Transparency data

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – SLC COVID-19 risk assessment

Published 26 January 2021

Updated 26 January 2021

SLC is a non-departmental public body and company and therefore complies with information and guidance provided by the UK Government and Devolved Administrations. Our focus throughout the pandemic has been to ensure:

• the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues
• continuity of our core services to students, higher and further education providers and for customers in repayment
• that we play our part in containing the spread of coronavirus

Throughout the pandemic the provision of core services has continued despite a temporary cessation of contact centre services between 23 March and 6 April, while we made changes to our operational model to enable SLC employees to work from home.

The majority of SLC staff (approximately 90%) are enabled to work from home. These colleagues are supported by a small ‘Minimum Essential Team’ of critical core office-based workers whose roles are essential to the delivery of student finance services and cannot be delivered at home. We have undertaken a risk assessment to identify the actions required to protect and support our colleagues and the effectiveness of these is under continual review.

0.1 COVID -19 security for those at home:

• We have supplied equipment and technology and will continue to do so to allow home working to be sustainable. Likewise, SLC is supporting healthy home-working practices through guidance documents such as the COVID-19 Working Arrangements Policy and also practical input. Colleagues have been and are continuing to be supported to develop a safe, healthy and secure ‘home working station’.
• We have created SLC@Home which is a learning resource full of standards, tools and guidance to provide support for colleagues and their managers. This is available through the ‘i-connect’ intranet system.
• Created a separate ‘Touchdown Space’ which supports colleagues who cannot work from home due to technical or wellbeing issues.

0.2 COVID-19 security for those in the office:

• An SLC track and trace system has been developed and rolled-out which exceeds government guidance on such matters.
• All sites have increased signage reminding colleagues of their responsibilities during the pandemic
• There is more frequent deep cleaning
• Each SLC site is ‘fogged’ monthly using a COVID-19 specific disinfectant which lives on surface for up to 30 days
• Touch points are cleaned several times a day with a COVID-19 agent which stays active for up to 48 hours
• We have increased the availability of hand sanitising stations.
• SLC have set all air handling units within office buildings to ‘100% fresh air’ to minimise air recirculation
• Layouts have been reconfigured to support social distancing with adherence monitored, particularly by ‘Social Distancing Champions’
• We have a capacity cap for each site which is closely supervised
• The Minimum Essential Team (MET) conduct work activities in line with a regularly reviewed rota system which seeks to limit attendance at SLC sites. In view of the most recent lockdown, the MET has further reduced access to SLC sites, advocating working from home when at all possible.
• Any colleagues in our Glasgow office are required to wear face coverings in designated communal areas in line with Government guidance.
• Colleagues in England and Wales are requested to wear face coverings in designated communal areas.
• Face coverings are made available to any colleague attending the office
• Temperature checking devices have been made available across all sites.
• SLC review the formal COVID-19 risk assessment monthly and share the output with our recognised trade union for comment