Health, Safety & Lone Working Policy

1. Purpose

Live In Care Partners is committed to promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of clients and carers.

This policy provides guidance for carers who may live and work in a client's home and spend periods working alone.

As an introductory agency, Live In Care Partners does not supervise or manage a carer's day-to-day work. The client/family and carer are responsible for agreeing and managing the ongoing arrangements.

2. Responsibilities

Carers are expected to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of the client and others who may be affected by their actions.

Carers should:

• Follow safe working practices
• Use equipment appropriately
• Only undertake tasks they are trained and competent to perform
• Report serious hazards or safety concerns
• Seek assistance when a situation is unsafe or outside their experience
• Take reasonable precautions when working alone

Clients and families should also raise significant health and safety concerns with the carer and, where appropriate, Live In Care Partners.

3. Assessing Safety Before an Introduction

Before accepting a placement, carers should consider whether the proposed environment and arrangements are suitable for them. This may include considering:

• The layout and access to the property
• Sleeping and living arrangements
• Pets
• Smoking arrangements
• Moving and handling requirements
• Equipment used within the home
• Any known risks associated with the client or household
• Whether the carer has the skills and experience required

Carers should ask questions and raise concerns before agreeing to a placement.

4. Hazards in the Home

Potential hazards may include:

• Slips, trips and falls
• Poor lighting
• Unsafe electrical equipment
• Fire risks
• Unsafe access or exits
• Pets or animals
• Hazardous substances
• Unsafe equipment
• Moving and handling situations
• Aggressive or threatening behaviour

Where a serious hazard is identified, reasonable steps should be taken to protect the client and carer.

5. Lone Working

Although a live-in carer may live in the client's home, they may spend periods working alone.

Carers should:

• Keep a charged telephone available
• Make sure appropriate people know how to contact them
• Be aware of their surroundings
• Take reasonable precautions when entering or leaving the property
• Raise concerns about personal safety
• Avoid situations that place them at unnecessary risk

If a carer feels unsafe, they should remove themselves from danger where possible and seek appropriate assistance.

6. Moving and Handling

Carers should only carry out moving and handling tasks for which they have appropriate training, knowledge and competence.

A carer should not attempt to lift or move a client manually where this could place either person at risk.

If equipment, additional assistance or professional advice is required, the matter should be raised with the client/family.

Live In Care Partners does not provide ongoing moving and handling assessments or supervise these activities.

7. Fire Safety

Carers should familiarise themselves with the client's home and know:

• The available exits
• How to raise an alarm
• What to do in the event of a fire
• Any agreed emergency or evacuation arrangements

Fire exits should be kept accessible.

8. Accidents and Emergencies

If an accident, injury or emergency occurs, the immediate priority is to ensure everyone is as safe as possible.

Depending on the circumstances, carers should:

• Obtain emergency assistance where necessary
• Contact 999 if there is an immediate risk to life or serious injury
• Seek appropriate medical assistance
• Inform the client/family
• Record the circumstances factually
• Inform Live In Care Partners where the matter involves safeguarding, serious safety concerns or an issue relating to the introduction

9. Personal Safety and Threatening Behaviour

Carers should never tolerate threatening, violent or abusive behaviour.

If a carer believes they are at immediate risk:

• Move away from the situation if possible
• Seek a safe place
• Contact 999 where appropriate
• Do not attempt to physically confront or restrain someone unless this is necessary to prevent immediate harm and the carer is appropriately trained

Concerns should also be raised through the appropriate safeguarding route where necessary.

10. Health and Illness

Carers should take reasonable care of their own health and wellbeing.

If a carer becomes unwell and believes they cannot safely continue with the agreed arrangement, they should inform the client/family promptly.

Where appropriate, the carer should also seek medical or other professional advice about their ability to continue safely.

Where the situation affects the carer's suitability or availability for an introduction, they should also inform Live In Care Partners.

If a carer is unable to continue with an agreed arrangement due to illness, Live In Care Partners can assist by identifying and introducing another potential carer where possible. Any decision to proceed with an alternative carer remains with the client.

11. Personal Emergency and Contact Arrangements

Before starting a placement, the client and carer should agree how emergencies and important communications will be handled.

Carers should ensure they have access to:

• A working telephone
• Emergency contact details
• Relevant emergency information agreed with the client/family
• Any information reasonably required to respond safely to an emergency

Personal emergency contact information should be kept confidential.

12. Raising Health and Safety Concerns

A carer should raise a health or safety concern as soon as reasonably possible where:

• There is a serious hazard in the home
• Equipment appears unsafe
• A task cannot be carried out safely
• The carer feels threatened or unsafe
• The client's needs have changed significantly
• The carer believes additional professional support may be required

Concerns relating to safeguarding should also be dealt with under the Carer Safeguarding & Reporting Procedure.

13. Live In Care Partners' Role

Live In Care Partners can receive and consider concerns relating to the introduction service, safeguarding or the suitability of an introduced carer.

We do not:

• Carry out ongoing health and safety supervision
• Manage the client's home
• Direct the carer's daily activities
• Provide ongoing risk assessments for the placement
• Manage emergency or sickness cover

The ongoing arrangements remain between the client/family and carer.