Security
Providing a secure living and working environment
David Hodgkiss, national sales manager for Assa Abloy Access Control, advises on the factors care home managers need to consider in order to secure a site for residents and staff, as well as discussing the latest access control technology available to help achieve this
Research undertaken by the British Security Industry Association1
revealed
that 80 per cent of respondents perceived the wellbeing of care home residents to be the most important consideration, with one respondent describing managing access as high on the agenda to minimise the risk of vulnerable individuals wandering into unsecured areas. The second biggest threat identified was that of intruders being able to access the building. Care home residents have the right to live in a safe environment, while staff should be able to work without fear of being threatened or harassed by unwanted intruders. It is therefore essential that care homes introduce measures to protect residents and their carers. However, care home environments are often busy ones, with residents and their families and friends, medical staff and cleaners, as well as temporary and contract workers, all requiring access tailored to their specific and very different needs.
Expectations
In addition to assuring the safety and security of vulnerable residents and staff, the care home sector is also continually seeking solutions that may help cut energy costs, reduce maintenance and be easily integrated with existing systems. For example, locks may need to be integrated with CCTV and other security systems.
We expect too much of the traditional lock and key if we believe it will meet such a challenge. Common problems with traditional security systems include lost or stolen keys. It can be inconvenient, time-consuming and expensive to change locks and re-issue keys. There is also the risk of stolen keys being copied, which can compromise security even further. Furthermore, mechanical keys on bedroom doors can also be difficult for older people to operate. For this
It can be inconvenient, time-consuming and expensive to change locks and re-issue keys
reason, as well as because of the level of assurance and peace of mind they offer, the use of electronic locks has increased across a range of sectors over recent years.
A study by one NHS Trust2 highlighted
the fact that ward nursing staff can spend 30 to 40 minutes during an eight hour shift looking for keys to access controlled drug cabinets. This may also be an issue
in care homes, with the majority of environments using traditional mechanical lock systems to control and maintain the security of their drug cabinets. Staff working in healthcare environments may simply leave cabinet doors open, as caring for people is seen as a greater priority than drug security, even though this is in breach of Care Quality Commission regulations.
Care home environments are often busy ones, with residents and their families and friends, medical staff and cleaners, as well as temporary and contract workers, all requiring access tailored to their specific and very different needs
May 2017 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment .com 23
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