Workforce Experiences of a Rapidly Established SARS-CoV-2 Asymptomatic Testing Service in a Higher Education Setting: A Qualitative Study

Holly Blake (), Sarah Somerset, Ikra Mahmood, Neelam Mahmood, Jessica Corner, Jonathan K. Ball and Chris Denning
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Holly Blake: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Sarah Somerset: NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
Ikra Mahmood: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Neelam Mahmood: School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
Jessica Corner: Executive Office, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
Jonathan K. Ball: School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
Chris Denning: School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: The aim of the study was to explore workforce experiences of the rapid implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic testing service (ATS) in a higher education setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. The setting was a multi-campus university in the UK, which hosted a testing service for employees and students over two years. Qualitative semi-structured videoconference interviews were conducted. We contacted 58 participants and 25 were interviewed (43% response rate). Data were analysed thematically. The analysis produced four overarching themes: (1) feelings relating to their involvement in the service, (2) perceptions of teamwork, (3) perceptions of ATS leadership, (4) valuing the opportunity for career development. Agile and inclusive leadership style created psychological safety and team cohesion, which facilitated participants in the implementation of a rapid mitigation service, at pace and scale. Specific features of the ATS (shared vision, collaboration, networking, skills acquisition) instilled self-confidence, value and belonging, meaningfully impacting on professional development and career opportunities. This is the first qualitative study to explore the experiences of university employees engaged in the rapid deployment of a service as part of a pandemic outbreak and mitigation strategy within a higher education setting. Despite pressures and challenges of the task, professional growth and advancement were universal. This has implications for workforce engagement and creating workplaces across the sector that are well-prepared to respond to future pandemics and other disruptive events.

Keywords: workforce; higher education; universities; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; careers; employability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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