Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 HCPA Event Fire Safety Workshop for Residential/Supported Living Services Community Protection Directorate

Welcome & Housekeeping Tony Smith

Fire Safety in Residential/Supported Living Care Premises Community Protection Directorate Fire Protection Department

Introductions

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Legislation What piece of legislation is used in the UK to ensure fire safety in residential care premises? The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 What does ‘The Order’ require from you? As the responsible person you must: carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly tell staff or their representatives about the risks you’ve identified put in place, and maintain, appropriate fire safety measures plan for an emergency provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training The Fire Safety Order is a Fire Risk Assessment based approach This takes the form of an informal Q&A session – invite the answers from the delegates before revealing them Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Fire Risk Assessment “If you are the ‘Responsible Person’, you must ensure that a fire risk assessment has been carried out that must focus on the safety of all 'Relevant Persons' in the case of fire. It should pay particular attention to those at special risk, such as the disabled and those with special needs” Emphasise that any of them could be deemed to be a ‘Responsible Person’ due to their position so they should all be happy with the fire safety arrangements Quick explanation of ‘Relevant Persons’ Highlight that persons under care are particularly high risk - hence the separate sentence in the Order Community Protection Directorate

Who Should Carry out the FRA? Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Who Should Carry out the FRA? You can choose to appoint a 'competent' risk assessor to carry out a fire risk assessment on your behalf. There are two recognised online registers for Fire Risk Assessors – IFE & IFSM You will find links to these in your resource packs Quick overview with a couple of examples of things that will be missed if the risk assessor is not competent – compartmentation, suitability of evacuation plan etc. Make a point of compartmentation within roof spaces – if they do their own FRA are they going up in the loft & do they know what to look for??? Community Protection Directorate

What Should an FRA contain? Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 What Should an FRA contain? The ‘Order’ requires a fire risk assessment to include the measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire, and to identify persons at risk. Does your Fire Risk Assessment measure up? Lead in to table exercise where delegates look at their own FRA’s with the assistance of an FPO (preferably one per table) Does it cover measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of fire and identify persons at risk Does it cover ‘compartmentation’ particularly in roof spaces Does it reference the Evacuation Plan and Staff Training? Community Protection Directorate

Exercise 1 When was your FRA last reviewed? Does it make reference to ‘relevant persons’? Does it list hazards & control measures? Does it refer to the evacuation plan? Were there any significant findings? If so, have they been actioned?

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Fire Service Audits What aspects will the Fire Service audit? LIFE SAFETY Ignition Sources Spread of Fire Escape Routes & Emergency Lighting Fire Fighting Equipment Fire Alarms & Detection Staff Training Fire Safety Management Quick run through – short explanation/example for each area Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Fire Service Audits What actions could the Fire Service take following an audit at your premises? Letter of compliance Confirmation of advice Deficiencies letter Action plan Enforcement notice Prohibition notice Prosecution Quick run through – short explanation/example for each action Community Protection Directorate

Coffee Break

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Evacuation Evacuation plans must be fully risk assessed, understood & practiced Simultaneous or Single Stage Phased or Progressive Delayed or ‘Stay Put’ Emphasis on whether the plan is suitable for the building and do ALL staff fully understand and practice it Discuss the ability to do table top exercises Community Protection Directorate

Simultaneous or Single Stage Evacuation Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Simultaneous or Single Stage Evacuation “Everyone reacts to the warning signal given when a fire is discovered, then make their way, by the means of escape, to a place of safety away from the premises”. May be required due to flooding, gas leaks etc. Should be able to conduct this without the assistance of the fire service – is this realistic? Single stage evacuation This strategy is appropriate for residents and others who fall predominantly into the ‘independent’ category, where it may reasonably be expected that all people in the building are able to (and will) evacuate immediately from the premises to a place of total safety without assistance. Should be prepared to fully evacuate – it may be necessary for any number of reasons – give examples Discuss the need to fully evacuate vs number of staff on at night Community Protection Directorate

Phased or Progressive Horizontal Evacuation Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Phased or Progressive Horizontal Evacuation Progressive horizontal evacuation This strategy is likely to be necessary where the residents are dependent on staff to assist with their escape.  It works on the principle of moving residents from an area affected by fire, through a fire resisting barrier to an adjoining fire protected area on the same level, where they can wait in a place of safety whilst the fire is dealt with, or await further evacuation down a protected route to total safety. Explain horizontal evacuation through progressive sets of fire doors, into staircases, down & out of the building Can use Newgate example of ‘posting’ patients into protected staircases (beware of getting drawn into too much discussion around Newgate) Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Delayed Evacuation “Stay Put” is only safe where: Compartmentation is adequate Fire is detected early Fire Service are called and attend as early as possible Evacuation is carried out in relation to risk Where persons are left in place they should be accompanied – is this possible? Important that they understand how this may not be appropriate to their building Explain as an example how this works in Blocks of Flats & Hospitals Delayed evacuation Exceptionally, in some situations it may not be desirable or practical to evacuate some residents immediately (e.g. because of medical conditions or treatments).  In these circumstances it may be appropriate to allow them to remain in their rooms whilst the fire is dealt with and the danger has passed, or allow for the additional time necessary to prepare them for evacuation.  In such circumstances, it will be necessary to provide enhanced levels of structural fire protection to the individual bedroom.  However, where this strategy has been adopted, a suitable evacuation plan will still be required.   “You should not depend upon the fire and rescue service to evacuate people; your escape strategy must be dependent only on the factors that are within your own control.  However, you should consult with your enforcing authority when determining and planning an appropriate and effective evacuation strategy for your premises.  Whichever system of evacuation you use must be supported by suitable management arrangements.”  (HM Government, DCLG Publications, May 2006, Fire Safety Risk Assessment, Residential Care Premises, page 27, paragraph 5) “In the event of a fire. It is important to evacuate people as quickly as possible from the area or the building.  Escape routes in a building should be designed so that people can escape quickly enough to ensure they are not placed in any danger from fire.  The time available for escape will depend on a number of factors, including, how quickly the fire is detected and the alarm raised, the number of available escape routes, the volume and height of the space, the ventilation conditions, the speed of fire growth, the mobility of the residents and the availability of staff.”  (HM Government, DCLG Publications, May 2006, Fire Safety Risk Assessment, Residential Care Premises, pages 27-28) Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Whichever strategy or combination of strategies you adopt it is likely to be influenced by a number of factors including: size, type, layout and construction of the premises; time of the day; reaction, mobility and dependency of residents; number of staff; and nature and location of occupants, e.g. visitors, residents, ancillary staff etc. Reinforce the point that if staffing at night is an issue then this puts a premium on prevention and mitigation by means of detection, compartmentation, sprinklers etc. Emphasis how important it is that these measures are in place, adequate and regularly tested & maintained Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Case Study 1 The fire alarm and detection system at your premises has failed What would you do? 15 minutes to discuss with the assistance of an FPO (preferably one per table) When time is up, quick run through of actions Contact AFD company for urgent repair Ensure ALL staff are aware Ensure alternative means of raising an alarm – whistle, horn etc. and make sure everyone knows the method Consider fire warden/fire watch procedures for duration of failure Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Case Study 2 It is 11pm and staff report that they can smell burning but they are not sure where the smell is coming from What would you do? 15 minutes to discuss with the assistance of an FPO (preferably one per table) When time is up, quick run through of actions Investigate & if there is any doubt call the Fire Service Explain that we have T.I.C’s Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Business Continuity Over 70% of businesses involved in a major fire either do not reopen, or subsequently fail within 3 years of the fire Make the point that this does happen & it could be their premises – are they prepared? ‘The time to get ready is now – not when it is all going wrong’ Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Business Continuity Plans don't have to be complicated A basic plan should include: key processes and how it would impact the business if they failed threats to your processes and whether these can be prevented or reduced actions to make sure key processes aren't interrupted, as well as specific responsibilities for staff and any critical reference points (for example, where you keep your back-up records). Direct lift from the advice on our website – don’t spend too much time on this, just a quick ‘skim over’ the points Community Protection Directorate

Engage_presentation_2012 17/09/2019 Any Questions? Workplace Learning Session: AE to Enter web link for delegates to access “We are always here to help you” www.hertfordshire.gov.uk Community Protection Directorate

Sharon Davies CEO HCPA Your Homework: Deliver a Worktime Learning Session Fire Safety – Residential Care: for unit mangers, shift and team leaders

Aim To provide residential and support settings with a short ‘light bite awareness session’ to help embed key themes around Fire awareness in the leadership team: Your staff presentation will cover General issues Evacuation policy and procedures Reporting Emergencies and Alerting Employees in an Emergency Employee Training and Drills

What is a ‘worktime learning session’? It is a time to refresh what should be happening day to day A reflective time for leaders to discuss potential issues Will include some learning but is based around practicalities at your site

How can this be used to keep leadership practice up to date? Within leadership team meetings 1:1 sessions with new leadership starters Following an incident to review situations As leadership refresher training

What support will I have to do this? Powerpoint presentation with content specific to residential/supported living care fire safety: Link on HCPA website in Member Zone under event resources. A guide on how to complete a sufficient risk assessment Support from Herts Fire & Rescue Service for any queries and further training

Thank you Thank you for your time – lets work together to prevent fire incidents and minimise harm to individuals within our care.

Thank you for attending today Certificates to be emailed to you. Don’t forget to add these to your Care Academy portal!