Top Tips for Nannies and Families on Staying Safe during COVID-19

Our Top Tips for Nannies and Families on Staying Safe during COVID-19 are suggestions, based on the guidance set out by the UK Government.

Cleaning

It is important to clean resources, toys, light switches, door handles and all high touch point areas thoroughly and regularly. Make a resource, toy, and touch point cleaning rota.

Cleaning products should be provided for the Nanny to use. Products such as Milton and Dettol, should be kept out of reach of all babies and children.

Tissues and wipes should be readily available to the Nanny.

Handwashing

Ensure that Nannies, Children and Family members in the home wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, throughout the day, and upon leaving and entering the house, before and after every meal, snack, or drink.

Soap and Hand sanitiser should be provided and made readily available in the home setting.

A separate bathroom area should be made available for the nanny and children where possible.

Children should be supervised to ensure that they wash their hands correctly.

Health and Safety

The home setting is the workplace, and so ensure that a risk assessment has been performed and is regularly updated – at least once a month or whenever government policy significantly changes. Contact your local Harmony at Home branch for a free risk assessment template.

Environment

Ensure that the home setting is decluttered and put away any unnecessary soft toys or furnishings.

Ensure that where possible the nanny and child have a dedicated toilet, and where possible a dedicated desk or workspace.

Other members of the household should where possible keep socially distanced from the nanny.

Bins in the home setting should be regularly emptied and sanitised each day.

Doors that can safely be left open should be, so as to limit door handle use.

Well being

The nanny should only bring to work a water bottle, lunch box, spare clothes, and handbag from home. No other nonessential items should be brought into work. The nanny should have their own set of pencils / pens / notepad at work, and these should be separate to others.

The Nanny and the children ought to wear fresh clean clothes each day, and bathroom towels ought to be washed after each use.

Tissues and or the elbow should be used to catch coughs and sneezes.

Games and songs can be used to help children feel safe and learn new routines.

Visitors to the home

Visitors should be limited to essential only (e.g. essential property repairs). Social distancing must take place when an essential visitor enters the home. The visitor should wear a mask and use hand sanitiser. Try to stand side to side and not face to face where possible, and limit the time spent with outsiders.

Mealtimes

The nanny and child should eat their lunch in an allocated area, and where possible outside.

Outside and Ventilation

Nannies and children should be outside as much as possible. When inside, windows should be opened to ventilate rooms.

The Nanny should be provided with and must wear a mask on public transport and in shops, along with hand sanitiser. The Nanny should avoid using public transport, shops, and playgrounds during peak periods.

Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2020

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