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Posted By Robert.
Not my area of expertise.
I have been asked to provide some guidance.
Residential care home, 6 residents, adults with learning disabilities.
Their rooms are their own and so are all the belongings in it.
One new resident, not particularly ambulent, has so much furniture in the room that the care staff have expressed concern that in an emergency they would not be able to get a wheel-chair in and around the room. The care manager states that the individual has the same rights as any other able bodied person and can have whatever she wants in her room and refuses to even consider the rights of the care staff who have a responsibility to ensure the safe well being of the residents. The distance, I'm told, between the bed and surrounding furniture is less than 500mm. If there was an emergency, one member of staff told me, it would take two care staff to remove the person from the room because of the space restriction.
There are always only two staff present.
The Staff have requested that the space be increased to allow them safe access, and of course egress.
Is there any guidance, ACOP, etc that the employees can refer to so they can use as a lever to justify their predicament?
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Posted By Jane Ling
Have they done an emergency fire drill recently. This would demonstrate whether or not there was enough space in the room during an emergency situation. Under the Fire Regulations all residents should be evacuated or moved to safety.
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Posted By Robert.
Good point, thank-you Jane
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Posted By ABDUL MALIK I agree with the practice evacuation drill, what are your current procedures in the care home, as some have stay put policies due to age, mobility, Learning difficulties and mental health (especially with the latter 2 would they understand what an evacutaion is?)This is the problem you face. If they are a supported shelter i feel you would have a duty to identify any such problems in individual rooms however, if i recall correctly this is very hard to enoforce and you will need to look into tenancy agreements etc. Normally a room in view of H&S is a residents home and consideration is normally given to comunal areas. I would also recommend you review your risk assessments and assess the situation for your other clients, alongside this, i take it you are doing individual risk assesments to identify a clients personal needs? If not i would also suggest you undertake this. If you require further help please email me at abs1984@hotmail.com
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Posted By Robert.
Abdul, thanks, it is their home (a house), owned by social servises, they have learning disabilities and would not understand what an evacuation is.
The point that was made to me was that if it takes two staff (and there are ony two)to get the lesser abled person out to amuster area, the other 5 will be wandering around. Even then, one member would need to stay at the muster point while the other member gather up the other 5.
It's not my baby, I'm asking on behalf of the care staff.
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Posted By ABDUL MALIK
i work for a housing association. My concern with your query is when you are saying that 2 members of staff are required to evacuate 1 client, then this surely would greater a risk irrespective of the client who has a clutter of furniture!
I would advice you or whoever manages your fire risk assessment to review this process. It seems to me that there is an underlying issue with your current control measures.
Im aware that it is not practicable to have a member of staff with every client however what is the really risk within your building?? Is there a high probability of a fire occuring, what are th esources of ignition.You can only do as far as is reasonably practicable.
Do you have direct contact with fire service sould the fire alarm go off? This would be a suggestion based on your client group and number of staff. If you are able to send me a copy of your risk assessment i can comment in further detail. But i think anyone would agree with to in saying that this is a difficult answer to give without having knowledge of your building layout, ignition sources, etc etc.
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Posted By Robert Randall
Hi Robert,
the resident's rooms may be their own but the rooms are also the carers workplace. There is a requirement in the HASAW Act for employers to provide safe access and egress to the place of work.
The carers are at risk if they have to evacuate this resident because of the unsafe access and egress and the employer is therefore in breach of the Act's requirements and could be prosecuted.
The comments about the fire risk assessment are valid. You obviously have too few staff on duty to effect an evacuation and the RA is therefore not "suitable and sufficient" if it has not identified this problem.
Regards,
Bob R
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