Risk Assessment and Care Plans Why? How? and how they differ..

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1 Risk Assessment and Care Plans Why? How? and how they differ.. Mrs A Ferrero Environmental Health Officer East Devon District Council Risk Assessment Why do I have to do it? It s a legal requirement Management Regulations 1999 You have to make sure; staff and the public are properly protected you focus on reducing real risks those which arise more often and those with serious consequences staff understand that as well as the right to protection, they also have responsibilities you are managing work processes as efficiently and safely as possible

2 Care Plan Why do I have to do it? It s a legal requirement Health and Social Care Act 2008 You have to make sure; it is centered on the client s individual circumstances you focus on the welfare, needs and preferences of the client you balance safety with the client s right to make choices, and take appropriate informed risks you are reducing the risk of deterioration of the clients health status and CQC will know if you don t. So how do you do a Risk Assessment? A risk assessment is a careful examination of what in your work could cause harm to people, so that you can decide if you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Some jobs are just asking for it.

3 Sensible risk management is not about: Creating a totally risk free society Generating useless paperwork mountains Scaring people by exaggerating or publicising trivial risks Stopping activities where the important risks are managed What is a Hazard? a hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from ladders, an open drawer etc What is risk? the risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be So where do I start? It helps to have a structure to risk assessment, for example a form

4 There are two basic things to consider during assessment Physical risks- usually premises based ones, i.e. slippery floors, stairs, equipment provided, hot surfaces, etc. Procedural risks- the ways staff work, i.e. manual handling, infection control, client attitudes etc. Identify the hazards: Find out where hazards can occur i.e. look at HSE s website Walk around the premises noting potential physical risks. Talk to members of staff with knowledge and experience on work methods, and listen to their opinions on health and safety issues. Think about occasional activities, such as putting up Christmas decorations or changing light bulbs. Look at the accident book, to understand what has previously caused incidents. And what about a Care Plan? The registered person must ensure each service user is protected from inappropriate or unsafe care, by (a) carrying out an assessment of their needs (b) planning and delivering care to (i) meet their individual needs, (ii) ensure their welfare and safety, (iii) follow guidance issued by appropriate professionals on good practice, (iv) avoid discrimination and make reasonable adjustments if needed. The registered person must have procedures for dealing with emergencies which would affect the services.

5 Lets consider an example that may link Care Plans with Risk Assessment. A Care plan would start with identifying a problem, for example the client has difficulty using their bed safely. This may be from the client expressing concern, or staff noticing the client has a problem, or unfortunately as a result of a fall from the bed. A Care plans would consider the history of the client, their mobility in bed, their size, their understanding of the problem, will they try and get out of bed alone, are they likely to try to climb over rails, what the client actually wants to happen. So a decision is made to provide bed rails Having made the decision to do something a Risk assessments would start with looking at the hazards. Find out where hazards can occur i.e. look at HSE s website Walk around looking for potential physical risks. Talk to members of staff with knowledge and experience on these work methods, and listen to their opinions on health and safety issues. Think about occasional activities, such as changing furniture layout and deep cleaning rooms. Look at the accident book, to understand what has previously caused incidents.

6 Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home Around 3 fatalities per year reported to HSE across UK. There are probably many other unreported incidents and accidents involving bed rails. Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home By thinking of the possible hazards some questions can then be considered, would an alternative be better e.g. lower bed? is bedrail suitable for bed? is mattress suitable for use with rails? can it be fitted safely to prevent any area where a person could become trapped maintenance staff training and competent to use bedrails

7 Both Care plans and Risk assessments have to be documented. Care plans, containing personal information, must be kept confidential. Risk assessments must be made available to staff and should contain information including who could be harmed and how: Public Staff Contractors Anyone else Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home Existing controls and extra ones needed For each hazard; write down what the hazard is, why it is important and what controls are in place to manage it, compare the controls to the good practice guidance on HSE s, or other industry regulators websites, if they are not good enough write down what else needs to be done to control the risk.

8 Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home Example :- Use of Bedrails in a home

9 Record and implement controls Discuss the findings with staff. Pin the risk assessment up in the staff room for everyone to see. Plan how and when you will do any necessary work. Train staff if necessary. Regularly review Review and update the risk assessment every year, or straight away if major changes happen or an accident occurs which highlights a weakness. Sources of information Your local EHO HSE guidance Trade Bodies

10 Risk assessment You have a legal duty to consider risks in your business and to do what you reasonably can to deal with the risks. Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999