COVID-19 guidance for businesses

Please visit information on the Covid-19 guidance webpage which outlines current guidance and there is help and support if your business is affected by COVID-19 on www.gov.uk/coronavirus. We’ve also put together a Q&A sheet (254 KB) which we hope you find useful.

Lateral flow testing

Our local lateral flow testing scheme has now ended. Instead you can:

• buy your own tests and set up your own workplace testing
• pay an approved provider to provide tests or run a test site for you

Can workplaces still access free testing?

From 1 April, the Government no longer provides free universal symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public in England. However, you may be able to access free testing if your workplace is considered high risk (if you are high risk and haven’t been contacted about supply arrangements, please contact covidsupport4businesses@staffordshire.gov.uk

Is my workplace considered high risk?

The following high risk organisations will be contacted and supplied by the UKHSA:

• Prisons
• Immigration Reception Centers
• Other Places of Detention
• Domestic Abuse Refuges
• Homelessness Settings
• SEND Residential Schools when advised by Local Health Protection teams as part of an outbreak response

What to do if you have an outbreak

• There is no legal requirement to report workplace outbreaks of respiratory infections to your local public health team. However, if your business is experiencing a COVID outbreak, please complete the outbreak reporting form to access advice and support.

Staffordshire County Council’s Business CO₂ Monitor Scheme

The importance of workplace ventilation

Ventilation is one of the key areas to working safely guidance. Employers and businesses should continue identifying poorly ventilated spaces and take steps to improve fresh air flow. Not only is it the law to provide sufficient fresh air, but there is also increasing evidence of the importance of circulating fresh air in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Ventilation also helps with reducing transmission of other respiratory infections such as influenza, with some research showing that being in a room with fresh air can in some cases reduce the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19 by over 70%. There are also potential wider benefits of good ventilation, for health, concentration, and lower absence rates.

How do I check ventilation in my workplace?

Take advantage of our FREE CO₂ Monitor Loan Scheme, which can help you assess your ventilation and understand where you may need to take action to improve ventilation and air flow.

Our monitors are free to borrow and can provide awareness and information to act on and reassurance that you are doing everything you can in your workplace to reduce the spread of airborne virus including covid and flu.  

Please be assured your results are for you, we are not monitoring you and do not see or record your results, it’s up to you to follow the HSE guidance and determine what’s best for your situation.

To express your interest in the Staffordshire County Council* free loan of a CO₂ monitor please complete the following details:

*Please note this scheme is for businesses in Staffordshire (not including Stoke-on-Trent)

Improve you staff's health and wellbeing - Workplace Health Staffordshire

Please visit our Workplace Health pages for lots of advice and guidance that businesses can use to help improve their staff’s health and wellbeing.

We can offer:

• Healthy lifestyle support. Everyone Health Staffordshire can provide free NHS Health Checks for your staff. They can also support staff to stop smoking, lose weight and get more active. Restrictions apply.
• Access to free mental health training.
• Access to the ‘Thrive at Work’ Workplace Wellbeing Awards Programme, run by the WMCA.  Get business recognition for improving the health and wellbeing of your employees.
• Keep up to date with national and local campaigns, resources and guidance by signing up to the ‘Healthy Workplace’ newsletter.
• For more information, visit the Workplace Health Staffordshire webpages or email: WorkplaceHealth@staffordshire.gov.uk

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are very effective at preventing serious illness from COVID-19, flu and other diseases. Employers, in accordance with their existing legal obligations, may wish to consider how best to support and enable staff who wish to be vaccinated to get their vaccines when offered them.

Vaccination support  

First, second and booster doses are being offered across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Multiple clinics are opening to deliver vaccines in our area, with people able to choose to drop in or book an appointment either online or by calling NHS 119. 

There are a number of downloadable resources available which you may find helpful to start the conversation with your employees. This includes a vaccines Q&A document and expert advice videos to explain the vaccine and answer common questions employees may have.  

Please urge staff to be cautious of misinformation and encourage them to use trusted sources like the NHS website  if they are searching for information or answers to questions about the vaccine.   

There is also Acas advice on getting the coronavirus vaccine for work

Further information

If you have any questions or would like to talk through your options and gain some support, please email COVIDsupport4businesses@staffordshire.gov.uk or contact:  

• Diane Roberts: 07890 600414 
• Rebecca Wilson: 07855 336972 

We can offer signposting support for vaccinations and have links to various business support provision, such as grants and fully funded training (subject to eligibility) to help grow and diversify your business. Please visit Funding - Now's Your Time to Grow and Thrive - Staffordshire County Council for more information.