ACL Discover Magazine
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We hope you have all seen our new ACL Discover Magazine. We would really appreciate if you could like and share the Facebook post as well as share with any family & friends you think may enjoy it.
We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this edition. Please continue to send any content to be featured in the next addition to the Marketing team.
You can download the free magazine online – https://aclessex.com/acl-discover-magazine/
Covid-19 Testing for Adult Community Learning
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The Department of Education has now shared details on how Adult Learning providers will be able to access Covid-19 home testing for their staff and learners. They will be available to those who aren’t being tested under another cohort (for example a parent or carer of a school aged child).
Home testing kits will be ready for the start of the summer term (week beginning 12th April) and testing will be carried out twice weekly every 3/4 days. The first order for kits will be made 25th March and delivery will be sometime during the following week. Each pack contains 7 testing kits providing 3.5 weeks of testing.We will need to record who is receiving kits.
Those using the kits will need to register their result, whatever the result, on the NHS website – they will also need to inform ACL of the result.We are currently looking at ways in which we can best collect the test result data.
Home testing is NOT compulsory but highly recommended. We will be sharing guidance on how to use a home testing kit in the next day or two (this will also be on the ACL website for learners). Please ensure you check the ACL staff newsletter or your email for further update.
Communications will be sent out to all learners informing them that home testing will be available and what they will be required to do.
As and when we receive information, we will let you know. If you have any questions, please email Claire Maynard.
DBS checks
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The Update Service is an online subscription that allows you to keep your enhanced certificates up-to-date, and allows ACL to check a certificate online.
It is important that every member of staff renews their subscription to the update service each year. Failure to do this results in an additional cost and resource to ACL.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your subscription doesn’t lapse. If your subscription is allowed to lapse then your account held on the Update Service will be closed. You need to be aware of the date your DBS needs to be updated just as the MOT on your car would be.
Is this me?
This applies to you if have an enhanced check. You may have requested with DBS that the update is done automatically and the money is taken from your account automatically each year, however if the bank card you used has expired then you will need to contact them to change this. If you haven’t requested the subscription is renewed automatically then you will need to renew your DBS manually each year.
New staff When managers take on new staff please ensure you let Klaudia.Ratajczak@essex.gov.uk know immediately, so that compliance with DBS can be checked.
Wellbeing
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Now at last we are starting on our journey of returning to a bit of normality, we need to be aware of the impact this may have on both ourselves and others.
For some of us this may mean anxiety about Covid and adjusting to the changes, most of us have become accustomed to the routines we now have and may not be looking forward to a return to normal. We may have new positive changes in our lives and be afraid of losing them.
If you feel anxious it isn’t a sign of weakness, it is ok to have these feelings, please talk about it, don’t try to hide it.
Please be aware that others may not want to admit they are struggling, be aware of people’s body language and if they say they are alright and you are not convinced, ask again.
Have a look at the video and information on this site: Coronavirus: Are you feeling ‘post-lockdown anxiety’? | ITV News
The attached booklet ‘How to stay Calm in a Global Pandemic’ is also a really good read: click here to read.
UCU update from Ian Hyde
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Ian Hyde has recently taken up the role for of UCU Rep for ACL Essex.
UCU is the largest post-school union in the world. They cover universities, colleges, prisons, adult education and other post-16 training providers.
Ian Hyde, current ACL UCU Rep says “I am the first point of contact for members at ACL Essex, providing them with information and helping them to ask questions and raise concerns. I will also work with management to identify and resolve issues at a formative stage to reduce the impact on other staff and members. If you are not currently a UCU member and you are interested in joining then please contact me ian.hyde@essex.gov.uk”
Congratulations Ian!
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Congratulations to Ian Ellerton whose wife gave birth to a baby boy, Ethan, on Saturday 21st March. Mum, Dad and big sister Emily are all very happy and all are well.
Warm regards,
Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Katherine Burns, ACL Principal
Christian Norman, VP Curriculum & Learning
Teresa Ablewhite, VP Quality & Compliance
Claire Maynard, Business Operations Manager
Amanda Rawlings, Commercial Manager
If you have any feedback or queries relating to this email, please contact acl.internalcomms@essex.gov.uk
