As Government and Public Health restrictions continue to ease, the University will continue to follow the outlined University Route Map to support a gradual and safe return to more activity across our respective locations.

A suite of COVID-19 recovery guides is already in place to provide additional support and guidance to staff, managers and students.

The Scottish Government has now ‘paused’ shielding and has advised that those who were shielding can now return to work. Most roles will continue to work remotely for the time being however the University has created an additional individual COVID-19 risk assessment to support a safe return where required. This risk assessment is to be carried out as part of any return to campus conversation where an individual has been identified as being more vulnerable to COVID-19. This includes colleagues who were ‘shielding’ but also those otherwise identified as vulnerable as per the latest Public Health advice.

The risk assessment can be found in the Safety and Environmental Service COVID19 Resource Centre and should be used as part of the process outlined in the COVID-19 recovery guide for managers.

It is important that managers pay attention to the associated privacy notice and give due consideration to maintaining confidentiality in order to balance data minimisation with ensuring a safe and supported return to activities on campus. The risk assessment refers to a Scottish Government ‘Covid-age’ tool which may be used to inform the conversation but, if used, no personal information (e.g. medical condition) should be recorded on the risk assessment form (including within the free text box). It is also important when working in a mostly remote manner to continue to ensure that confidential conversations are carried out in an appropriate private manner and that the form is not retained for any longer than necessary to manage a safe return to campus.

 

First published: 13 August 2020

<< 14 August 2020