Policy First Aid (Worked Example)

Policy – First aid (worked example)

Suitable for domiciliary care settings.

Note: this worked example policy is for illustrative information only. It may be used by a domiciliary care agency or organisation as a basis upon which to develop their own policy but should be fully customised and adapted to the specific needs of the organisation concerned.

Aim

The aim of the organisation is to ensure that effective first aid cover is provided at all times in such a way as to fulfil the statutory requirements of the organisation as set out in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 and according to up-to-date good practice guidelines.

Background

This domiciliary care organisation understands ‘first aid’ to refer to basic emergency care for the treatment of minor injuries or basic emergency care administered to minimise the consequences of more serious injury and illness until qualified medical assistance is available.

This policy is fully compliant with the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 which require employers to provide ‘adequate and appropriate’ equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work. These Regulations apply to all workplaces, including those with less than five employees, and to the self-employed.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends that the first aid requirements of service users are also considered when planning first aid provision.

The organisation understands that what is deemed ‘adequate and appropriate’ depends on the circumstances in the workplace and should be decided following a careful risk assessment. This includes whether trained first aiders are needed.

The organisation recognises that the main requirements of the law are that organisations provide:

· an adequate number of appropriately trained first aid staff so that the first aid risks and requirements of staff are addressed, including those working as lone workers in clients’ homes

· an adequate number of first aid boxes or kits containing essential first aid equipment

· information for staff on first aid arrangements, procedures and provision.

The organisation understands there to be two types of first aid personnel:

· a fully qualified first aider who has completed a first aid at work (FAW) or an emergency first aid at work (EFAW) training course approved by the HSE

· an appointed person who may have undertaken a basic emergency first aid training course and whose duty is to provide cover for and otherwise support first aiders and the first aid arrangements.

The desired outcome is that the health of service users and staff is promoted and protected as far as can be reasonably expected.

Policy

In this organisation:

· The domiciliary care agency manager will conduct a risk assessment of first aid needs and requirements and will keep the assessment under regular review. The assessment will be used to determine first aid arrangements.

· The risk assessment will take a number of factors into account, including the status of home care staff as ‘lone workers’ and the fact that staff generally work and operate in a low-risk environment.

· All home care staff will be given information about first aid arrangements and procedures and will be trained in basic first aid as part of their induction so that they know what to do in the event of illness or an accident when they are caring for a service user.

· At least one fully qualified first aider will be included on the office staff duty rota at all times. This first aider will be available to provide help and support for home care workers over the phone as required.

· All home care workers will have a mobile phone with which they can contact the office in the case of illness or an accident or with which they can call for emergency medical assistance as required.

· Appropriate signs will be placed in prominent areas of the agency’s offices displaying the location of the nearest first aid box, the contact details of the first aider and the first aid/emergency arrangements of the organisation.

· All home care staff will be issued with a personal first aid travel kit which complies with British Standard BS 8599.

· In the main office a larger first aid box will be kept which also complies with British Standard BS 8599.

Management duties

Managers and supervisors in the organisation have a duty to:

· Protect the health and safety of service users, staff and visitors and everybody who uses the service.

· Ensure that all staff and volunteers are aware of and implement this policy.

· Conduct, record and annually review an assessment of the first aid risks and needs of the service, producing a first aid plan and reviewing that plan on a regular basis or whenever there is a significant change in the organisation that might affect first aid provision, for example changes in staffing.

· Ensure that suitably stocked first aid boxes/kits that are compliant with British Standard BS 8599 are available in the main office and issued to all home care staff.

· Maintain up-to-date lists of first aiders/appointed persons.

· Ensure that staff attend appropriate first aid training and that records are kept of who has attended – this should include induction training, where new staff should be provided with information about first aid arrangements and information on basic first aid procedures.

· Maintain an overview of the numbers and availability of first aiders and ensure that sufficient new first aiders are being trained/appointed to meet the needs of the organisation.

· Maintain first-aid information on notice boards and ensure that the first aid arrangements are included in the staff handbook.

· Take all reasonable steps to ensure that staff from outside agencies have received appropriate training/information on how to respond to first aid emergencies, including who the qualified first aiders are and where they can be contacted.

· Ensure that appropriate first aid records are kept and that any reports required under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR) are completed.

· Ensure that an effective incident reporting process is in place, that any first aid incidents, or near misses, are accurately reported and that regular scrutiny of reports is conducted to identify if first aid risks are being effectively controlled, i.e. if reported incidents are reducing in number.

· Conduct regular audits of the management of first aid incidents within the organisation.

· Ensure that adequate and suitable training programmes are carried out or commissioned that include induction training on basic first aid for new staff and HSE-approved training for identified first aiders.

Staff duties

First aiders in this organisation are responsible for:

· Giving immediate basic first aid assistance to casualties with common injuries or illnesses within the limits of their training and capabilities.

· Making an assessment as to whether an ambulance or other professional medical help is required and ensuring that such help is obtained where appropriate, rendering continuing first aid to the victim until that help arrives.

· Advising home care staff by phone in the event of first aid queries.

· Looking after first aid equipment and restocking first aid boxes as necessary.

· Reporting all first aid incidents and completing accident/incident forms.

Appointed persons have a duty to:

· Take charge when someone is injured or becomes ill in the absence of a qualified first aider, including in-home care situations where they will be taught to respond in line with their training and within the limits of their capabilities.

· Contact the duty first aider if required for additional support or call for an ambulance in the case of a medical emergency.

· Look after first aid equipment and restock first aid boxes as necessary.

· Report all first aid incidents and complete an accident/incident form.

· If in doubt always summon medical assistance by phoning for an ambulance.

Training

In this organisation:

· All staff, including new recruits at induction, should be trained in the contents of this policy and in the first aid arrangements of the organisation, including: first aid/emergency procedures, numbers and identities of first aiders, numbers and identities of appointed persons and whereabouts of first aid boxes.

· First aiders should be released to attend appropriate HSE-approved FAW or EFAW training courses and sufficient updates as required to ensure that they maintain their qualification. The relevant line manager and/or supervisors should discuss needs with first aiders during appraisal/supervision and include any training update needs in their personal development plans.

· Appointed persons should also be released to attend appropriate training courses and sufficient updates as required to ensure that they too maintain their skills.

Applicability and scope

This policy applies to all staff and volunteers working for the organisation without exception. All staff have responsibility for ensuring that they work within the remit of this policy and in the manner in which they have been trained.

Responsibilities

Responsibility for the implementation, monitoring and review of this policy lies with the management of the organisation.

Signed:

Dated:

Policy reference number and version:

Author:

Implementation date:

Next review date: