Date: 04th January 2022
For: Employees/volunteers, students, referrers, members

CV-19 Policy

Introduction

Ride High is committed to looking after the health and wellbeing of its employees, volunteers and members and adhering to the Government guidance related to Coronavirus. This policy sets out the measures we are implementing in order to adhere to the Government guidelines.

Definitions

Ride High, “RH”.

Ride High Equestrian Centre, “The RHEC” or “The Centre”.

The whole site comprising of 37 acres at Redland Drive, Loughton, Milton Keynes, including the Ride High Charity offices and garden, driveways, stable yard, car parks, residential accommodation and pastures.

Objectives

To adhere to Government guidelines to manage the risk of serious illness from the spread of COVID-19. Ride High operations, as detailed in this policy, are in line with the Governments’ response, moving away from stringent restrictions towards protection and targeted interventions that reduce risk.

1. The need for employees to come on site for work

The nature of the service provided by RH requires individuals to be on site. Employees will work from home whenever it is possible. In these instances, RH will provide online remote access to systems and relevant equipment.

RH will only bring back to work the employees required to safely operate the on-site charity provision and as the scale of activity increases the number of employees will increase to reflect the uplift in operations.

2. Protecting the people at higher risk

RH has identified those employees and members who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV). Those who are CEV are no longer advised to shield. Continued support is available to these workers and their individual needs and additional precautions as advised by their clinicians are accounted for in the risk assessment.

All CEV children and young people should attend their education setting unless they are one of the very small number of children and young people under paediatric or other specialist care who have been advised by their clinician or other specialist not to attend.

3. People who need to self-isolate

Any employee, volunteer or young person who needs to self-isolate will be advised to stay at home under the existing Government guidance and not to physically arrive on site. These include individuals with symptoms of COVID-19.

When to self-isolate

• Self-isolate straight away and get a PCR test (a test that is sent to the lab) on GOV.UK as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild
• tested positive for COVID-19 – this means you have the virus

In most cases, you’re not required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:

• you’re fully vaccinated
• you’re below the age of 18 years and 6 months
• you’ve taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• you’re not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons

Regardless of variant, if you are fully vaccinated and are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 you are required to lateral flow test for seven days. There is no longer a requirement for fully vaccinated people to self-isolate unless they have a positive test (LFD or PCR) or develop COVID-19 symptoms.

NHS Test and Trace will contact you to let you know that you have been identified as a contact and check whether you are legally required to self-isolate. If you’re not legally required to self-isolate, you will be provided with advice on testing and given guidance on preventing the spread of COVID-19. Even if you do not have symptoms, you will be advised to get a PCR test as soon as possible.

18 year olds will be treated in the same way as children until 6 months after their 18th birthday, to allow them the opportunity to get fully vaccinated. At which point, they will be subject to the same rules as adults and so if they choose not to get vaccinated, they will need to self-isolate if identified as a close contact.

Instead they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.

Any employee, volunteer or member aged over 18 years and 6 months who chooses not to get vaccinated, will need to self-isolate for 10 days if identified as a close contact.

Close contacts of a positive case who are not double-jabbed have to isolate for the full 10 days immediately.

The latest guidance from the Government will be adhered to, please refer to the links below:

4. Social distancing at work

Social distancing measures are no longer in place. However, all areas used by staff, volunteers and members will be well ventilated, in line with Government guidelines.

5. PPE related to COVID-19

All employees will be provided with a washable facemask and access to disposable face masks will be available if required. Gloves and aprons are available and extra hand sanitising stations in addition to the existing hand washing facilities already available.

The use of face coverings is no longer required in all circumstances except when travelling in one of the RH vehicles.

It is recommended that all people travelling on a Ride High vehicle should wear a face covering and that pupils in year 7 and above wear face coverings unless eating.

6. Managing Visitors

A record of all visitors will be held by RHEC reception. If a visitor is self-isolating or is exhibiting symptoms they will not be allowed on site.

7. Providing and Explaining Guidance

The risk assessment and policy are available on request by visitors. All employees will be given a copy of the COVID-19 Policy, Safeguarding Children Policy: COVID 19 Addendum and COIVD-19 Risk Assessment and asked to sign to say that it has been read and understood.

8. Cleaning the Workplace

Cleaning and hygiene controls are described in the COVID-19 risk assessment. The cleaning process will be displayed and monitored.

9. Handwashing and Hygiene

Soap is available in all handwashing facilities and additional hand sanitising areas have been set up. Signs to encourage good handwashing techniques, and the “catch it, kill it, bin it” posters are on display. Sufficient handwashing or hand sanitising facilities are available in each area used by staff or members. Enhanced cleaning of commonly used areas. Tissues are available in all areas used by members or staff. Bins are available for tissue waste; these are emptied daily.

10. Outbreak Management Plan

The outbreak management plan describes what RH would do if staff, volunteers or members test positive for COVID-19 and how the service would operate if advised to reintroduce measures to help break chains of transmission.

11. Approval and review

This COVID-19 Policy was approved by members of the Ride High Children’s Committee. It will be reviewed annually, or more frequently if appropriate.