SPECIAL CRIME SCENE EDITION

SUMMER 2015 / EDITION 2
FEATURE
SPECIAL
CRIME SCENE
EDITION
A CLOSE UP ENCOUNTER WITH
NVIRO’S VERY OWN CRIME
SCENE CLEANING TEAM
ALSO INSIDE
SERVICE IMPROVEMENT
MEET OUR APPRENTICE
UEL CLIENT FEEDBACK
DEEP CLEAN AT
NO MAN’S
FORT
MID-SOLENT STYLE
WIN
1 / The Scrub
£20 HIGH STREET
VOUCHERS!

A Warm Welcome from
Editor, Jayne Small
Welcome to Nviro’s Summer edition of ‘The Scrub’.
The feedback I received from our launch Newsletter
in the Spring has been very encouraging and people
want more, so we’re back!
There are a lot of interesting articles this time
around: how we cleaned a Fort in the Solent, a “Spot
the Difference” competition, an introduction to our
newest apprentice, and of course our main feature
tackling the subject of crime scene cleaning.
I hope you enjoy the articles and as usual I’d love
to hear your feedback. Email me suggestions etc. to
jsmall@nviro.co.uk
Jayne x
Meet our newest apprentice Ellie
W
e recently conducted a Q & A with our
recent apprentice Ellie Robinson at the
Portsmouth office, we asked her a series
of questions regarding the process on how she
got involved in the apprentice scheme as well as
what her current experiences are within Nviro.
When did you start working for Nviro?
I started working for Nviro in November 2014.
What does your job consist of, what do you do?
My job consists of working in different
departments throughout the company while
completing units for my qualification. This allows
me to learn more about the business and the ins
and outs of each department as well as the ethics
of Nviro. Other daily tasks also include filing and
general organising around the office.
Which departments within Nviro have & will you
been working in?
Since November of last year I have already
worked in a few departments such as Admin,
Marketing and Health and Safety. I am currently
working in Human Resources in which I will be
in the department for a month, after that I will
be in Payroll and then the Quality and Training
department.
What qualifications are you working towards and
how do you gain it i.e. day release, coursework etc?
I am currently working towards a BTEC Level
2 Diploma in Business Administration which
consists of completing a number of units relating
to each department I have and will be working in,
with a variety of different tests of my knowledge
e.g. evidence uploaded, tests and professional
talks.
How did you come across this job opportunity?
I came across this apprenticeship by looking
on the apprenticeships.org.uk website where
at the time I applied for a number of different
apprenticeships that matched my skills and
ambitions. As a result of this I than got contacted
2 / The Scrub

y ‘Smart’, a specialist training provider who set
me up with an interview at Nviro.
What skills have you learnt while working at
Nviro?
Working in different departments has helped me
improve my communication skills as I have had
to work closely within areas which has improved
my confidence, my ICT skills have improved
through consistently using Nviro’s chosen
software packages to complete day to day tasks.
I have been able to adapt to any role given to me
which is beneficial to my constant role changes
through the departments in Nviro.
What do you like about working at Nviro (best
bits)?
I enjoy working at Nviro because it is a very
friendly company. I enjoy that I am learning
a lot of different skills and when I need some
help fellow employees are always there to help.
I like that I am able to move around to different
departments and learn what attributes are
needed to do their day to day jobs successfully
which allows me to complete my units as well as
improve my overall knowledge of Nviro and how
the business is run.
What are you hoping to do in the future once your
apprenticeship has finished?
I have not yet made a decision on what I am
hoping to do after finishing my apprenticeship.
My options are open but I am currently
leaning towards looking into a higher level
apprenticeship so that I can further increase my
skills and gain more qualifications that will help
me build towards a career.
“I enjoy that I am
learning a lot of different
skills and when I
need some help fellow
employees are always
their to help”
3 / The Scrub

NO MAN’S
FORT
Situated a mile offshore,
No Man’s Fort is the hottest
hotel experience in the UK.
You can book a luxurious
fort break package including
return boat transfers,
champagne welcome, three
course meal, activities and
entertainment from just
£280 per person. Visit
www.amazingvenues.co.uk
to find out more.
Back in May, Mark Barnes, Contract
Manager, and a team of six cleaners
were sent across the Solent to the newly
refurbished No Man’s Fort on a two-day
‘spruce up’ mission, ready for its grand
opening as an exclusive resort location.
Built between 1867 and 1880 to protect
Portsmouth from the perceived
threat of French invasion, the 75,000
sq ft fort recently underwent a multimillion
pound refurbishment project and
re-opened to guests last month.
The owners, AmaZing Venues (part of the
Clarenco Group) contacted Nviro after
struggling to find a cleaning company
who were willing to provide a deep clean
following the refurb – in the middle of the
sea. Mark said:
“We were a little bit wary at first, not really
knowing what to expect. As an ex-Navy
man myself,
I have a good set of
sea legs, but the same can’t be said for some
of the cleaners who were a bit put off by the
location.
We departed from Gunwharf – a local
shopping and entertainment complex –
in a small passenger boat with all of our
equipment. After a short journey we arrived
and then had to climb up a metal ladder to
access the fort. It’s certainly an experience I
shan’t forget for a while.”
The team embarked on the deep clean,
including carpet cleaning with Cimex
machines, scrubbing of all hard floors
(covered in paint), polishing of metal work
etc. They cleaned an atrium, sauna, pool
room, bar, helipad and even a lighthouse
with a glass floor - it’s safe to say some of
the seasick cleaners may have struggled
with that bit...
4 / The Scrub

The following Nviro staff members have
shown excellence in the course of their
duties:
Gizela Da Silva who works at University of
East London. Gizela was nominated by Nviro
Deputy Contract Manager Anthony Obaye for
demonstrating great passion for the work she
does and for consistently taking on onerous
responsibilities without complaint.
SUCCESS, PASSIONATE, INTEGRITY,
RESPECT, ACCOUNTABLE and LEARN
Success at Mid Kent
College!
I went along to MidKent College to meet Tracey
and some of the team down there as part of my
induction into the business. Whilst I was there,
there was a severe problem with the toilets in the
East and West wing - the drainage system was
blocked and one of the blocks of toilets had even
overflowed, causing flood water to seep out into
the corridor and cleaning cupboard.
I was so impressed at how the team pulled
together and tackled the problem, even with
smiles on their faces! They weren’t phased at all.
They showed total commitment to the students
and the client, and took pride in their standard
of work even with the chaos going on around
them. They took everything in their stride and
supported one another to deliver an excellent
service.
Well done team!
By Jo Pollard
Training and Development
Manager
Ian Blunden who works at Brighton & Hove
Council. Ian was nominated by our client, Carol
Slater, Office Manager for Brighton & Hove City
Council, for his willingness to do whatever it
takes to sort out a situation and his keenness
to help ensure the building is kept to the high
standards promised by Nviro.
PASSIONATE
Louise Pounder who is an Area Supervisor in
Hounslow. Louise was nominated by Dione
Pereira, Nviro Regional Director, and Samantha
Gosrani, HR Advisor for consistent support
and constant commitment to her role, as well
as a keen desire to develop. Louise has been
described as an ‘asset to Nviro’.
SUCCESS, PASSIONATE, INTEGRITY,
RESPECT, ACCOUNTABLE and LEARN
WINNER
Kelvio Pitareli who works at Bournemouth
Borough Council. Kelvio was nominated by our
client, Phil Smith, for the outstanding service
provided in difficult weather conditions at the
Bournemouth Gardens of Light Pods Show.
It was commented that Kelvio worked at an
exceptional standard despite the weather
conditions disrupting his progress.
PASSIONATE, RESPECT, ACCOUNTABILITY
Kelvio will receive £100 Leisure Vouchers.
5 / The Scrub

Main Feature: Crime Scene Clea
It might be viewed as a morbid and unpleasant task, but there’s more to cri
cleaning than first meets the eye. Sally Madigan explains more...
Crime scene cleaning is a highly specialised
area which requires sensitivity as well
as thorough training in the appropriate
processes required. It can include dealing with
the aftermath of deaths – suspicious or otherwise
– and road traffic collisions, where fatalities or
serious injuries may have occurred.
A crime scene cleaning team may also be called
in to police cells for a range of incidents, mainly
involving bodily fluids. This usually results from
arrests involving alcohol, blood from an injury or
perhaps even a disgruntled detainee who staged a
‘dirty protest’. This type of clean-up operation can
also extend to service vehicles, for similar types
of incidents.
Tools of the trade
Before attending any incident it is essential to
ensure the team has all the necessary equipment
required for the job. Areas may be biologically
contaminated so cleaning operatives need to wear
suitable personal protection equipment (PPE),
which includes a full body non-porous protective
suit. The team needs to be made aware that
6 / The Scrub
they may come into contact with blood borne
pathogens which potentially carry dangerous
viruses or diseases.
Health and safety is crucial when cleaning at
any crime scene and it’s essential that workers
are adequately protected. A key issue for callouts
involving decomposition is odour which
needs to be eradicated. Specialist equipment
may be required, such as an ozone machine
to remove odours, high grade disinfectants,
industrial strength deodorisers, carpentry tools
for removing carpets and floorboards, as well
as specialist bags and an appropriate mode of
transport to remove any soiled materials.
A team will only be called to a scene once the
deceased has been removed and so they will
largely be dealing with a clean-up operation
of bodily fluids, insects or larvae. However,
this brings its own challenges as bodily fluids
will soak into porous materials. Therefore, it is
important that these don’t seep back onto the
floor or carpets whilst cleaning. An option would
be to remove the soaked material and make good,
as far as possible, so depending on the situation,

ning
me scene
Photo: The Nviro Crime Scene Cleaning Team in specialist PPE
Checking
Cleanliness
Nviro monitors overall
sanitation levels by carrying
out checks for the presence
of micro-organisms and other
bacteria by swabbing surfaces
with an Adenosine-Tri-
Phosphate (ATP) device.
It works by mixing
the swab in an
enzyme solution
which causes the
micro-organisms
to give off
bioluminescence,
which is the
measured by the
ATP device. The
more light there is,
the more bacteria
are present!
cutting out the carpet and floor boards is not
unusual.
The film version...
Art imitates life in the critically aclaimed black
comedy Sunshine Cleaning (2008). Amy Adams and
Emily Blunt star as a couple of sisters who turn their
hands to crime scene cleaning to try to make ends
meet. The grizzly subject matter is approached in a
light-hearted way, guaranteed to make you smile.
Out on DVD, rating 15. Buy on Amazon from £4.87.
Compassion and understanding
As you can imagine, you are sending a team
into a highly emotional situation and even
though it is their job to remove all trace of what
happened, there has to be an element of human
understanding and compassion.
Sensitivity should be shown especially when
attending an incident in a domestic property,
where cleaning operatives may come into contact
with members of the family. It is important to be
respectful and empathise with the grief that they
are going through.
Team leaders should be aware that the
members of staff may be emotionally affected
by the incident, and managers should consider
offering counselling to cleaning teams in these
circumstances.
Sally Madigan is a highly experienced Contract
Manager for Hampshire Police and has
receieved comprehensive specialist training
from the National Academy of Crime Scene
Cleaners.
7 / The Scrub

SERVICE
IMPROVEMENT
MEETINGS
The Service Improvement Meeting, or ‘SIM’
as we like to call it, is held around 8 times
a year, and is attended by all of Nviro’s
Service Managers and Regional Directors. The
idea behind it is for the Operations Team to
discuss new ways of working, throw out ideas
for general improvement and even undertake
workshops or training.
By and large, it’s about establishing current
and future best practice. For example, the
trend towards chemical-free cleaning was
first identified at a SIM, and then rolled out at
University of Portsmouth. The Contract Manager
then presented the results of the trial to his peers,
and it has since been adopted by other Service
Managers, notably Brighton and Hove City
Council which decided to make the move towards
chemical-free.
We think SIMs provide our clients with
tremendous added value as they can rest assured
that new and innovative solutions are always
being considered on their behalf.
8 / The Scrub

University of East London
Praise from our client
Nviro has been delivering building
and window cleaning services to the
University of East London for the past 4
years and will shortly be entering year 5 which
will be the final year on the current contract.
In this time UEL and Nviro have built up
a partnership approach to cleaning of the
campuses through regular meetings with the
onsite team consisting of; Luis Oviedo- Valencia,
Paul McLeod and Anthony Obaye. They are
always on hand to deal immediately with the
numerous issues which arise on a daily basis as
well as the regular scheduled cleaning.
Nviro does not only provide cleaning services
but additional auxiliary support in the form
of general assistance and portering, waste
management and use of a helpdesk facility to
collate and record all incoming jobs.
One of the exemplary traits which Nviro
possesses is the willingness to help and resolve
issues wherever possible and this is reflected
throughout the company from the top, right
down to the cleaners on the ground who are
always smiling, well presented and willing to lend
a hand at the slightest request.
We have been highly satisfied with the work
which Nviro has delivered over the years and
this is reflected in the 100% cleaning satisfaction
score achieved in recent audits carried out by
NHS representatives, who conduct their own
independent audits of the areas leased from UEL.
Mollie Miller, Assistant Campus Manager,
University of East London
9 / The Scrub

SUPERHERO DAY!
Our staff are Superheroes! In
recognition of their superpowers,
we asked employees at our offices
to dress up as their favourite
superhero in aid of The Rainbow
Centre, Nviro’s nominated charity.
The Admin Team dressed up as
Ghostbusters - how’s that for
creative thinking?
Sister Companies
Mountjoy is a leading provider of building
and maintenance support services across
southern England.
We have an excellent reputation for
delivering flexible, tailored services,
whether it’s responsive repairs, upgrades or
refurbishments, across all building types and
in both the public and private sectors.
For more information:
w. www.mountjoy.co.uk
t. 02392 313 515
Our Vision - to be at the forefront of
improving the next generation’s health and
well being, by shaping the food culture in
Education that inspires a passion and love of
fresh food – without compromise.
Fresh, wholesome, delicious food,
competitively priced, ethically produced and
honestly served with a smile.
For more information:
w. www.pabulum-catering.co.uk
t. 01252 819 991

Nomination Form
The Nviro values are
integral to our business.
They are the behaviours
that are expected
and encouraged to be
demonstrated by all Nviro
employees. Nviro wants
to reward employees who
exhibit the behaviours, go
above and beyond what is
expected of them and any
achievements that they make.
S
P
I
R
A
L
We love SUCCESS
We are PASSIONATE
We always act with INTEGRITY
And RESPECT
We are all ACCOUNTABLE
We are always hungry to LEARN
Anyone can nominate an Nviro employee for demonstrating an Nviro Value: Clients,
Suppliers, Contractors and Nviro employees. Nominations can be made in any direction;
any employee can nominate any other employee regardless of their position. All
nominations are encouraged.
Region/
Contract
Name of
organisation
Nominator
Name
Nominee
Name
Nominator
Job Title
Nominee
Job Title
Value Demonstrated
(tick all that apply)
Date
Success Passionate Integrity Respect Accountable Learn
Nomination Details
Send completed forms to: Spiral Awards, Nviro Limited, 9 Acorn Business Park,
Northarbour Road, Cosham, Hampshire PO6 3TH or fax to 02392 370047
11 / The Scrub

COMPETITION
TIME
Congratulations to our last
winner, Frances Hughes
at Bournemouth Borough
Council.
This time, in keeping with
our crime scene theme, we’ve
created a ‘Spot the Difference’
competition.
Correctly identify the 5
differences and you could win
£20 High Street Vouchers!
WARNING: we haven’t made
it too easy!
Submit your answers to
Jay Norbury by email
jnorbury@nviro.co.uk
for your chance to win (you
don’t have to scan this page,
you can write it out in a list if
you like).
A winner will be picked on
Monday 3rd August 2015.
Good luck!
Quick Quiz!
Get in touch...
Just for fun...
It’s a stormy night and a plane
takes off from Gatwick airport
in London. The storm worsens,
and the plane crashes - half
lands in England, the other half
lands in Scotland.
In which country do you bury
the survivors?
12 / The Scrub
If you have any fantastic news stories about your
organisation and Nviro, we want to hear from you!
Let us know about your events, charity fundraising,
awards or anything interesting that has happened
where you are.
Contact Jayne Small, Editor, on jsmall@nviro.co.uk
www.nviro.co.uk