Safeguarding and Health and Safety

Transcription

1 Open for everyone Sunderland Extended Services toolkit Safeguarding and Corporate policy Corporate Mini-bus policy Sunderland Safeguarding Children s Board information Sunderland Virtual Learning Environment Independent Safeguarding Authority web link Safeguarding Children - safer recruitment in education came into force 1 January 2007 Safeguarding Adults webpage

2 Schools must ensure that prior to any extended schools activities commencing that suitable checks of the competence of potential providers are undertaken and evidence of management of health and safety is obtained. Additionally, the provider must be asked to supply specific risk assessments covering the activity(s) to be undertaken identifying how the activity(s) will be safely managed. If the activity(s) are to be undertaken by the school itself, the Headteacher must ensure that specific risk assessments are produced identifying how the activity(s) will be safely managed. Under the at Work Act 1974, the employer is responsible for the health and safety of employees, and also for the health and safety of nonemployees who are on the work premises or who are affected by the employer s undertakings. This would include those participating in extended services activities. The City Council and Children s Services Directorate have written health and safety policies in place as required by the at Work Act It is also a requirement that schools themselves will have their own written specific health and safety policy in place identifying responsibilities for health and safety. Where schools permit others to use their premises, as well as the checks required above, the school must not only make them aware of any specific hazards that they are aware of but also advise them of issues such as fire safety, location of fire exits, fire fighting equipment, first aid arrangements, asbestos, security arrangements etc. Risk assessments The Management of at Work Regulations 1999, place a duty on all employers to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk to health and safety of their employees, whilst they are at work, and to others who may be affected by the employer s undertaking. The purpose of these assessments is so that each employer identifies the precautions, which need to be taken to avoid, or at least control to an acceptable level, significant risks to the health and safety of persons who may be affected by their work activities. There is a clear legal requirement under Regulation 3 of the Management of at Work regulations 1999 for Headteachers/Governors to produce written risk assessments. Not producing risk assessments could potentially expose Headteachers and Governors to civil and criminal action. Guidance on undertaking risk assessments is contained in the corporate code of practice Guidance on the Conduct of Risk Assessment. Code of practice Examples of generic risk assessments These generic risk assessments are intended to be an example for schools to use as a model template which they must tailor to their specific school and the activities undertaken. The generic templates themselves cannot be used as evidence of a schools managed approach to risk assessment.

3 First Aid The (First Aid) Regulations, 1981, require provision of adequate first aid cover during all working hours, depending on the nature and degree of hazard and the number of people at work. All appointed first aiders must hold a valid certificate of competence in first aid at work issued by an organisation approved by the Executive (HSE). The (First Aid) regulations 1981, require provision of adequate first aid cover during all working hours. The number of qualified or appointed first aiders will depend upon such things as the nature and degree of hazard and the number of people occupying or using the premises, how accessible emergency medical services are etc. There is no fixed ratio of first aiders to employees. The number and location of first aid boxes/first aid containers will also be dependent upon the outcome of a risk assessment that needs to be undertaken that should take into account the above issues. Guidance on First Aid can be found in the corporate code of practice First Aid. Code of practice Further information on first aid and details on the approved first aid training available can be obtained from: City Councils Occupational Health Unit Tel: Food Safety If your school is looking to develop catering services on site as part of the extended schools activities you must adhere to Food Hygiene Regulations and be registered with the Local Food Authority. Good food hygiene is essential to make sure that the food you serve is safe to eat, and it makes good business sense because good hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protects your reputation with customers. The five main things to remember for good hygiene should form the basis of your food safety management system in line with the Food Standards Agency s Better Food, Better Business Toolkit. They are: Cleaning Cooking Chilling Cross-contamination Management Staff running any of these services should hold a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate. Useful documents and contacts: Food Safety Act 1990 Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 Environmental Health Section, Sunderland City Council, Civic Centre, Sunderland Tel: or public.health@sunderland.gov.uk

4 Food Standards Agency Tel: Fax: Transport Must adhere to: Corporate code of practice Minibus Operation Fire safety Your school will already have had a Fire Risk Asessment (FRA) undertaken by the Fire Safety Adviser from the Corporate Team. The Fire Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) 2005 places a legal requirement on building owners/occupiers to have in place a FRA which must be reviewed on an annual basis. The FRA should also be kept up to date and amended as necessary to reflect any changes to the fabric or layout of the school and associated buildings i.e. new classrooms created, two rooms being made into one etc. Where school premises are being used by other third parties, whilst generally they do not require a copy of the FRA, it is important that issues of fire safety are communicated to them. This should include the general fire arrangements in place at the school, the emergency evacuation plan in place and should cover such issues as:- What to do in the event of a fire How to raise the fire alarm What the alarm sounds like Means of escape from the building Location of the assembly point Location of fire fighting equipment Who to contact in the event that the fire alarm is activated Schools need to ensure that when the property is in use outside of normal school hours that fire exits are available to be used. Where only part of the school premises will be in use, it is acceptable for those means of escape directly involved with that area need to be readily available. Schools need to take into consideration, and achieve a balance between fire safety and the security needs of the premises. Depending upon what the activity is that is taking place, consideration may need to be given to whether the existing fire fighting equipment on site is appropriate, not only in terms of quantity but also what type of fire extinguisher is required e.g. where cookery lessons maybe being provided in the school hall or a classroom, schools need to consider the provision of fire blankets and the appropriate type of fire extinguishers. Where activity groups are bringing electrical equipment on site, checks need to be undertaken to ensure that it is compatible with existing school equipment, the electrical supply and that it will not be overloading the capacity of the schools electrical supply. If in doubt, advice should be obtained from the schools Building Maintenance Surveyor based in Property Services.

5 Electrical equipment being brought onto the school premises should also show evidence of being subject to Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing). This can be verified by either a PAT testing certificate being produced for the specific piece of equipment or the equipment carrying a green/white PAT test sticker indicating when it was last tested and the date of the next scheduled test. Where public performances are held on school premises such as school plays, it is important that escape routes are clearly marked and that all available emergency exit routes from the school are kept clear and that all emergency exit doors are available for use. Where temporary seating are used for the audience it needs to be arranged in such a way that ensures that gangways are maintained and that exit routes and fire exit doors are not obstructed. With the increased number of people on site, schools will also need to ensure that there are enough staff in attendance throughout the performance to assist in the event of an emergency and that occupancy numbers are taken into account with to ensure that overcrowding does not occur. Where members of the public attend stage or film shows on school premises, a Public Entertainment Theatre or Cinema Licence may be required (see section on Licences). Schools need also to consider, when considering the use of their premises by third parties, as to whether the use will need to be subject to a leasing agreement or Transfer of Control Arrangement. Further advice on fire safety issues can be obtained from: Fire Safety Adviser based in the Corporate Team Tel: Safeguarding vulnerable groups Schools are required to ensure that the safer recruitment requirements placed on existing staff and volunteers at the school will incorporate those involved in extended service provision. Where the Governing body of the school delivers services directly under the supervision/management of the school staff, the school s arrangements for safeguarding and safer recruitment will apply. Where a third party is responsible for running a service, there should be clear lines of accountability and written agreements in place setting out responsibility for carrying out the recruitment and vetting checks. Schools should only work with providers that can demonstrate that they have effective procedures, training and vetting arrangements for their staff, appropriate child/adult ratios and contingency arrangements in place for emergencies or the unexpected e.g. arrangements for managing in the event that a child is not picked up after a session run by a provider. The minimum safeguarding and safer recruitment checks are: Public liability insurance (five million)

6 Safer recruitment checks: Identity Qualification Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) enhanced check number including date and clearing house (please note schools should not be asking to see CRB Disclosure Certificates) Right to work in UK Safeguarding training Safeguarding policy with internal procedures ratified by Sunderland Safeguarding Children s Board (SSCB) Practical implications to consider: Where schools do not have a transfer of control agreement in place: Best practice dictates that there should always be a designated person on site, or a nominated deputy designated person. Where the above is not possible, the designated person should be contactable by telephone and able to get to the site to offer the appropriate response or action as identified in the schools safeguarding policy. The school hosting the activities will be responsible for safeguarding children who access the provision. All schools working in clusters should have a shared inter-school communication safeguarding policy. The protocol should cover immediate response procedures, follow up procedures and how/when to contact the designated persons between schools. The designated person should be someone from the Senior Management Team. Further information can be accessed from: Education Safeguarding Team Manager Tel: City Council Intranet site - to view the latest notes of guidance, policy, procedure Children s Trust Website Schools can signpost agencies seeking to ratify safeguarding procedures to: SSCB Business Manager Tel: Vulnerable adults Safer Recruitment Checks would be expected in terms of both Adults and Children s Services; in addition, any provider would need to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to the implementation of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the issues of registration with them. Further information can be sought from the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

7 Any organisation providing a service for vulnerable adults would be expected to be familiar with the Sunderland Safeguarding Adults Procedural Framework.