Hand sanitizer will be supplied in communal areas for staff and visitors. All staff and visitors will be required to use sanitizer on entry to the building. If staff would like a supply on their desk they will be asked to bring their own small bottles and the firm will supply refills.

Notices are already in place – admin at each office to check. Practice Manager to ensure sufficient stock of hand soap, sanitizer and paper towels at each office.

Face coverings should be worn on entry to the office and whilst moving around the common areas in the office. Face coverings whilst at workstations is not required but staff may choose to

The use of phone, Teams and email are preferred methods of communication as an alternative to face to face staff contact where possible

Wall signs will be kept to remind people of best hygiene practices for colleagues and visitors

Where a fax machine is located in the reception area, staff must ask the receptionist to send the fax

Staff must limit any visit to Pershore reception. Anyone needing to see the receptionist must only stand in the door way or go to the waiting area where the screen is and keep their visit as short as possible. If you are leaving a fax to be sent, leave just inside the door

Opening doors and windows is encouraged for ventilation. Heating timers will be extended if needed to make this more comfortable for staff. CO2 monitors will be used to periodically assess ventilation in meeting rooms and areas of multiple occupancy each office. Following initial monitoring no areas of particular concern were identified

All staff members to ensure they comply

Practice Manager to organise CO2 monitors and readings

15.06.2020

01.10.2020

27.09.2021

Ongoing

Ongoing

Face coverings for visitors and staff will be required in reception and whilst moving around the office but are optional during meetings depending on the personal preferences of the individuals involved

Visitors wearing face coverings must be informed that they should be prepared to remove their face covering if asked to do so by staff for the purposes of identification

Receptionists and all staff to comply

15.06.2020

Ongoing

If working from home, the staff member conducting the meeting must arrive at the office in good time before the appointment time and be dressed appropriately

Visitors should be asked not to arrive at the office until the time of their appointment

The staff member who holds the meeting must ensure the wiping down of all surfaces and door handles within the meeting room after the visitors have left

There should be a 15 minute gap allowed between appointments to allow for cleaning of the meeting room and to avoid too many people in reception

Gap added 14.05.2021

Home owners should be encouraged to have windows open

Face coverings will be used on a voluntary basis based on the preferences of the people taking part

Staff member to ensure they sanitize on entry and exit of the home

Where possible, the same person/people should attend the same home to reduce risks

If a client is dropping ID to be copied they must be asked to wait to take the documents back with them, they may wait outside the building if they prefer. It should not be common practice to offer to post them back by Royal Mail Signed For or any other form of postage

Any client wishing to make a payment must be encouraged to do so using online banking or by phone. Clients will not be permitted entry to accounts in Tewkesbury to make a payment in person. If in another office they should be encouraged to telephone the Tewkesbury office to make payment when they return home instead of using an office phone

All staff to ensure they comply

15.06.2020

Ongoing

Any staff member who believes they have COVID-19 symptoms must not come into the office. They must book a PCR test and report to a Partner once they have received the results.

If a staff member tests positive on a lateral flow and has none of the main symptoms of COVID-19 they may not need to book a PCR test and must start their self-isolation period immediately. Staff should follow current government guidance to ascertain if they need a PCR as well. If after a positive lateral flow with no symptoms a staff member develops symptoms, they must restart their self-isolation period from the day after they develop symptoms

If they have been in recent contact with another who now shows symptoms (high temperature, new continuous cough or loss or change to sense of smell or taste) or have been advised to self-isolate as part of the government’s test and trace service must follow current government guidance regarding lateral flow tests and self-isolation.

If someone in a staff member’s household tests positive for COVID, the staff member must stay at home and contact a Partner of the firm to discuss requirements but should not attend the office for 5 days.

As for all absences staff must telephone the office on the first day of absence and speak with a Partner to discuss their situation

All staff to ensure they comply

Updated to attend office 14.05.2021

Ongoing

Tests are available to order online or collect at local collection points – ordering and finding your local collection point can be found here https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

If a staff member tests positive on a lateral flow test they must not attend the office. They must start their self-isolation period

If a member of staff does test positive on a lateral flow test they must inform a Partner immediately and discuss the option of working from home

Thomson & Bancks are obliged to report positive staff results to the Self-Isolation Service Hub supplying the 8-digit Test & Trace Account ID (or CTAS number) and a list of close contacts.

Staff to ensure they comply and do not attend an office if they receive a positive result

Practice Manager to send form to staff members who test positive to obtain this information & will then report