Health and Safety

Autonomy Plus aims to provide and maintain safe and healthy conditions, equipment and systems of work within the home and the grounds for all our young people, employees and other persons who form part of or who may be effected by our services. Staff will ensure that the environment supports the young people’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the home’s Statement of Purpose.

Both the staff and management of the home will work in partnership to ensure that it complies with current legislation, approved codes of practice, and safe working conditions at all times.

In order to ensure a high level of health and safety within the home alongside the information in this policy and procedure Autonomy Plus has also created a number of associated policy’s and procedures listed below which give a lot more detail in certain areas and need to be read in conjunction with this one.

• Fire Safety Policy;
• Emergency Evacuation Policy;
• First Aid, Home Remedies and Medication Policy;
• Accident Prevention Policy;
• Working at Height Policy:
• Displaced Screen Equipment Policy;
• COSHH Policy;
• Smoking Policy;
• Induction Policy;
• Staff Supervision Policy;
• Accident Reporting Policy;
• Drugs Policy;
• Alcohol Policy;
• Provision and Preparation of Meals Policy;
• Health Care Assessments and Plans;
• COVD - Contingency Plan
• Notification of Significant Events Policy;
• People Moving and Handling Policy;
• Work Stress Policy;
• Control of Infection Policy;
• Action Following a Fall Policy;
• Risk Assessments Policy;
• Sexual Health and Relationships;
• Blood Borne Viruses;
• Employing Contractors Policy; and
• Record Keeping Policy.

Key regulatory requirements include:

• Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) children’s homes
• HSG220 Health and Safety in Care Homes, published by the Health and Safety
• Reporting of Incidents, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/1471/contents/made
• Children’s Home (England) Regulations 2015 : Regulation 13 Quality Standard : Leadership and Management
• Children’s Home (England) Regulations 2015 : Regulation 25 Quality Standard : Fire Precaution
• The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 : Regulation 25
• Health and Safety Work Act 1974

The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Registered Manager with oversight from the Responsible Individual however the home will have a named Health and Safety officer who the staff can approach for advice and guidance. The assistant manager will have responsibility for the day to day Health and Safety and in an emergency, the on-call manager can also be contacted. 

To ensure that the aims of our policy are met we will ensure the following:

A number of these procedures are also backed up by a more extensive Policy and Procedure listed and linked above

• Suitable training, information, inductions, supervision and monitoring in the following areas (where applicable) to ensure that our staff are equipped and able to comply with Health and Safety procedures and carry out their duties in a safe and healthy way. The Home will keep records of staff training and all staff will be held responsible for ensuring that they attend any training required;
• Fire Safety;
• Infection Control;
• Risk Assessments;
• Emergency evacuation;
• Fire safety;
• Water testing / legionnaires disease;
• Manual handling;
• Moving and Handling;
• First aid;
• Accident Prevention and Reporting;
• Expectations of staff in relation to Drugs, Smoking and Alcohol;
• Medication and Medication Errors including Homely Remedies;
• Food Hygiene;
• Displaced Screen Equipment;
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH);
• Equipment Safety;
• Maintenance and use of a vehicle for transporting young people and;
• A good working knowledge and ability to use of the systems for recording, documenting and evaluating the young people in our care.

• Supervision - In this service, all staff will be adequately appraised and supervised. Supervision of workers and trainees will be arranged, co-ordinated and monitored by the management team;
• Heath and Safety Officer - One of the staff is the designated Heath and Safety Officer ensuring any issues are raised to management and all health and safety checks are completed;
• Risk Assessments - Risk assessments will be carried out for all areas of work, for individuals who need them (due to health reasons) as well as for our young people. They will be conducted in liaison with relevant experts or informed people where necessary. The findings of the risk assessments will be reviewed and action to remove or control risks will be taken. The work related and young people risk assessments will be stored in an easy to access place (which staff will be notified of) and will be available to all staff. These will be reviewed annually or if there are changes that warrant a review;
• Health and Safety Law poster [HSE Poster] - An up-to-date HSE Poster is prominently displayed in the home and all relevant health and safety information will be passed on to staff in a timorous and clear manner; 
• Safety or Protective Clothing - Where necessary staff are supplied with relevant safety or protective clothing and equipment, to prevent risk of harm or injury to themselves or others;
• Adult to Child Ratios - The correct adult to child ratios will be maintained at all times depending on young peoples Placement Plans;
• Smoking, Drinking and Drugs - Smoking and vaping will only be conducted in the designated area/s and never around the young people. No one who is intoxicated will be allowed to work their shift. It is the duty of all staff to know and adhere to the Smoking, Drinking and Drugs policy’s a link to which is at the start of this policy;
• Fire Safety - Fire safety regulations are adhered to, the relevant checks, tests, drills and maintenance are conducted and recorded. The home will take all reasonable action to ensure that fire is prevented and that in the event of a fire staff, service users and visitors can be safely evacuated;
• First Aid - There will be a designated fully trained first aider on every shift. And the required number of First Aid boxes will be kept in designated areas and will be maintained and kept fully stocked and clearly labelled in green boxes with white crosses;
• Heath and Safety Professionals - To assist in the implementation of the Health & Safety Policy, appropriately qualified health and safety professionals from outside the organisation will be employed to advise on health and safety matters where appropriate;
• Procurement - Appropriate procurement policies to ensure we engage only competent contractors and sub-contractors, along with the sourcing of compliant machinery and materials as required;
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) - All substances which need a COSHH assessment will be reviewed and assessments will be completed and kept up to date. Product information sheets for each identified substance will be kept in a file that is accessible to staff. Ensuring that the use, handling, storage and transport of items and substances is carried out safely and that risks to health are controlled;
• Infection Control - This home will keep up to date with the latest public health and national government information about the risk of coronavirus in the UK and any other outbreaks. The infection control lead for the home will maintain close links with local health protection teams and will be responsible for circulating essential information to staff and residents and their families. They will also update the organisation’s management team as is necessary;
• Water and Legionnaires Disease - Water temperature checks, shower head descaling, and TMV valves checks will be done regularly. Legionnaires disease reports will be conducted annually;
• Food Hygiene - Food hygiene regulations will be adhered to at all times in the preparation of food, food handling and activities in the kitchen;
• Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations (RIDDOR) - The home will follow RIDDOR procedures. Any reportable injuries, fatalities, and dangerous occurrences will be reported by the management to the relevant authority by the quickest practical means. This will be followed by a written notification within 10 days;
• Physical Restraint - PBM - Physical restraint will only be used when other less intrusive methods have been attempted or considered, and only in extreme situations and as a last resort. For more details please read the “Behaviour That Is Challenging and Physical Restraint” Policy;
• Accidents and Incidents - All accidents and incidents will be reported and records kept and reviewed so that trends and patterns can be identified and action taken. All staff and management will act to prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health and will report any unsafe item or situation immediately to the Safety Officer or Manager;
• Vehicle's - All Autonomy Plus vehicles will have daily documented checks done on them before use. Staff are expected to keep the vehicles clean. Any damage or accidents should be reported at their earliest convenience. The vehicles will be regularly serviced, their MOT’s will be kept up to date. Any staff driving the vehicles will only be allowed to do so once they are added to the insurance and have had their driven license checked for restrictions. An annual driving licence check will be carried out on all staff who use the vehicles;
• Safety within the Home
  • No equipment made from glass should be used in children’s rooms e.g. drinking glasses, jars etc;
  • All staff are responsible for ensuring that all doors and gates are securely locked both indoors and out as appropriate;
  • Security - Normal household security is in place with the addition of keypad door locks. Any restrictions on young peoples access will be agreed with the placing authority.
  • Wet floor signs will be placed in visible areas when floors are wet due to spillages or mopping to prevent accidents;
  • The home will have a cleaning and maintenance schedule which staff will be expected to follow, document, and save in the designated file;
  • The Home will ensure appropriate management processes and procedure’s including monitoring, inspection, recording and auditing are conducted to ensure a safe home for the young people in our care and compliance with Health and Safety regulations and standards (The Health and Safety Work Act 1974);
  • All plant, equipment, machinery and electronics will be regularly maintained (for example PAT testing), serviced and compliance tested as required. Defective equipment will be taken out of service by staff and any problems found with equipment will be reported to management / maintenance who will prioritise and order repairs or replacement as appropriate. Full procurement, servicing and maintenance records will be kept;
  • Full consultation with staff and young people on health and safety matters will be achieved in the following ways: link work sessions, house meetings, staff supervision and team meetings. Staff are also able to submit maintenance requests as and when they need to, and all staff are asked to fill-in a Health Declaration when they are employed and adjustments made to support them where possible;
  • The management team is responsible for ensuring adequate and appropriate facilities and arrangements for welfare at work and although Autonomy Plus does not have a dedicated Occupational Health provider, when necessary the Management will liaise with the HR Executive who will discuss with legal advisors and where appropriate contact local occupational health advice and services;
  • The Home, it’s furnishings and grounds will be maintained, kept clean, well lit, adequately ventilated, and decorated so that risks to health and safety are mitigated and to provide a safe, homely and supportive environment for our young people to flourish. A clean as you go approach is part of our ethos and all staff will ensure that the home and grounds are kept clean;
  • All health and safety arrangements are brought to employees’ attention and are monitored and reviewed to ensure that they are effective.
    
    

Employees’ Responsibilities

Employees must ensure that they:

• Co-operate with management to enable all statutory duties to be complied with;
• Take reasonable care of their own health and safety, and the health and safety of
  others who may be affected by their acts or omissions;
• Familiarise themselves with the health and safety arrangements that apply to them
  and their work functions.

Responsibility For Policy Implementation 

The overall and final responsibility for health and safety in this residential care service is that of the Registered Manager.

Day-to-day responsibility for ensuring this policy is implemented is that of the Registered Manager.

Consequences for Breach of Policy

If someone is to be found in breach of this policy depending on the severity of the breach disciplinary procedures might be taken which depending on the outcome could lead to dismissal.

Policy Review

This and all related policy’s will be reviewed and revised as necessary or as a minimum annually and our staff will be notified of any changes.