Your Wellbeing survey – actions taken from your feedback

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) information pages provide information and guidance, resources and support, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to further information about the pandemic and UCL’s response. The site is regularly updated to reflect changes both at UCL and in line with UK Government and NHS guidelines, and periodically reviewed and restructured to make sure key information is easy to find.

The site started as a collection of FAQs on key topics such as exams and assessment, travel and events, and information about the virus, and was built to answer questions submitted through a form from the community – now the COVID Helpline. Over time new sections have been added as the situation has changed and information on policy has been developed through the crisis management structure and UCL’s senior leadership team.

By the beginning to Term 1, a number of new sections had been added and many FAQs had been replaced with links to information on websites owned by teams across UCL. We’ve now restructured the site to include sections which provide key information, advice and guidance for specific audiences. as well as those with key information that is relevant to everyone.

Information for students includes FAQs, links to advice and support around self-isolation, a checklist for visiting campus safely, information about the campus zoning system, and links to information about library services, education pages and student support and wellbeing.

Information for staff includes FAQs, links to guidance around working on campus and remote working, resources for managers, UCL’s planning and response, and links to information about education planning and HR policy information.

Keeping safe on campus contains information about the safety measures we’re putting in place on campus and what staff and students can do to help everyone keep safe, the UCL Commitment to Protect Each other, and links UCL’s policies on face coverings, social distancing.

Testing, reporting and managing potential cases includes guidance for students and staff on what to do if they or someone else thinks they have coronavirus, how to get a test at UCL, how we're planning for a potential outbreak, and updates on confirmed cases at UCL.

We’re working with Camden Council and other local organisations to make it easier to commute to UCL without using public transport. In particular, we want UCL to be more cycle friendly and one way we’re looking to achieve this is by increasing the support that we offer cyclists.

We are looking at the following measures to support cycling to UCL:

• An increase in the number of safe cycling racks for people to lock their bikes
• Additional advice and maps for cyclists
• Access to bike maintenance
• The introduction of a bike buddy scheme to support first-time cyclists

A number of measures are in place. The new cycling racks have been ordered and will be introduced over the summer so that they will be available for the new academic year.

Details on the racks will be available through the UCL cycling pages. Anyone interested in cycling to work should also see UCL’s current cycle scheme for details on a tax efficient way to obtain a new bike for your commute.

Safety Services at UCL have produced a comprehensive list of guidance for working safely during the Covid-19 pandemic including new returning to UCL checklists which all departments must complete before restarting operations.  

• Return to UCL checklist Part 1 for Departments 

• Return to UCL checklist Part 2 & Part 3 for Departments 

Focussing on priority measures for infection prevention and control, but also including wider considerations such as statutory compliance in reopening buildings, the department checklists have been designed to ensure staff can return to campus as safely as possible. 

Supporting staff with accessibility needs is an extremely important part of preparing to return to campus and guidance has been produced for managers to help consider reasonable adjustments in the context of Covid-19 controls. 

• Ensure Covid-19 risk control measures are inclusive 

For a full set of helpful guidance on working safely during the pandemic, please visit the Safety Services website.  

Before returning to campus, staff are encouraged to complete the Return to UCL  module on MyLearning. 

Achieving the right work-life blend has always been important to UCL, and never has that been truer than since the coronavirus pandemic started last year. In the past 15 months, UCL has recognised how important the aspect of flexible working is to the employee experience and the importance of ensuring equity in the way that it’s offered. So, to help staff with the major adjustment of working from home more often, UCL Supports was created. 

UCL Supports is an initiative aimed at supporting employees, especially those with caring responsibilities, to find a better work-life blend during the pandemic and beyond. The outcome of this resulted in various additional resources and support available to staff. For example, the new HR policies and guidance includes in-depth information for parent and carers. It also provides support for line managers supporting their team whilst working from home. Information regarding leave and absences related to covid, in addition to guidelines regarding testing, reporting and managing potential cases were also readily available to our colleagues via the regularly updated hub.

UCL Supports was also fundamental in casting a light on the extraordinary work carers had to take on as a result of the pandemic. It was recognised that these members of staff were loaded with more than just working from home. Consequently, commitments to make workloads easier as staff faced these changes and to ensure no carer was left behind were made via the Pro-Provost, Sasha Roseneil, who left a powerful message (supported by SMT) encouraging us all to put our pursuit for perfection on hold.

As well as this, Fiona Ryland, Chief Operating Officer, and HR found ways to adjust expectations during the crisis. Fiona acknowledged the different situations that many colleagues could be going through. In her message of support, she encouraged the several ways line managers could help their teams. Finally, she addressed various points for colleagues to consider making work from home a little easier. 

During the lockdown period, UCL made having a heart and putting people first their mantra. Ultimately, adjusting during the pandemic looked different for each one of our staff members. So, to support staff wellbeing, a new weekly staff wellbeing survey was released which meant that staff could let us know how they are doing on a regular basis. 

We have been looking to provide guidance to help staff and students with their travel to and from the campus, and have published a suite of documents as part of the Keeping Safe on Campus campaign. View the guidance.

The guidance provides advice on:

• When you might travel to campus
• How you might travel to campus
• What you need to consider to maintain your own safety.

There are also some useful links to the following pages: TfL COVID support, UCL cycling and walking pages. 

The Invisible Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard scheme has recently been introduced at UCL and is designed to act as a discreet sign that somebody has an invisible disability and requires additional assistance while out in public. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and keeping safe on campus, the Sunflower Lanyard may indicate a person is unable to a wear face covering. 

Sunflower Lanyards have been in use in airports and some supermarkets for a few years and will now be available from the following locations for any member of staff or student with an invisible disability who wishes to wear one: 

• Andrew Huxley building,  

• UCL libraries including from IOE Library, Main Library, Science Library and Cruciform Hub. (Please check opening hours before attending site). 

If you require a lanyard before attending UCL, please ask your department representative to collect a lanyard on your behalf and post it out to you or request one via ‘askUCL’. 

The Sunflower Lanyard scheme has been introduced at UCL following requests from disabled staff and students. Please note that wearing of the sunflower lanyard is optional. You can find out more about the scheme on the website.