Rank: Forum user 
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I'm hoping someone can help me. A client has a three-bed, two-storey detached house used for Supported Living. There is one vulnerable person (a teenager) being supported by three full-time carers. Currently, the two exits (one front of house and one from back kitchen) are only openable by the use of a key. I have recommended that they be changed to 'thumb turn' locks for ease of access (i.e. single action without the use of a key). The Responsible Person has told me that thumb-turn locks cannot be installed because Ofsted and CQC have said the vulnerable person must be 'locked in' to prevent him/her from leaving the house/escaping. This doesn't quite sit right with me because in the event of a fire/evacuation, misplaced keys can prevent/hinder the evacuation to an ultimate place of safety. The RP told me that each carer has keys on a chain on their person at all times. But, I'm still not convinced. I'd appreciate any thoughts and advice from any experts out there. Many thanks Franki
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Turn your argument around - after you have gone to bed for the night where are your keys to open the five lever mortice or multi-point locking system your insurer requires you to have on the final exit doors?
Supported living is about creating as domestic as possible a situation for the resident which will include controls identified in the care package assessment of the individual particularly if they are at risk of self-harm or harm by other means should they leave the property without supervision.
Personally I would not entertain a thumb turn inner lock on a domestic final door especially if there is a readily smashed pane of glass at its side for an intruder to break.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Turn your argument around - after you have gone to bed for the night where are your keys to open the five lever mortice or multi-point locking system your insurer requires you to have on the final exit doors?
Supported living is about creating as domestic as possible a situation for the resident which will include controls identified in the care package assessment of the individual particularly if they are at risk of self-harm or harm by other means should they leave the property without supervision.
Personally I would not entertain a thumb turn inner lock on a domestic final door especially if there is a readily smashed pane of glass at its side for an intruder to break.
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Rank: Forum user
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Thanks for your response Roundtuit. You are right, there is the potential for a break-in if a thumb turn lock (or similar) is fitted to the inside of the front door (or back door) to a house. However, I was informed that there would be three carers on site. During the night, there would be at least one carer doing the night shift, so would be awake. The question is, is it safe to depend on a carer to have his/her keys ready to unlock an exit door quickly in the event of a fire situation/evacuation? As you said, supported living is about keeping the setting (the house/home) as normal as possible. However, because there are carers on-site 24/7, it is also a place of work.
Many thanks again for your response. It's much appreciated.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Not quit the same i know as its not intended to maintain a home atmosphere but there are many locations within the UK where normal fire rules dont apply because of security lessons - Prisons, Psychiatric hospitals etc where you have to rely on people with keys. Obviously we dont know teh full details of this case - but I hope ofsted has weighed up all the human right issues etc, real minefield.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The Fire safety order says “emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency;” The bit about single or simple action to open a final exit is just guidance. But ask yourself why does this rule exist? If we have a large building with many people, it is likely that they will all converge at the emergency exit and the rule exists to ensure that when the first person arrives, they can quickly and easily open the door before a crush forms. In the scenario described with just one client and a small number of carers ( maximum of 3 ) this would not be an issue.
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Rank: Forum user
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Franki
Look at Article 14(1) of the Fire Safety Order. It clearly states 'where necessary' prior to the list of must haves
In effect, this means that list is not compulsory but merely best practice that must be applied unless there's a good reason not to
Its no use assessing the risk of fire and ignoring other risks such as a vulnerable person absconding at 3am
If you had to apply the list in Article 14 rigidly, mental health units, police stations and prisons could not operate
Locked doors in the care sector are not rare. From nurseries with door handles mounted at the top of the door, to dementia care homes with locked doors
Take care with keys on straps as female staff can have problems hooking the key strap if wearing skirts or dresses. For all sleeping in staff, access to keys can be problematic if they partially undress
Where I have risk assessed this type of control measure, I recommend random and regular management checks that staff are carrying keys
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 3 users thanked Messy for this useful post.
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Rank: Forum user
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The responses I have received have been incredibly helpful. Thank you Roundtuit, Brian, A Kurdziel, and Messy for responding to me. Thanks, again
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1 user thanked Franki for this useful post.
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