Happy New Year everyone and welcome back to the Spring term.

I hope that despite the challenges, difficulties and changes in circumstance you all managed to enjoy the festive season to some extent. We return, again, facing a complex and uncertain situation that seems to change daily. The latest of those changes is that we have now been instructed to close schools to almost all children until February Half Term and then subsequent review. As advised by the government, we will do all we can to stay open for the children of critical workers (e.g. NHS staff, police, others in frontline services) and vulnerable children as previously identified. We know that we will work in this fashion for the next six weeks. Although the first few days of term will feel slightly alien, I know, from our experience last time, that we will quickly establish a new rhythm of working and sense of familiarity.

For those staff who are on-site we have updated our Toolkit and associated Risk Assessment to strengthen our approach to protecting colleagues and critical children and preventing the spread of infection. We have strong protective measures in place and by continuing to follow the ‘system of controls’ we are all doing our bit to keep safe and reduce the spread of infection.

Over coming weeks we will begin to plan and pilot Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing. This is likely to be a key control measure put in place by the government for schools to re-open in February and therefore we are keen to trial our systems and procedures in this regard. Once established this should build another layer of confidence for our school community in being safe in school.

Turning to other news across the Trust, we welcome Giles Freathy to the School Improvement Team for one day per week – thank you to the TLI for enabling his release. Giles will work across both primary and secondary phases as a Lead Practitioner for RE. I’m pleased to share below an organogram of the WeST Service Improvement Team including a bit of a who’s who:-

Best wishes

Rob Haring, CEO

Recruitment update:

We are delighted to inform you that there are a number of exciting career opportunities within our Trust:-

To assist with the roll out of mass Covid-19 LFD testing, WeST Core Services Team are looking to appoint the following:-

  • Team Leader – grade E (£12.45 to £14.02 per hour*/£24,012 to £27,041 per annum)
  • Coordinator – grade D (£10.41 to £11.50 per hour*/£20,092 to £22,183 per annum)
  • Registration Assistant/Testing Assistant/Test Processor/Results Recorder - grade C (£9.81 to £10.21 per hour*/£18,933 to £19,698 per annum)
  • Test Site Cleaner – grade B (£9.43 to £9.62 per hour*/ £18,198 to £18,562 per annum)
  • *An additional 12.07% holiday pay is added to the hourly rate of casual workers

Flexible working patterns and hours up to full time (37 hours per week). In addition, flexible locations across Westcountry Schools Trust at:

  • Callington Community College, Callington https://www.callingtoncc.net/
  • Coombe Dean School, Plymstock https://www.coombedean.co.uk/
  • Hele’s School, Plympton https://www.heles.plymouth.sch.uk/
  • Ivybridge Community College, Ivybridge https://www.ivybridge.devon.sch.uk/
  • Plymstock School, Plymstock https://plymstockschool.org.uk/
  • South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton https://www.southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk/

If you currently work part-time within WeST and would be interested in taking up additional hours, or work full-time and would be interested in a partial or full-time secondment into any of the above roles, please apply subject to your line manager’s approval. Full details on how to apply can be found here.

Callington Community College are looking to appoint an Assistant Principal - to help drive the development and delivery of a motivating and engaging curriculum and continually develop the quality of teaching and learning. Starting April 2020. For further details click here.

Plymstock School have a vacancy for a Designated Safeguarding Lead -required from February 2021. This is a permanent, full-time, all year round post – minimum 37 hours pw x 52 weeks pa (required to work such hours as necessary to meet the demands of the job). Annual leave in this role will normally be taken during school holidays. Please note that this is a support staff role, with no teaching load. Salary – Grade H - Plymouth SCP 30 – 34  £33,782 - £37,890. Closing Date: 9am –  this Friday 8 January 2021. For more information please visit the School's website here.

Oreston Primary Academy have a vacancy for a Temporary Catering Assistant (Maternity Cover) - required from 22nd February 2021. 25 hours per week, (Grade B) £18,562-£18,933 (actual salary £10,465.22 - £10,674.39). Hours:  Monday – Friday, 9.15am – 2.45pm (Term-time only). For more information please visit the School's website here.

There's only ONE You!

Making better choices today can have a big impact on your health. "One You" is aimed to help you get healthier and feel better with free tips, tools and support. Whether it's moving more, eating more healthily or checking yourself – One You can help you make small, practical changes that fit in with your life.

If you are interested in accessing their services, you may like to take part in the One You "How are You?" quiz available here. 

You can also access more advice and guidance via the NHS' Every Mind Matters website here .

Every Mind Matters has some great tips on managing your health and wellbeing alongside the day to day impact of Coronavirus. 

New to WeST?  If so, please see the article below on how to access the staff portal area of the website where you will find the latest information and staff policies and procedures......

National Lockdown – updated staff guidance and risk assessments

In response to the national lockdown, please find below updated guidance for staff on attendance at work and associated risk assessments.  Please note that only the introductory page of the individual risk assessments have been updated, not the risk assessments themselves.  If you are currently working under an up to date and relevant risk assessment there is no requirement to transfer this to the revised template until such time as your risk assessment is reviewed.

/_site/data/files/documents/5CACCC7AB62A0D011E49A41DA31E8EF7.pdf

/_site/data/files/documents/72F464478905DBBAD05E6A72F1CED088.docx

/_site/data/files/documents/4D98E73A06D85F7DD02358CF6AE6FCC7.docx

As a reminder and for those staff that maybe new to WeST, don’t forget you can reach out at any time to Able Futures, who deliver the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service. 

On the Able Futures website you can read helpful articles about things you can do to help if you are experiencing anxiety, stress, depression, grief or low mood in life and work during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

You can also find out more about how Able Futures is providing support from a mental health specialist via telephone or email at a time to suit you by visiting: www.able-futures.co.uk.

There’s no waiting list, so when you apply online or by calling 0800 321 3137 you’ll arrange a first appointment and have made a plan to help your mental health within 30 working days.

Able Futures can help you build resilience, tackle issues, feel better and learn new ways to manage your mental health throughout the ups and downs of life.