In these times of uncertainty, UKSA remains even more committed to inspiring and supporting children and young people to broaden their horizons through our life enhancing water-based adventures, education and training for careers at sea. However, It is also of paramount importance for us to ensure that all procedures are in place to protect the health and well-being of all of our customers and staff during this Covid-19 pandemic. We want to reassure you that we will continue to monitor and implement official guidance from the UK Government and the World Health Organisation carefully.
What we have in place to protect our people:
Covid-19 Induction programme
Pre-arrival testing for both staff and students
2 metre social distancing rules and site plan traffic flow
Sanitising stations at all locations across UKSA site
Distance seating in classrooms and offices
Dedicated reception and dining room queuing area
Staggered lunch breaks
Electrostatic disinfection of public areas
Increased and monitored cleaning processes across UKSA site
All equipment disinfected prior to and after use
Student and staff Bubbles of no more than twelve people
How our students and staff can work together to protect all visitors to UKSA:
Complete and return self-declaration before coming to site
Adhere to our COVID-19 testing programme
Frequent washing of hands or use of hand sanitiser provided
Remain with-in dedicated Bubble for the during of stay
Cross group meetings held via video conferencing
Covid-19 symptoms reported to UKSA manager, leaving site immediately, and reporting to 111 for NHS track and trace test
Face coverings to be worn in the classroom by instructors and students when closer than 1m during delivery
Stay in accommodation or off site unless it is essential not to do so
UKSA will expect students and staff to adhere to the Academy’s Social Distancing rules and to keep within their assigned Bubble. It is everyone’s responsibility to stay alert to this life-threatening infection. Everyone is responsible for taking safety measures seriously. Following government isolation guidelines if you develop COVID-19 symptoms, or are notified by NHS that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 you must act immediately. We urge you to take some time to review our policies below to ensure that you are informed of all our health and safety measures.
In order to protect health and safety of all of our customers and employees, the UKSA team have spent a considerable time working together to develop the following policies. Please take some time to review the individual policies below.
As part of our plan to reopen from the 1st March we have chosen to implement a COVID testing programme with the requirement for all staff and students to obtain a negative test prior to their arrival as well as weekly testing for students who are training at UKSA for more than seven days or students who are booked on to multiple consecutive courses.
Pre-arrival
As part of our commitment to keeping students and staff as safe as possible we have implemented a process of COVID testing.
We will be asking all students to obtain an NHS Lateral Flow test before their arrival at UKSA and provide evidence of their negative COVID test result. These can be obtained online from at the following link https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
The test should not be taken more than 72 hours before your arrival at UKSA. This will be the date you receive the result via text and email. It is important that you allow time to order and take the test. If the result is positive you would want to know this before you start your journey. Therefore, we recommend that you order your test kit now. Once you complete the test and register it on the NHS app you will receive the result confirmation text within 30 minutes. Once you have this result please email it to [email protected]
Testing whilst onsite
For students who are training at UKSA for more than seven days or students who are booked on to multiple consecutive courses you will be required to take at least one COVID lateral flow 15-minute test each week. Testing can play an important role in identifying asymptomatic transmission of COVID. All students will be informed of where and when their test will take place.
We will also immediately test anyone who displays symptoms of COVID. Isolation rooms will be available at UKSA for anyone who has tested positive. It is important that you understand if you have been told to self-isolate on our site for the 10-day period and this isolation takes you past the end of you scheduled training course you will be charged for any additional days you are staying within our accommodation.
Health and safety law require employers to do ‘what is reasonably practicable’ to protect their staff and members of the public. Please click the button below to download our Social Distancing for Students Risk Assessment.
A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually cough, it may be worse than usual)
A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if you develop symptoms of coronavirus
You should apply for a test as soon as possible if you have symptoms. Please also inform a UKSA member of staff.
You must self-isolate straight away for 10 days if you have coronavirus symptoms.
Staff who live in the same household as someone with coronavirus symptoms, must self-isolate straight away for 14 days.
Informing those you have had close contact with
If you develop symptoms, UKSA will inform those in your bubble that you might have coronavirus but are waiting for a test result. At this stage (until the test result is known), those people do not need to self-isolate, but they should take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene.
If you test negative
If you get a negative test result, this means you are at low risk of having coronavirus. Other members of your household can stop self-isolating. If you feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus, you can stop self-isolating.
If you test positive
If you get a positive test result, this means that when you took the test, you had coronavirus. You – and other members of your household or bubble must self-isolate. NHS Test and Trace will contact you and ask you to share information on those at home or in your bubble.
Close Contacts (at home or in bubble)
If you are identified by NHS Test and Trace as someone who has had close recent contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, you will be notified that you must self-isolate in line with medical advice. You must self-isolate for 14 days after you were in contact with the person who has tested positive for coronavirus.
A high temperature this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your
temperature)
A new, continuous cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually cough, it may be worse than usual)
A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if you develop symptoms of coronavirus
You should apply for a test as soon as possible if you have symptoms. Please also inform a UKSA member of staff.
You can register for a test on the NHS website www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus covid 19/testing and tracing/ or call NHS 119 to arrange for a test. NHS aims to provide results within 48 hours of taking a test, but some results may take longer.
When to self isolate
You must self isolate straight away for 10 days if you have coronavirus symptoms.
Staff who live in the same household as someone with coronavirus symptoms, must self isolate straight away for 10 days.
Informing those you have had close contact with
If you develop symptoms, UKSA will inform those in your bubble that you might have coronavirus but are waiting for a test result. At this stage (until the test result is known), those people do not need to self isolate , but they should take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene.
If you test negative
If you get a negative test result, this means you are at low risk of having coronavirus. Other members of your household can stop self isolating. If you feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus, you can stop self isolating.
If you test positive
If you get a positive test result, this means that when you took the test, you had coronavirus. You and other members of your household or bubble must self isolate. NHS Test and Trace will contact you and ask you to share information on those at home or in your bubble.
Close Contacts (at home or in bubble)
If you are identified by NHS Test and Trace as someone who has had close recent contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, you will be notified that you must self isolate in line with medical advice. You must self
We are delighted to announce that we have been accepted for the UK-wide ‘We’re good to go’ industry standard mark. This means UKSA is adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and have the required processes in place.
If you have any questions or need to get in touch:
How we’re keeping our students safe
