regulations (WRT) remains enforced, but with local flexibility
Senior managers should work to a rota to ensure they and their staff don’t burn-out
Overtime payments are in line with Sec 3 of Agenda for Change
Pay Bands 2 – 7 will be entitled to overtime payment
Pay Bands 8 and 9 will not be entitled to overtime payment (sec. 3.6)

Apprentices

To enable as many staff as possible to be deployed in supporting the Covid-19 challenge, the 20% for off-the-job training for apprentices is suspended
Staff can be deployed for this time and will not be disadvantaged in doing so on their qualifications

Pay progression

All the usual arrangements, i.e. appraisal, or mandatory training that would normally impact pay-progression has been paused
Pay progression will automatically occur for all staff, until further notice

Full details of the terms and conditions are available on the NHS Employers website.

In other HR news…

Buying and selling annual leave – new guidance and an application form are now available. You can download these from AskHUE under HR and Pay > HR A-Z policies and guidance (section B). You can also find them below:
- Buying and selling annual leave: guidance for managers and employees
- Buying and selling annual leave: application form
General HR queries – if you have a concern or question, please email the HR Advisory service mailbox
Recruitment queries – our Recruitment Advisor Claire Bushell is currently on leave until 14 April. For any recruitment specific queries, please contact Katie Jenkins (in Claire’s absence) on 07787 004463.
Annual leave and working patterns FAQs – in Friday’s update we shared some answers (from HR) in response to a number of queries about annual leave and working hours. In case you missed them, check out the frequently asked questions on AskHUE on this subject

Further advice and support

Please remember to visit:

AskHUE – for the latest advice and information for staff, including previous daily comms bulletins
Every Mind Matters has released expert advice and top tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing while you’re at home during the coronavirus outbreak. It also includes guidance if you’re feeling worried or anxious about the outbreak
NHS website – for information on the virus and how to prevent it spreading
GOV.UK website – for national advice, including full guidance on staying at home and away from others