Servicing & maintenance
visit to the care home - and examine the communication undertaken by the supplier prior to their visit to the care home. Do they ask for the right information
regarding the item that needs to be repaired? Do they ask specifics of the malfunctioning item? Based on that information, do they bring all the tools needed to fix the issue on the first visit to the care home? Those are all important communication aspects that care homes should consider.
Strict compliance to regulations The supplier must strictly comply and monitor regulations such as LOLER 1998, BS5827, BS EN ISO 10535 and the Regulation of Care Act. In addition to these, the supplier needs to have practices in place which are primarily directed at containing the pandemic, such as carrying out regular risk assessments prior to servicing a home and, once on site, employing the adapted practices to carry out the work safely and efficiently. It is the supplier’s responsibility to ask
the care home questions directly related to Covid-19, but also about the care home’s infection control procedures, to protect its staff and other care homes around the country. If the care home that needs servicing has Covid-19 cases, then the supplier should make all reasonable efforts to fix issues over the phone or
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attend the site with mobile servicing units. If a malfunctioning item is fixed, such
as a bath, and building access is needed to perform the repairs, the supplier should plan ahead and formulate strategic arrangements to carry out the works. The supplier should then communicate their plans to the care home and, if a clear path to the malfunctioning item can be created, then the supplier can service the care home.
Mobile servicing units Adapting current practices to the pandemic means that when service organisations cannot enter the care home premises, they should carry out the repairs outside of the care home. As the British weather is quite
unpredictable, Spearhead developed mobile servicing units to carry out maintenance works safely on-site utilising vans equipped with mobile workshops to complete the tasks on the first visit. This service ensures that equipment
such as hoists, scales, and slings that can be repaired directly on site without any disruption to the care home.
Proactiveness The right servicing and maintenance supplier acts proactively, ensuring that repairs and inspections are carried out at regular intervals in accordance with regulatory compliance, even during a health crisis.
Being proactive in this sense means
that the supplier should constantly monitor the environment, fulfil its legal obligations, and go above and beyond to ensure that the supplied care home is safe and has the right equipment. Moreover, proactiveness in this
sense also means establishing effective communication and flexibility during this difficult time and adapting current practices. The development of innovative
solutions such as mobile servicing units, no-signature documents and, lastly, a higher number of risk assessments are further examples of supplier’s proactiveness. These aspects are incredibly important when it comes to selecting the right supplier during the pandemic.
Highest infection control procedures Care homes should also judge a servicing and maintenance supplier by the infection control procedures it has in place. For instance, if the supplier services beds and mattresses, it should comply with all existing regulations and work together with care homes to plan and strategically implement actions and behaviours that result in additional systems for infection prevention. In addition to its OTEX disinfection
and decontamination system, Spearhead has also implemented a
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com• August 2020
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