Fire safety and health and safety support for care homes
Care homes carry more fire risk than most workplaces. Many residents cannot get out unaided, staffing is lighter at night, and the building never closes. Your fire risk assessment and your staff training need to reflect that.
We carry out fire risk assessments for care homes under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and we train your staff on site, around your rotas. Every assessment and every course is delivered by Brian Claydon CMIOSH, who has more than 20 years’ experience in health and safety.
Recent work in the care sector
- Fire risk assessments for five care homes of different sizes.
- Six fire risk assessments across Merseyside for a residential children’s care provider.
- Rated 5.0 from more than 180 Google reviews.
We keep client names confidential, but we’re happy to talk you through the kind of findings and actions you can expect.
Fire risk assessments for care homes
A care home fire risk assessment has to answer one question above all: can every resident be moved to safety, day and night, with the staff you actually have on shift? We look at:
- Your evacuation strategy: whether it suits your building and your residents, including progressive horizontal evacuation where the home is designed for it.
- Night-time staffing: whether the night team can carry out the evacuation plan.
- Personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs): whether residents’ needs are recorded and kept up to date.
- Fire doors and compartmentation: door condition, self-closers and gaps, checked visually without opening up the building.
- Detection, alarms and emergency lighting: whether the systems suit the building and are tested and serviced.
- Everyday fire hazards: smoking, paraffin-based emollient creams, oxygen, laundries, kitchens, charging points and storage on escape routes.
- Training and drills: whether staff know what to do, and whether drills reflect real night-time conditions.
You get a written report in plain English, with prioritised actions and a review date. Our assessments follow the approach in PAS 79-1:2020 and the government’s fire safety guide for residential care premises.
Training for care home staff
We train your team at your home, so staff learn using your own building, equipment and procedures. Sessions can be arranged around shift patterns.
Fire Warden (Level 2 Award in Fire Safety)
Duration: 1 day
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
For staff who take charge in a fire, including senior carers on nights. Accredited by First Aid Awards (FAA).
Emergency First Aid at Work
Duration: 1 day
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
For care staff who need to deal with an emergency until help arrives. Accredited by FAA.
First Aid at Work
Duration: 3 days (requalification: 2 days)
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
The full workplace first aid qualification, for your nominated first aiders. Accredited by FAA.
Manual Handling (Level 2)
Duration: 1 day
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
Safe lifting and handling of objects, such as deliveries, laundry and equipment. Please note this is not a people moving and handling (hoist) course.
Awareness of First Aid for Mental Health
Duration: Half day
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
Helps staff spot the signs that a colleague is struggling and know how to respond. Accredited by FAA.
IOSH Managing Safely
Duration: 3 days
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
For registered managers, deputies and supervisors who manage health and safety day to day. Leads to an IOSH certificate.
Legionella Awareness for Housing and Care Staff
Duration: Half day
Group size: Up to 12 delegates
Water temperatures, flushing, records, and why vulnerable residents are at greater risk.
Ongoing health and safety support
Between assessments, we can help you keep on top of things:
- Site inspections and audits to check your arrangements are working in practice.
- Risk assessments written for your home and your residents.
- Accident investigation when something goes wrong.
Questions care home managers ask
How often should a care home fire risk assessment be reviewed?
The law says it must be reviewed regularly, and whenever there is reason to think it is no longer valid, for example after building work, a change in residents’ needs or a fire. Many care providers review at least once a year. We’ll set a review date in your report.
Can you carry out the assessment while residents are at home?
Yes. We work around your routine and keep disruption to a minimum.
Can you train night staff?
We can arrange sessions to suit your shift patterns. Talk to us about what works for your rota.
Where do you cover?
We’re based in Widnes and work across Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and the wider North West.
What our clients say
Request a care home quote
Fields marked * are required. Tell us about your home, such as the number of beds and floors, and what you need help with.
