HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING POLICY For the attention of: All Staff Review Date: October 2017 Author : Sarah Humphreys
CONTENTS 1. OVERALL POLICY STATEMENT... 2 2. RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING... 3 1
1. OVERALL POLICY STATEMENT It is the policy of Horizon Care & Education Group Limited to ensure, so far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and wellbeing of all our staff. Through the implementation of this policy and associated procedures we are committed to: Providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and the children and young people in our care; Creating an environment in which all staff are aware of their health, safety & wellbeing responsibilities, and are given the appropriate training and development to ensure they can competently meet these responsibilities; As far as reasonably practical in the sector we work in providing a working environment in which work related stressors are minimised or mitigated through good supervision and management practices; Having an effective communication system in place to ensure we actively involve all our staff in the implementation and development of our health, safety and wellbeing policies; Ensuring an effective management system is in place to plan, do, check and act, which is integrated into our general management approach within Horizon Care and Education Group, rather than a standalone system. We are committed to continually improving the health, safety & wellbeing of the organisation and will assess performance against agreed benchmarks within our schools & homes. Paul Callander Chief Executive Officer 2
2. RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING The diagram on the next page indicates the responsibilities and accountabilities for all employees and levels of management within the company. Further detail is given below. 2.1 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) The CEO has ultimate responsibility to the Board for all aspects of health, safety and wellbeing, as well as ensuring that the appropriate systems, resources and funds are available and deployed effectively. The CEO will also ensure that the Executive Directors and Board Directors have the necessary competence to carry out their statutory and executives duties in respect of health, safety and wellbeing. 2.2 Executive team The Executive team has ultimate day to day responsibility and accountability for ensuring all our care homes, schools and offices comply with our internal policies and procedures as well as legal requirements. The Director of HR and OD as specific responsibility for taking the lead on health, safety and wellbeing within the company. 2.3 Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Home Managers All members of the SLT are responsible and accountable for ensuring that all the homes, schools, office environments under their control comply with our internal policies and procedures and legal requirements. This includes developing and encouraging a health, safety and wellbeing culture which is embedded into how all our employees work and behave. Home Managers have the day today responsibility for the implementation of our policies and procedures and the requirements under the health, safety and wellbeing management systems. 2.4 Employees, contractors, agency staff and service users All employees, contractors, agency staff and service users have a responsibility to take reasonable care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and consider that of other colleagues and service users. This includes reporting any concerns, incidents, near misses as soon as possible. 2.5 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Group The Group membership includes the Regional Operations Managers (ROMs), Health, Safety and Wellbeing leads for each school, the Facilities Manager, the Learning and Development Manager and the Quality and Compliance Co ordinator. The Group is chaired by the Director of HR and OD. The Group meets on a quarterly basis. The purpose of the Group is to: Develop a robust health, safety and wellbeing management system and ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities Review policies and procedures across the business Ensure processes are in place to ensure safe systems of working Report and review health, safety and wellbeing data, setting benchmarks where appropriate To lead the embedding of a health, safety and wellbeing culture throughout the whole organisation. 3
HORIZON CARE AND EDUCATION GROUP LTD HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILIES Statutory Directors ULTIMATE LEGAL CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY Executive Team and Operational Directors POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Senior Leadership Team DELIVERY, COMMUNICATION AND COMPLIANCE Employees, Contractors, Agency Staff, Service Users IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION