COVID safety update from Southwark Council
Moving forward safely: four things to remember
Despite the success of the vaccination programme, the virus is not yet fully under control. It’s vital that you continue to follow the rules and guidance for working safely during COVID-19, to protect your employees and the public and to help limit the spread of the virus.
We hope that our summary in the last business update was useful and that you understand the key actions that businesses must now take. There’s quite a bit that businesses need to think about, but the four most important things to remember are:
Clean surfaces and fresh air – clean surfaces regularly and keep indoor areas well ventilated
Spacing and numbers – keep groups apart (2m, or 1m+ with mitigation if 2m isn’t possible) and manage numbers (groups of up to 6 or 2 households inside; groups of up to 30 outside)
Face coverings – remind staff and customers to wear their masks, where required
Test & Trace – if Test and Trace is required at your venue, make sure everyone aged 16 and over checks in
Don’t forget that we can help you make your business COVID-19 compliant through our COVID-19 compliant accreditation scheme.
A reminder of the COVID-19 testing options
If someone has symptoms
Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 must continue to book a PCR test through the NHS system, and follow the latest government guidance if they test positive.
If someone doesn’t have symptoms
See the government’s guidance on testing for the options available to those without symptoms, including home and workplace testing.
We are offering free, rapid COVID-19 tests in our large testing centres and have rolled out lateral flow testing in 10 community pharmacies across Southwark.
You can also book a lateral flow test directly at a mass testing site in one of our neighbouring boroughs: Lewisham, Greenwich, Bromley and Lambeth.
Use the NHS asymptomatic test site finder to find venues and businesses where you can pick up home testing kits.
Important:
Anyone testing at home must register their results online or by calling 119, and results must be reported every time a home testing kit is used.
Rapid lateral flow tests will detect most infections, but not all. Because a negative result could be a false negative, you are encouraged to have a test twice a week, to ensure more accurate results.
COVID-19 vaccine: don’t forget your second dose
It’s vital that people receive their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The first dose – which those 30 and over are now eligible for – should give good protection from COVID-19 from three or four weeks, but two doses of the vaccine give longer lasting protection.
Remind your staff to turn up when they’re called, and please be accommodating if an employee has to attend a vaccination clinic during working hours.
Thinking about mental health and wellbeing
We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health and wellbeing of many people. For some, levels of anxiety will have been heightened by concerns about their own safety and that of family and friends. Some people will have experienced loss and bereavement, and many people have experienced higher levels of isolation and loneliness.
There are things that you can do to support all your staff in taking care of their mental health. As an employer, you may have been concentrating on keeping your staff connected during lockdowns and offering remote support, but as workplaces reopen and people start to travel again, anxiety may increase for some.
If you are looking for reliable sources of information and support for your staff, the following links may be helpful:
Able Futures. A free, government-funded mental health support service, which employers can partner with to promote to their workforce.
Every mind matters. NHS service providing expert advice and practical tips, including on dealing with working from home and anxiety about lockdown lifting.
Qwell. An online and text counselling service for adults who are aged 26 and over.
Good thinking. General advice and resources, including free apps, videos, blogs and videos.
For more information, including how you can gain a London Healthy Workplace Award to demonstrate your commitment to health and wellbeing, contact Ginette.hogan@southwark.gov.uk.
Help us take the right steps to improve women's safety
Following the death of Sarah Everard, there has been a national outpouring of grief and discussions about women’s safety.
All women in Southwark have the right to feel safe. We want to hear the experiences of women in Southwark, to understand how safe they feel living, working and travelling through the borough. Understanding their experiences will help us take the right steps to improve the safety of all women in our borough.
Employees can give their views by completing this survey, which is being carried out by our safer communities team. It's completely confidential and takes about 15 minutes to complete. The survey closes Friday 25 June 2021.
Help us work to make Southwark a place to be proud of
This last year has been unprecedented in so many ways and the borough has been met with exceptional challenges. As we respond and recover, we want to continue to meet our commitments to make Southwark a place to be proud of.
Making private renting better is a priority for the council and we need your help to do this, by sharing your experiences of private renting. Residents, renters and landlords can visit the consultation page to get involved or tell us what’s happening in their area by visiting our Commonplace map.
Business support and opportunities
Not long left to join the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme
If you deferred VAT payments last year, between 20 March and 30 June 2020, you have until 21 June 2021 to join the VAT Deferral New Payment Scheme and spread the cost.
Businesses that join the scheme by 21 June 2021 will be able to pay their deferred VAT in 2 to 8 consecutive, interest-free instalments. Find out more and join today.
Small business sustainability hub launched
The Federation of Self Employed and Small Businesses (FSB) has launched a sustainability hub to help small business understand the role they can play in supporting the country to achieve its net zero ambitions.
The hub pulls together a range resources, tools and information to help small business prepare for changes to come, go green and be more sustainable.
No matter how small your business is, you have a part to play. Visit the hub today to find out what you can do to support the national effort.
London Business Hub’s COVID-19 Business Help Series
The London Business Hub is running two events in June as part of its COVID-19 Business Help Series. Both of the events are online and free to small and medium-sized enterprises based in London.
Grow Your People: Build a Successful Business. Thursday 10 June and Thursday 17 June 2021, 10am to 4:30pm. A two-day course about how to get the most out of your staff, from talent recruitment and retention, performance management to mentoring and more.
Raising Finance for SMEs. Thursday 24 June 2021, 10am to 4:30pm. Find out about what finance is available to your business and how to access it, including debt finance, equity, crowdfunding and grants.
Develop and grow your business idea with Hatch
Hatch, which helps entrepreneurs from underserved communities develop their business ideas into profitable and sustainable companies, is running a number of exciting programmes over the coming months, including:
New Founder Launchpad. June and September 2021 intakes. A selective six-week programme that aims to help entrepreneurs develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to get their businesses up and running. Cost: £50.
Impact incubator. 21 July to 8 December 2021. A programme of monthly workshops for entrepreneurs running an impactful business that they are looking to grow and expand. Cost: £150.
Contact us
Thank you for continuing to follow guidance. It’s vital we continue to follow the government guidelines as restrictions change. We are available to provide advice and information at SouthwarkBusinessDesk@southwark.gov.uk