Security Services continuing to keep our campuses safe

The team has adapted in order to work safely and to support services that can no longer access campus. They have adopted new standards of social distancing by minimising contact and supporting only the essential work of colleagues, contractors and external companies.

This means they can carry out their duties in a safe manner.

Normal activities including patrolling campuses and buildings, monitoring security systems, monitoring fire alarms and facilitating access is still ongoing. In addition, the team is supporting a number of new activities:

• Providing access to the Rose Bowl for NHS staff and volunteers so they can deliver vital training, including facilitating parking for the trainers and ensuring all printers are working
• Sorting mail for areas of our university where it is crucial that mail is collected and delivered, including to our payroll team and over 200 small businesses that operate out of the University Business Centre
• Providing support to the Estates team by giving access to buildings and equipment so they can perform essential maintenance checks
• Supporting essential works carried out by contractors on site, enabling them to gain access to areas
• Facilitating access for colleagues who need to obtain laptops and essential assessments and paperwork from campus
• Headingley Campus is busy with walkers, cyclists and dog walkers and the team is encouraging them to adhere to social distancing. They are also moving on large groups that are accessing our sports facilities
• Monitoring fridge temperatures in laboratories
• Starting up university vehicles to ensure the batteries don’t go flat

Extra duties have also arisen to support colleagues at home, keeping staff, students and the public connected to our university by:

• Helping maintain a switchboard service.
• Waking up sleeping computers to maintain remote access connections.

The Security Services team has received excellent feedback from across the university. Many colleagues have expressed their gratitude for the vital work that they are doing and to nominate them for Golden Robes awards.