Health & Safety
for this, as it should be separated and designated for use as you would do to ensure separation of raw food. A comprehensive and regularly updated allergen checker (matrix) should also be in place – this keeps all recipe/menu information together in a single location. In addition, staff must do all they can to
prevent foodborne illnesses. Food poisoning has the capability of wiping anyone out for days, but there is added risk for the vulnerable with a higher likelihood of severe complications developing and through secondary spread of any infections in enclosed settings.
To streamline these processes, simplify food safety management by using digital checklists, transforming the safety management of your care home(s) into a simple, centralised, and digitised system. Create customised checklists for tasks such as food storage checks, kitchen cleaning routines, special diets and allergies, residents’ mini-kitchens cleaning checks, and post-caring activities and hand washing procedures. Implement these checklists in daily operations, sign them off digitally within seconds, and assign specific tasks to different carers and teams to ensure flawless food safety for your residents.
Temperature monitoring – not just for food safety
Hypothermia is a serious issue which can develop in older people, even if they are only exposed to cold weather for a short time. The risk of hypothermia led to national headlines for a Shropshire-based care home (now closed), where residents were ‘knowingly’ left without heating for 72 hours. In a care home setting, water temperature is important to ensure residents are comfortable (heating systems) but also to ensure their safety e.g. preventing scalding from bath water. There are a number of areas where you will want to monitor temperature, i.e. rooms, baths and basins, medicine storage, and food. During inspections, you will need to show that temperatures are within safe ranges, and one way of doing this is through an automated temperature monitoring system. Smart sensors installed in fridges
and freezers – and residents’ rooms – can automatically monitor temperatures every 30 minutes. If anything goes wrong, the relevant team members will receive immediate alerts. This eradicates the need for routine manual checks, freeing up staff to dedicate more time to interacting and caring for residents.
November 2024
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
Even those care homes that are doing well should not rest on their laurels
Slips, trips, and falls Many non-fatal injuries at work are a result of slips, trips, and falls, but with more due care a lot of these incidents can be avoided. Where necessary, managers should consider: n Reviewing the provision of handrails in hallways, bathrooms, and near stairs, as well as outside the property.
n Using non-slip flooring and rugs. n Adding more lighting to certain areas. n Removing clutter and obstacles from pathways.
n Providing assistive devices (e.g. walkers, canes).
With over 16,700 care homes in the UK – and nearly 70 per cent of residents affected by dementia or severe memory issues – it is also important to provide ample signage throughout the premises, with clear, prominent signage and visual aids like icons and bright colours to highlight hazards effectively.
Incident management A number of settings have been in the news for a lack of incident management. A few months ago, the CQC reported it would be taking action against a Kettering care home after its rating dropped from ‘Good’ to ‘Inadequate’. Part of the inspection referred to incident management, which is an important aspect in identifying key or repeat issues and taking action to reduce, remove, or prevent them in order to keep everyone safe.
Staff should not just be reporting
accidents that result in physical injury/ illness. Near misses are as important, but often swept aside due to their less serious nature. As they do not result in any physical injury, harm, or damage to a person or property, management may feel it is a waste of time to report on, or will not lead to any useful insights. However, these incidents ‘paint a picture’ and provide essential data to detect and mitigate hazards early and prevent less serious incidents from becoming accidents. It is better to be over-cautious than under-cautious – for example, a cracked floor tile might seem like a minor issue which can wait to be fixed, but someone could easily trip over it, resulting in a near miss or accident. Internal checks help you prioritise actions based on risk, as you are able to have an overarching view of safety compliance generally and are then able to target areas for improvement.
Evacuation procedures Are staff and residents clear on where to go in the event of a fire? As some people may have limited mobility, it is important to take this into account, and to have a site specific robust fire evacuation plan in place, in addition to your fire safety policy. The evacuation plan must be regularly tested with the team by way of scheduled fire drills. Staff training on fire safety is
paramount. This should cover fire hazards, general fire prevention, fire detection and suppression systems, evacuation procedures, and the specific roles and responsibilities of individuals during an emergency.
Consulting with fire safety experts can further enhance preparedness and show that you are going above and beyond to protect those you care for.
29
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
