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Our School Policy

 

PANDEMIC PLANNING

 

Western Heights Primary School

Henderson

 

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

 

 

HEALTH: PANDEMIC PROCEDURE

 

 

 

RATIONALE:

Western Heights Primary  has an agreed procedure to follow if ever a pandemic alert occurred.

 

WHY A NEED FOR A PANDEMMIC PROCEDURE?:

 

  • To ensure that as a community we have a pandemic plan in place as a component of our emergency planning.
  • To ensure that we maintain as full a service as possible for as long as possible during a pandemic emergency (consistent with State Services Commission Guidelines).
  • To considering alternative means of delivering education to their students (for example, distance learning options) during such an event.
  • To ensure that Western Heights Primary > Primary is part of New Zealand's National Health Emergency Plan to help prevent the influenza spreading. School closures aim to reduce close contact between children (children have been known to remain infectious for up to 21 days whereas the risk period is only eight days for adults).

Closures do not mean that facilities would be closed for quarantine. Staff may still go to work, work remotely, or carry out additional or alternative duties for their employer or another agency. Education facilities may be used for alternative purposes such as Community Based Assessment Centres (CBACs)[1].

  • To understand that a pandemic may come in several waves over a 6-8

     month period. At the peak of the worst pandemic wave, up to 50% of the

     workforce may be sick, looking after sick dependents, or carrying out  

     'alternative duties' in priority areas for their employer or another agency

     (such as health or welfare roles).



BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

 

  • It is not possible to predict how long a pandemic may last.
  • State sector employees will be paid their normal salary during a pandemic, provided, with their employer's pre-approval, they: come to work in their usual workplace (with rigorous personal hygiene, social distancing and cleaning regimes in place); work remotely (for example from home); carry out additional or alternative duties for their employer or another agency.
  • State sector employees will be paid their normal salary during a pandemic, provided, with their employer's pre-approval, they: come to work in their usual workplace (with rigorous personal hygiene, social distancing and cleaning regimes in place)
  • State sector employees will be expected to use their leave entitlements (sick, domestic, annual or other, with ability to anticipate some sick leave) if they are sick or looking after sick dependents during a pandemic emergency. An employee who contracts pandemic influenza may be sick for up to two weeks. When sick leave entitlements and advances are exhausted, State Services employers may provide additional paid special leave during Stages 2 and 3 of a pandemic but only where this will contribute to preventing the arrival or spread of a pandemic. For an approach to leave usage during a pandemic see the State Services Commission .

  • In the event of a pandemic or the possibility of a pandemic the principal (or his delegate) supported by the Senior leadership team and the BOT staff representative will manage the pandemic or likelihood of a pandemic. The Pandemic Management Team (PMT) will:DHB Helene May 0212489962 (Waitamata Health

Or Carol Thomas 021879361

*Under section 65E of the Education Act  the Board of Trustees can close the school.

Back ground: There are two likely reasons for a school to close:

•1.      A case is identified through processes set up by the Ministry of Health. If the student has been at school, you will be approached by the Medical Officer of Health.

•2.      You have reason to believe that you have a case in the school and you approach a medical officer.

 

•3.      Establish a system to monitor staff who are ill or suspected of being ill, including contacting staff who are unexpectedly absent from work: Has their doctor been notified of their illness? Have they been in contact with anyone? Dr: Medical Adviser Geraldine King 021419547

  • 4. Ensuring that Western Heights Primary School> has adequate supplies of tissues, medical and hygiene products, cleaning supplies and masks.
  • In the event of a pandemic or probability of a pandemic the school will liaise closely with the Public Health Nurse.

Communication with the school community

It is likely there will be anxiety during a pandemic and this is likely to contribute to increased absence and/or increased stress to the board of trustees, staff, parents/whānau and students. Accordingly we will:

  • Communicate early the possibility of a pandemic and Western Heights Primary preparedness to manage it - to your board, staff, students, parents and whānau. Ministry of Health influenza advice might be useful.
  • Discuss with staff possible health and safety issues, and leave arrangements for them if they are ill or need to look after dependents.
  • Have a comprehensive plan (will be developed by the PMT in consultation with the PHN) in place which is clearly communicated to your board, staff, students, parents and whānau. Ensure that communications management during the pandemic is part of the plan. It will be important to have systems in place to allow your school to communicate effectively in a pandemic.
  • Our comprehensive plan to communicate is to call our DHB Emergancy planner 0212489962 ( Helene) refer to relevant media the information required.( Radio has batteries.)Staff can be texted.
  • In activating our plan, we will provide clear, timely and pro-active communications to our board, staff, students, parents and whānau explaining how our school is handling the situation. Currently all staff and BOT members are linked electronically by text phone and email.
  • We have established a "communications tree" for our school to circulate important messages. We have considered how we will maintain communication with:
  • § board, staff, student, parents and whānau
  • § other schools in your area/cluster
  • § Local Waitakere Hospital through Operations mamger Helene May or Carol Thomas 09 8390000 ext 6078
  • § Staff have access to all their pupils contact numbers and hard copies of these are available in several areas of the school: Office and principals office.
Parents will be advised by the newsletter to refer to our school web site  for updated information


[1] In a pandemic emergency people with influenza symptoms will be encouraged to stay away from hospitals and doctors' surgeries, and to seek assistance at a Community Based Assessment Centre (CBAC). Some District Health Boards may consult with governors or proprietors of some education providers about using their facilities for this purpose.

 

 
 
 
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