COVID-19

Please follow government guidance and act responsibility. We are conscious of the need to encourage our students and staff alike to behave respectfully towards one another and members of our community. To ensure we can protect our health and safety and the health and safety of others, we are asking everyone to commit to the Bath Spa Community Pledge. We hope the Pledge reinforces the core values of our University and reminds us all of our responsibilities to be good and respectful citizens.

A general risk assessment for the University has been carried out and published.

In the event there is an outbreak of Covid-19 at the University, we will follow our Bath Spa University Local Outbreak Management Plan. Please note that the Local Outbreak Management Plan will be updated as guidance and situations, both locally and nationally, evolve.

If you have a concern about the behaviour of others, but feel unable to raise this with them directly, please contact covid@bathspa.ac.uk putting “Covid Conduct – Escalated Concern” in the subject line. You can also share any concerns through Report and Support. We pledge to provide you with support, advice and help in order to resolve your concerns, and take the necessary steps to positively resolve the concern. Staff can also raise concerns with their line manager, health and safety or trade union representatives.

You might be worried about COVID-19 and how it could affect your life. We have found a number of resources which you may find helpful, including how to take care of your mental health and wellbeing if you need to stay at home or avoid other people.

• Student Minds: Coronavirus Resources
• MIND: Coronavirus and your wellbeing
• Mental Health Foundation: Looking After Your Mental Health During Coronavirus Outbreak
• Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust 24hr phone line – 0800 953 1919
• Bath Compassionate Community
• Bath Mind Breathing Space – 01225 983130 and breathingspace@bathmind.org.uk
• UniWellbeing – free for BSU students. App to help you track your mood and full of interactive and helpful wellbeing resources. Download from the Apple or Google Play stores
• WHO 'coping with stress during the 2019-nCov outbreak'

Our Employee Assistance Provider, Lifeworks, has lots of useful articles on looking after health and welfare. A summary of high level issues is provided below:

• Protecting your wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak (infographic)

Although this is no longer required by the government, we strongly encourage and recommend that all our students and staff wear face coverings (unless they are exempt) in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. For example, in corridors and on stairwells, in small teaching spaces and workshops.

There may also be some limited circumstances where following a risk assessment, the wearing of face coverings may be required. You will be informed in good time if this is required.

You should also maintain social distance wherever possible, especially indoors and regularly clean your hands.

If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, please wear a sunflower lanyard so that other people are aware. If you are concerned about coming into close contact with other people on campus, please wear a red lanyard to signal that you would like people to keep a distance. You can collect a red lanyard from the Students’ Union shop and library at Newton Park, or reception desks at other campuses.

We strongly encourage you to have the COVID-19 vaccine, although you are not required to do so. Please read our Vaccinations page for more information.

We strongly encourage you to be tested regularly so you can be confident that you will be helping reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please read our COVID-19 testing page for more information.

You must isolate immediately and inform the University. 

You should take a PCR test as soon as possible (ideally within 2 days) and follow government guidance.

If you have any of these 3 symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild:

• A new high temperature
• A new, continuous cough
• A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

And if you are told to by NHS Test and Trace. You can read more about when you need to self-isolate.

There are many ways that you can purchase food and essential items if you need to self-isolate. There are a range of supermarkets and other outlets that provide a delivery service. Please find examples below.

Bath Spa University Hospitality Services operate a delivery service across Newton Park Campus: Bath Spa University - Online Ordering.

Amazon can provide almost anything you need – often with same day or next day delivery. As a registered student you'll qualify for Amazon Prime free of charge, which means you’ll benefit from free and super-fast delivery too! To access this service, please go to Amazon and type "Amazon Pantry" in the search bar. If you order through this service please ensure you inform the post room or Green Park House reception, so that delivery to your room can be arranged.

There are a variety of supermarkets that offer online delivery services. Here are some examples of places you can order your food and essential items:

• Asda
• Tesco
• Ocado
• Co-op
• ukcnshop
• Hello Oriental

All large supermarkets deliver to private residences. Delivery slots are available to pre-book, although you may not be able to book one immediately, so allow up to a week to find a suitable delivery slot.

If you experience any problems with arranging a food delivery, please contact the University covid@bathspa.ac.uk and we'll help.

If you feel able to, try and speak to them about your concerns. Remind them of the Community Pledge and their responsibility to other people. If you don’t feel able to, please email covid@bathspa.ac.uk and your concerns will be discreetly and sensitively followed up.

When you move into your accommodation, your housemates become your household for the time you live with us. These are the people you will likely interact with the most each day. This household could include the other residents in your flat, or the people in your corridor (if you don’t live in a flat).

If you or any member of your household is required to isolate your post will be delivered to your halls of residence on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please do not go to the post room yourself.

If you receive any signed for post or parcels to the University post room, please email: postroom@bathspa.ac.uk to confirm you would like it delivered - this will be done as soon as possible.

Students who are self-isolating are not allowed to access the laundry facilities and if anyone experiences significant difficulties as a result of not being able to access this facility, please email covid@bathspa.ac.uk and we'll help.

All adults aged 18 or over can now get vaccinated against COVID-19. More information about how to get a vaccine is available via the NHS. More information for Bath Spa students is avaiable on our Vaccinations page.

It is vital that international students arriving in the UK have followed the correct arrival procedure. Failure to do so may result in possible delays or fines. If you are making travel plans to come to the UK to study, you should:

• Check additional entry requirements and restrictions that have been introduced due to coronavirus (COVID-19) before travelling to the UK, including whether the country you are travelling from is on the UK’s red list - see GOV.UK for more information.
• Be aware that there are additional steps you may need to consider and carry out if you require a visa to start/continue your studies. Please contact the Immigration Advice Service immigrationadvice@bathspa.ac.uk, and we will be able to provide you with the necessary information and support.
• Once you have travel plans in place, please notify the University by emailing covid@bathspa.ac.uk so that we can prepare for your arrival.

You should be aware that all inbound travellers to the UK (including international and domestic students) will have to take a COVID-19 test up to three days before departure and provide evidence of a negative result before you travel. All international arrivals will be required to complete a passenger locator form on arrival.

You should also be aware that everyone must book a travel test package before travelling to the UK – this costs £210. You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive for variant surveillance and a test on or after day 8 to check that you do not have COVID-19. 

This can be booked using the travel package booking portal.

• If you are travelling from or through a red list country, you must pre-book your quarantine hotel in advance and isolate for 10 days or you could face a fine of up to £4,000.
• If you are travelling from or through an amber list country you must complete a 10-day period of self-isolation in your own accommodation upon arrival. This can be either University accommodation or private accommodation you have arranged.
• If you have travelled from or through a green list country you do not have to self-isolate in your accommodation or enter managed quarantine, but you must still ensure you have booked a pre-departure test, completed a passenger locator form and booked a travel test package.

If you are tested for COVID-19 and the PCR test result is positive please make sure you inform the University as soon as possible and complete this form. Please also notify your line manager. If you have any questions about this please contact hrcontact@bathspa.ac.uk. 

All staff must complete a new online health and safety training ‘return to the workplace’.

Although this is no longer required by the government, we strongly encourage and recommend that all our students and staff wear face coverings (unless you are exempt) in enclosed and crowded spaces where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. For example, in corridors and on stairwells, in small teaching spaces such as practice rooms and studios, and workshops.

There may also be some limited circumstances where following a risk assessment, the wearing of face coverings may be required. You will be informed in good time if this is required.

You should also maintain social distance wherever possible, especially indoors, and regularly clean your hands.

If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, please wear a sunflower lanyard so that other people are aware. If you are concerned about coming into close contact with other people on campus, please wear a red lanyard to signal that you would like people to keep a distance. You can collect a red lanyard from the Vinery at Newton Park or reception desks at other campuses.

We strongly encourage all students and staff to be regularly tested for COVID-19 and to be vaccinated unless medically exempt.

Staff are required to work on campus if their role includes teaching or other student support or student facing activities. Staff whose role does not require them to work on campus in student facing roles should liaise with the line manager about a balanced pattern of working from home and on campus as appropriate.

We strongly encourage you to have the COVID-19 vaccine, although you are not required to do so. Please read our vaccinations page for more information.

You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs such as for heating and electricity, if you have to work at home on a regular basis, either for all or part of the week because of Covid-19.

If eligible, you can claim tax relief on £6 per week, which equates to a gain of £1.20 per week for a basic 20% rate tax payer and £2.40 a week for a higher rate 40% taxpayer. HMRC have confirmed that you can claim for the whole tax year, regardless of how many days you had to work from home, for so for basic rate taxpayers, you will gain a total of £62/year, and for higher rate taxpayers, £124/year.

The HMRC have further information on their website Check if you can claim work related expenses that will automatically apply the whole 2020/21 tax relief via your tax code, if eligible. 

You will need to have your Government Gateway user ID to use the microsite, but if you don't have one already, you can create one as part of the process.

Guidance and best practice is available on Sulis. There is also additional guidance for all staff on the Working from Home page.

Please see the working from home guidance on Sulis with information from IT on how to access your work securely, guidance from Health and Safety to ensure staff work from home safely and information for how to manage your work and keep in touch with your teams. Additional support for working from home is also available on Sulis.

You can use your own device on trusted Wi-Fi/Broadband/3G/4G without VPN connection for Learning and Teaching purposes to access Minerva (Blackboard, Turnitin, Collaborate) and G Suite (Email, Calendar, Drive, Hangouts) as long as you can ensure the following:

• You must not access Personally sensitive information about others.
• You must not access or download “Red” data - as defined below.
• You must use a trusted internet connection, such as your home broadband/wifi or a 3G / 4G hotspot.
• You must “Check for Updates”, run a “Windows Update” and install all known patches.
• You must have an up-to-date anti-virus / anti-malware installed and updated regularly.
• Where possible, you should use a personal firewall on your device.
• If you temporarily download any work related documents on your own device, you must delete it after you have finished.

For all other activity, you will need a device managed by IT Services.

“Red” data is defined as: data that if disclosed or inappropriately interpreted or changed would cause harm, or if destroyed would cause disruption. The most sensitive and valuable typically includes: assets with any Special Categories of Personal Data; any automated profiling characteristics or decision making or tracking of behaviour; any card or other payment details; any child subjects; any direct marketing; any security system details; any complaints or highly controversial or offensive content; any urgently required or safety critical information.

 Staff should work from home if they are able to do so unless they are required to work on campus, please check this with your line manager.