HEALTH AND SAFETY
Booklet for Primary Support Homes
(Including Guidance)
Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
CONTENTS
Page 3
Introduction
Page 4
Requirements
Pages 5-7
General safety advice
Pages 8 – 10
Fire evacuation
Pages 11
Fire evacuation form
Page 12
Useful websites
Page 12
Signatures
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Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
Name of Primary Support
Address
INTRODUCTION
This booklet is to help you and your family think about the dangers in your home and how you
can make it a safer place for everyone. Every year in the UK more than 5,000 people die in
accidents in the home and 2.7 million turn up at accident and emergency departments seeking
treatment. Accidents happen behind closed doors in isolated incidents so they rarely attract
public and media attention.
 It’s a fact that more accidents happen in the summer, on a Sunday and in the evening.
 It’s a fact more accidents happen when people are in a hurry, under stress or in unfamiliar
surroundings.
 It’s a fact that your risk of an accident at home increases in the first few weeks following a
major change in your life. This includes when a child comes to stay with you or leaves your
home.
In the UK, accidental injuries are the most common cause of death in children over one year of
age.
Children under five are most at risk from an injury in the home, with boys more likely to be
injured than girls.
Burns and scalds are common injuries in young children. Many young children also end up at
hospital after swallowing objects or following a suspected poisoning.
Older children are more likely to experience fractures, such as a broken arm or wrist.
Many accidents and deaths that occur in the home are avoidable. By identifying and
understanding the potential risks and taking some basic safety measures, we can reduce risks to
help keep children safe.
The safety advice in this booklet does not cover all the risks; it highlights some of the most
common risks around our homes.
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Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR A PRIMARY SUPPORT HOME YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO
HAVE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY EQUIPMENT/PRACTICES IN PLACE:
This will also ensure the safety of you and your family as well as any looked after child. There is no
cost of providing or implementing these basic safety procedures in your home, to ensure the
safety of you, your family or any looked after child.
Requirements
SSW to confirm each item/practice is in place
Smoke detectors - minimum of one detector on
each level of your home. In many areas the Fire
Brigade will provide and fit these free of charge.
These should be tested weekly.
Fire evacuation plan with identified escape
completed. (Guidance and blank plan in this
leaflet).
All medication should be locked away to prevent
access by children.
All hazardous cleaning materials, alcohol and
sharp items, carving knives, scissors etc. should be
placed out of reach or locked away to prevent any
access by children.
Windows above ground floor that are accessible
to children should be kept locked if restrictors are
not fitted whilst a looked after child is staying in
your home, to prevent any accidental falls from
height. (Top opening windows do not need
restrictors).
Your home and car should be a smoke free zone.
Only smoke outside away from any doors and
windows.
Children should be supervised at all times when
there are pets in the home, particularly dogs.
Every year a number of children and young people are
injured by dogs. In a small number of cases this results in
serious injury and sometimes death. In many of these cases
the owners of the dogs have considered their dogs to be
safe and not had cause to worry about their behaviour
around babies and children previously. The SSW may
decide that a risk assessment is required on your pet.
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Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
Supervision of young children when outside the
property or in the garden at all times.
CERTAIN SAFETY ITEMS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ANY YOUNG CHILD THAT YOU PROVIDE
PRIMARY SUPPORT TO:
Requirements
SSW to confirm each item is in place or explain if not required
Cleats for blinds that are
accessible to any young child
Safety gates top and bottom of
stairwell
Fireguard
Childproof socket covers
Cooker hob guard or stair gate
on kitchen
Bedrail/guard if appropriate
GENERAL SAFETY ADVICE
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN
A car seat must be suitable for a child’s height, weight and age, please visit the following website
for further guidance: http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/types-of-seat/i-size-seats/. Only EUapproved child car seats can be used in the UK. These have a label showing a capital ‘E’ in a circle.
Fitting a child car seat
You must:
 only use a child car seat with a seat belt that has a diagonal strap - unless it’s specifically
designed for use with a lap seat belt
 deactivate any front airbags before fitting a rear-facing baby seat in a front seat
 not fit a child car seat in side-facing seats
Children with disabilities – The same rules apply for children with disabilities unless a doctor
says they’re exempt on medical grounds. They can also use a disabled person’s seat belt or child
restraint designed for their needs.
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Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
No room for a third child seat - Children under 3 must be in a child car seat. If there’s no room
for a third child seat in the back of the vehicle, the child must travel in the front seat with the
correct child seat.
Children over 3 years can sit in the back using an adult belt.
DRIVER’S LICENCE
Your driver’s card is only valid for 10 years – fines of up to £1000 can be made if you are driving
with an out of date card.
It is really important that all the details on your driver’s card are up to date.
Following the abolition of the counterpart licence in June 2015 a PDF summary of your driving
record can be obtained on line. Old type paper driving licences issued prior to 1998 were still
valid at the time this leaflet was published. For any further information you can visit
www.gov.uk/dvla.
MOT / CAR INSURANCE
Always check your car insurance and MOT are valid.
The agency strongly recommends that you check with your insurance provider to ensure you are
adequately protected in terms of insurance cover for transporting looked after children.
HOME INSURANCE
The agency strongly recommends that you check with your insurance providers to ensure you are
adequately protected in terms of insurance cover buildings and contents.
The agency would require you to claim from your insurers for accidental damage caused by a
looked after child.
DROWNING
Children can drown in less than 3cm or 11/2 inches of water. They should be under constant
supervision when in or near any water.
Prevention
 Never leave children or babies in the bath unsupervised, even for a moment.
 Never leave uncovered bowls or buckets of water around the home.
 Paddling pools should be emptied and stored away when not in use.
 Garden ponds should be filled in while children are small or securely fenced off. Take
special care when visiting other people’s gardens.
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GAS
The agency strongly recommends that all homes have an annual gas check. If you rent your home
the Landlord is required under the Gas safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to ensure
all gas appliances are maintained in good order and that an annual safety check is carried out by
a gas safety registered engineer.
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Any burning fossil can emit carbon monoxide fumes: gas, oil, coal, wood and if the ventilation
is blocked the fumes will come back into your property.
The agency strongly recommends the use of audible carbon monoxide (CO) alarms as a useful
back-up precaution but they must not be regarded as a substitute for proper installation and
maintenance of gas appliances by a Gas Safe Registered engineer. Before purchasing a CO alarm,
always ensure it complies with British Standard EN 50291 and carries a British or European
approval mark, such as a Kitemark. CO alarms should be installed, checked and serviced in line
with the manufacturer’s instructions.
You can be particularly at risk from CO poisoning when you are asleep, because you may not be
aware of early CO symptoms until it is too late. Having an audible CO alarm could wake you and
save your life. For further information visit www.hse.gov.uk/gas.
ELECTRICITY
The agency strongly recommends that all homes have an electrical hard wire test by a qualified
electrician following an initial inspection. Rented Property – The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
requires the landlord to ensure the electrical installation is safe when the tenancy begins and
that it is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy. This does not always include an
electrical certificate being issued.
The fire brigade do not recommend the use of double (cube) adaptors these can result in a fire it is safer to use the strip type.
GLASS
Glass doors, tables cabinets etc. that we have around our homes can be a risk to any child. Any
items that are fitted with safety glass in them should be marked in one of the corners of the
glass. Make existing none safety glass safer by applying shatter resistant film.
Greenhouses or cold frame pose a high risk and should be fitted with Perspex or fenced off so
they are inaccessible to any child.
Please note anything purchased from IKEA will be safety glass but does not have any markings.
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STAIRS
Never leave tripping hazards on the stairs this could prevent a safe evacuation from your home
in the event of an emergency. Stairs should be carefully maintained - damaged or worn carpet
should be repaired or removed.
FIRE EVACUATION PLAN AND PLANNING Guidance
BASIC FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING
Your ability to get out of your home safely in the event of a fire depends on advance warning
from smoke alarms and advance planning.
The Agency requires every Primary Support Home to have a written evacuation plan, and
strongly recommend that every home requests a free fire risk assessment offered by their local
Fire Brigade. (Please contact your local fire brigade to see if this service is available in your area.)
View at www.fireservice.co.uk/safety, this website offers expert advice on home safety.
Please consider the following when writing your home evacuation plan.
 Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan.
 Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. This is a great
way to get children involved in fire safety in a non-threatening way.
Install smoke alarms on every level of the home.
PLANNING YOUR ESCAPE
 The best escape route is your normal way in and out of your home, so keep it clear.
 Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan. When you walk through your
plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be
opened easily.
 Choose an outside point where you will all assemble in the event of an evacuation.
 Go outside to see if your street number is clearly visible from the road.
 Consider what action will be taken by everyone – where is the assembly point for all the
family to meet in preparation to exit the home together if the smoke alarm sounds?
 Who will check everyone is together leaving the home?
 Who will phone the Fire Brigade and when will they phone?
 Do you take your mobiles upstairs at night?
 Are keys easily available for all doors and windows so a safe evacuation can take place?
 If there are household members with mobility limitations or other disabilities, make sure
that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency.
Assign a backup person too, in case the designee is not home during the emergency.
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 If windows or doors in your home have window restrictors, make sure that they can be
over ridden in the event of fire.
 Tell all children placed in your care about your family's fire escape plan.
 Once you're out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning
building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department when you call. Fire-fighters
have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.
PUTTING YOUR PLAN TO THE TEST
 Practice your home fire escape plan twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible.
 Make arrangements in your plan for anyone in your home who has a disability.
 Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill.
 Always choose the escape route that is safest – the one with the least amount of smoke
and heat – but be prepared to escape under toxic smoke if necessary. When you do your
fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to
your exit.
 Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely
escape.
In some cases, smoke or fire may prevent you from exiting your home, to prepare for this,
practice “sealing yourself in for safety” as part of your home fire escape plan.
 Close all doors between you and the fire.
 Use bed linen to seal the door cracks and cover air vents to keep smoke from coming in.
 If possible open your windows at the top and bottom so fresh air can get in.
 Call the fire department to report your exact location.
 Wave a light or light-coloured cloth at the window to let the fire department know where
you are located.
Ensuring a fire evacuation plan has been put in place will, in the unfortunate event of a fire in
your home, help to save your lives.
Taking the time to ensure the following points are adhered to will not only reduce the risk of a
fire in your home, but in the event of a fire will increase the time you have to evacuate you
home.
 Check everything is switched off and unplugged when not in use especially at night
 Ensure the cooker is switched off correctly
 Turn off heaters
 Do not leave the washing machine/tumble dryer or dishwasher running whilst you are in
bed
 Do not leave mobile phones on charge when out or asleep
 Close all inside doors
 Smoke alarm batteries should be checked weekly
 Always take keys and your mobile phones into your bedroom
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 Check all candles are extinguished
 Never use block plug adaptors, they are dangerous and could invalidate your insurance
 Ensure stairways are always clear of obstructions
 When staying overnight at other people's homes, ask about their escape plan. If they don't
have a plan, offer to help them make one. This is especially important when children are
permitted to attend "sleepovers" at friends' homes.
 Be fully prepared for a real fire: when a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately.
EXAMPLE OF A FIRE EVACUATION PLAN
Family Name
Please insert family surname
If a fire is discovered we have all agreed to do the following
The responsible adults are responsible for
ensuring everyone safely exits the home to
an agreed meeting point. Assembly point
for all the family in preparation to exit the
home together. Choose a safe location to
meet, e.g. at night the landing, during the
day the hallway.
E.G. IN THE EVENT OF A SMOKE ALARM GOING OFF IN THE
NIGHT ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD WILL ASSEMBLE
ON THE LANDING OUTSIDE (INSERT NAME) BEDROOM.
(NAME) WILL COUNT TO ENSURE ALL FAMILY MEMBERS ARE
THERE AND WE WILL EXIT THE HOME VIA THE STAIRS AND
THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR IF SAFE TO DO SO. IF THE
STAIRCASE IS BLOCKED WE WILL ASSEMBLE IN (NAME WHICH
BEDROOM) CLOSE THE DOOR AND BLOCK ALL VENTS. IF SAFE
TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE WINDOW ONTO A FLAT ROOF OR
USE AN ESCAPE LADDER THEN WE WILL. IF NOT, WE WILL
OPEN WINDOW AND AWAIT RESCUE FROM THE FIRE
BRIGADE.
IN THE EVENT OF THE ALARM GOING OFF IN THE DAY WE
WILL MEET AT THE FRONT DOOR AND EXIT TO THE
NOMINATED ASSEMBLY POINT.
Once all the family are together (determine
at least two ways out of each room in your
home) take the shortest/safest route to
exit the property.
After exiting the property our assembly
point will be (choose a safe area to go) and
wait for the fire brigade.
LIST EACH ROOM AND IDENTIFY TWO ESCAPE ROUTES
E.G.
KITCHEN - REAR DOOR INTO HALLWAY
HALL - FRONT DOOR THROUGH LIVING ROOM DOOR
Designated person(s) who will phone the
fire brigade once everyone is evacuated.
PLEASE NAME THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR PHONING THE FIRE BRIGADE
THIS AREA SHOULD BE AWAY FROM THE PROPERTY ACROSS
THE ROAD IF POSSIBLE.
 We will not go back into our home under any circumstances.
 We will practise our fire plan at least once a year or if our family circumstances change.
(Your fire plan should be changed as your home or family change.)
 We will include any specific instructions regarding a safe evacuation for any disabled
person within the home.
Family signatures
All family members to sign
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Guidance booklet for Primary Support Homes
FIRE EVACUATION PLAN
Fire evacuation plan for - Family Name
If a fire is discovered we have all agreed to do the following
The responsible adults are responsible for
ensuring everyone safely exits the home
to an agreed meeting point. Assembly
point for all the family in preparation to
exit the home together. Choose a safe
location to meet, e.g. at night the landing,
during the day the hallway.
Once all the family are together
(determine at least two ways out of each
room in your home) take the
shortest/safest route to exit the property.
After exiting the property our assembly
point will be (choose a safe area to go)
and wait for the fire brigade.
Designated person(s) who will phone the
fire brigade once everyone is evacuated.
 We will not go back into our home under any circumstances.
 We will practise our fire plan at least once a year or if our family circumstances change.
(Your fire plan should be changed as your home or family change.)
 We will include any specific instructions regarding a safe evacuation for any disabled
person within the home.
Family signatures
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USEFUL WEBSITES
Transporting children – car seat guidance
http://www.childcarseats.org.uk/types-of-seat/i-size-seats/
Driving licence information
www.gov.uk/dvla
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
www.hse.gov.uk/gas
Fire evacuation planning
www.fireservice.co.uk/safety
Get Safe Online
www.getsafeonline.org
Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
http://www.capt.org.uk/
If you require any advice relating to any Health and Safety matters please ask the
foster carer to raise your queries with their Supervising Social Worker.
I/We have read and understood the agency guidance and requirements and will adhere to
these safety requirements.
Primary Support
Signature
Date
Primary Support
Signature
Date
Document checked by
SSW (Print Name)
Date
SSW Signature
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