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Easy-to-follow guide for parent & carers on COVID-19 procedures for pupils

10 September 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Young People

To help reassure parents and carers who are concerned about what will happen if a pupil or student becomes unwell with COVID-19 at a school or college, Sefton Council has produced a new, easy-to-follow-chart, which maps the process.

Symptoms

It explains that if a pupil is ill with the symptoms of COVID-19 – a new, continuous cough or a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell – they must stay away from school or college.

Parents and cares should inform the school or college and book an appointment for a coronavirus test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus  or by calling 119.

The child should isolate for at least 10 days from when symptoms start and other members of the household including any brother and sisters should self-isolate for 14 days from when the symptoms began.

If the child is not showing coronavirus symptoms, parents and carers should follow the normal sickness procedure for the school or college.

Positive test result

The chart explains that if the child with COVID_19 symptoms receives a positive test result, they must continue to self-isolate for at least 10 days and their school or college should be informed immediately. After the 10 days are complete, if their symptoms are only the cough or loss of sense of smell or taste, they can go back. If they still have a high temperature, they should continue self-isolating until their temperature returns to normal. Other members of their household should continue self-isolating for the 14 days.

Negative test result

If the child with COVID_19 symptoms receives a negative test result, they can return to school or college and stop self-isolating when they are well and free from symptoms. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating too.

Becoming unwell while at school or college

If a pupil becomes unwell with COVID-19 symptoms at school or college, they will be sent home and should follow the ‘stay at home’ guidance for households with possible or confirmed ‘coronavirus infection’ along with other with members of their household.

While the pupil is awaiting collection, actions to improve ventilation and minimise contact will be taken and once they have been collected, staff will follow hand hygiene processes and will clean any affected area.

The school or college setting will inform parents, carers and pupils if additional actions are required.

When a pupil or staff member has tested positive, parents and carers will be informed about any actions required.

Testing positive after attending school or college

If a pupil or member of staff tests positive after attending school or college, parents and carers will be told if any additional actions are required.

If an outbreak is confirmed in a school, Public Health England advice will be followed. This may include larger numbers of pupils and staff members having to self-isolate.

Anyone who is contacted by Public Health England as a contact of a case, must self-isolate for 14 days even if receive a negative test result.

 

 

 

Show Your Support and Take a Road Safety Pledge

10 September 2020
John McCabe
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Your Sefton

Sefton Council are joining with Merseyside Road Safety Partnership to ask Sefton residents to show their support and take The Pledge.

As part of their on-going commitment to reducing the number of deaths on our roads, Merseyside Road Safety Partnership are asking everyone to join in and ‘take the pledge’ to be safer and more responsible road users. Whether you’re a driver, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian, we all must share the responsibility and do our bit to make our roads safer.

By signing up to the campaign residents will receive support in the form of tips and advice on how to maximise road safety efforts. all year round. They will also be updated with the latest initiatives, engineering solutions and enforcement activities as the Merseyside Road Safety partnership continues to work towards fewer road deaths each year.

By signing up, individuals will show that they are prepared to put the safety of themselves and others first and that when they undertake a journey, they do so with consideration and respect for everyone.

To sign The Pledge, and to read more about the work Merseyside Road Safety Partnership does, visit https://merseysideroadsafety.org/the-pledge-your-commitment-to-safer-roads-in-merseyside/

The Pledge

I will:

  • Consider the safety of others when I drive, walk or cycle
  • Drive at an appropriate speed (often slower than the speed limit) on the roads of Merseyside
  • Respect the presence of other, more vulnerable road users
  • Maintain a high driving standard to influence how others use the roads
  • Carry out regular checks on my vehicle, including tyres to ensure that my vehicle is safe and roadworthy
  • Through my actions, I will support the aims of the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership in making our roads safer for me, my family and others and reducing road casualties

Today’s World Suicide Prevention Day 2020 marked by release of updated Stay Alive app

10 September 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Today, Thursday 10 September, is the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s (IASP) World Suicide Prevention Day.

This year the Stay Alive app has been updated with changes to services in Sefton following the Coronavirus pandemic.

Sefton residents are being encouraged to download, use and share the Stay Alive app which is available free on iOS and Android devices.

The Stay Alive app, which was developed by charity Grassroots, is a pocket-sized suicide prevention resource that gives people the tools to start a conversation about mental health. The app is designed to help both those who are having suicidal thoughts and those who are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.

World Suicide Prevention Day marks the start of the Sefton In Mind campaign, aimed at improving mental health of all residents. Look out for the hashtag #SeftonInMind to find information about local support services over the next 30 days of the campaign.

It is also five years since the launch of the ‘NO MORE Suicide’ strategy across Cheshire & Merseyside. During that time, there have been many successes and steps forward in the work to ensure all can remain safe from suicide.

The NO MORE Suicide Partnership Board brings together representatives from sectors including emergency services, suicide prevention charities, mental health trusts, HM prisons, public health and more. Through the Board’s effective collaborative working, Cheshire & Merseyside has rolled out extensive measures to prevent suicide, ensure safer care within health and care services and provide support after suicide.

Suicide prevention community training has been delivered to 3,662 people from 2017-2019. The training was delivered to a targeted work force of non-mental health specialists who have regular contact with potentially vulnerable people such as taxi drivers and barbers and welfare workers.

Support after suicide service, Amparo, are now commissioned to deliver their liaison service to those who have been bereaved by suicide in all nine local authorities across Cheshire & Merseyside. In five years, Amparo have provided immediate and practical information and support to 4,800 people who have been bereaved by or exposed to suicide.

Street triage teams have been adopted across Cheshire & Merseyside through partnerships between Merseyside Police, Cheshire Police, British Transport Police, North West Ambulance service and local NHS providers. The teams are staffed by both emergency and mental health professionals who can advise, coordinate, and assess the response needed for mental health related emergency and crisis incidents.

These are just some examples of the work that has been carried out and is ongoing across Cheshire & Merseyside. It is this work and more which meant that in July 2020 Cheshire & Merseyside had confirmation that they had received the Suicide Safer Communities Award from Living Works in Canada – becoming the first sub-region in the UK to receive the award.

Margaret Jones, Sefton’s Director of Public Health said: “We are delighted to have received the Suicide Safer Community Award from Living Works, which symbolises the fantastic collaborative work that has been ongoing over the last five years in Cheshire & Merseyside.

“It is an even greater accolade to be the first sub-region to receive the award. This is evidence of the huge amount of hard work that goes into working together as system partners to deliver programmes over a larger footprint area.

“There is of course more to be done and we will continue to work towards our ambition of Cheshire & Merseyside being a zero-suicide area.”

Jane Lunt, interim chief nurse, NHS South Sefton and NHS Southport & Formby CCGs said: “Since its introduction we have been strong advocates of the NO MORE Suicide strategy and continue to support and interact with the services and organisations that ensure the care and safety of people around the issues of suicide and suicide prevention. The updated Stay Alive app is a welcome addition to our resources with a wealth of useful information to support anyone who may have suicidal thoughts and to keep them safe.”

“The experiences and challenges of the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic will have affected people in many different ways so it’s important that we use this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day to reinforce the message that there is support and advice for everyone.”

In addition to the Stay Alive app, a new 24/7 helpline – 0151 296 7200 – has been launched across Cheshire & Merseyside to help people struggling with their mental health.

People can contact:

Cheshire Wirral Partnership – Call 0800 145 6485 (For Adults and Children & Young People)

Mersey Care Mental Health Trust – Call 0151 296 7200 (Adults)

Alder Hey Crisis Care Team – Call 0151 293 3577 (For Children & Young People in Liverpool & Sefton)

North West Boroughs Healthcare Trust – Call 0800 051 1508 if you live in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington (For adults, children and young people)

Support is available from:

Samaritans – A safe place to talk 24 hours a day about whatever is troubling you Call 116 123

Papyrus – For Children and Young people under 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or anyone concerned that a young
Call 0800 068 41 41

Amparo – Support for anyone affected by a suicide
Call 0300 088 9255

 

 

 

 

Merseyside Collective Switch members save ÂŁ300 a year on energy bills

9 September 2020
John McCabe
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

In the last collective switching round, members of the Merseyside Collective Switch saved an average of ÂŁ300 a year by switching to a better energy tariff.

 The Merseyside Collective Switch has been running since 2013, and is one of the longest running Local Authority Collective Switches in the country. Together, we’ve helped local people save over £1.5 million on their energy bills.

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Action could be taken at COVID-denying business – update

8 September 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council

Update – Wednesday 9 September

Our Environmental Health Officers visited the premises concerned yesterday and also had a constructive meeting with the Salon’s owner this morning.

The poster has been taken down permanently we are satisfied that all the measures currently required for the safe operation of the premises are in place and will be holding ongoing discussions to ensure this remains the case.

Environmental Health officers were made aware that the business has been claiming in a poster that masks are not being worn at the salon despite rules requiring staff to wear surgical face masks and visors to limit the spread of the disease. The poster also denies the existence of COVID-19, which has been the cause of death for over 1,000 people in Merseyside hospitals, and bans mention of the pandemic.

Cllr Paulette Lappin Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “Once our Environmental Health team was made aware of this disappointing situation, we contacted the owner of the company and have arranged a visit today. We will be meeting with the owner on Wednesday morning.

“If the situation cannot be resolved satisfactorily during this meeting, and we are not satisfied that measures to keep customers and staff safe are in place, we will consider taking formal enforcement action.”

Merseyside Police officers will be attending the salon today to speak to the staff and owner to make sure they are aware of their responsibilities.

Sefton Council is reminding local businesses and their customers of the importance of following the Government’s COVID-19 guidance, which includes the distancing, cleaning and face-covering measures required to help keep clients and staff safe. For customers, this means following any of the measures in place for their protection and making sure they provide any Test and Trace information requested on arrival.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “As well as protecting individual businesses and their customers, these measures are there to support the whole economy by helping to reduce the possibility of a wider COVID-19 outbreak and the potential need to introduce local restrictions, which would have a negative effect on everyone.”

Sefton Community Policing Superintendent Graeme Robson said: “My officers will be visiting the salon to speak to the staff and manager and reminding them of their continued responsibilities around Covid-19 and the safety and wellbeing of their staff and customers.

“We will also be linking in with colleagues in the Environmental Health team at Sefton Council.

“We continue to remind the public and our local businesses that they should be continuing to follow the current Government guidance around social distancing, face coverings and Test and Trace.”

Sefton Council’s Environmental Health team has been working with businesses across the Borough to help them put in place the measures needed to keep employees and customers safe.

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