"My Home, My Life, I'll take the risks"
All Nations Centre Cardiff
Chris Jackson, NASHiCS National Chair, welcomed delegates to the seminar and thanked the sponsors who had made the day possible. He stated that Clive Taylor who was due to speak was unable to attend due to illness however his co speaker would cover the topic.
The weather was not the best for the delegates getting to the event and visiting Cardiff for the first time. However there was a warm welcome at the All Nations Centre on arrival with a comforting beverage and biscuits after the signing in process was completed.
It was pleasing to see that the venue was nearly full with delegates from as far apart as Kent, North Wales, Essex, Yorkshire and Aberdeen in Scotland.
Chris introduced the day and explained the format with two main speakers and then several 'breakout sessions’ morning and afternoon to which delegates could choose to attend.
He then introduced the main speaker Kevin Doughty Deputy Director, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Centre for Useable Home Technology.
Kevin gave an energetic presentation into the world of tech and gadgets. Unmet needs and risks to independence was the theme of the session and the use of technology including assessing people in their own homes using tech.
62 Councils in the UK were now using various technologies to assist people to have better lives. He focused the use of technology in a number of areas, as follows: Assessing what people can do and cannot do, the session kicked off with a debate about what could be used to monitor activities of individuals and centred on the use of this technology to monitor people’s movements around their home.
One system called 'just checking' can be to detect early signs where a person living in independence may need a little more support.
Another example given was a system used by Warrington Council for sleep-in monitoring of individuals and how decisions to provide the sleep-in service can be made by the monitoring of movements of individuals in the project home.
This led to a debate about the decision not to provide a sleep-in service on the evidence of the monitoring and how this could be justified if anything went wrong. Was monitoring enough to use this in the risk assessment?
The other areas discussed were the aids used for prevention of falls and what was available on the market today. The questions from this led to discussions on why these aids are not used and why they are not popular? The reasons appeared to be people forget to wear them and they cause false alarms.
The other areas explored were technologies used for locating people and a number of examples on how things have advanced into this area using GPS gave the audience an insight into many applications.Delegates were surprised how readily available items were including the Back-Track to find your way home from £29!
This main session was well received by all.
Andy Hollingshead thanked Kevin for his fantastic insight into the Gadget Show!
The two subsequent breakout sessions facilitated by Kevin continued to discuss issues arising from his main presentation.
Matthew Hamar the Health and Social Care Unit spoke on the latest news and updates from the HSE including a lively discussion with delegates on section 51.
He covered the main points which concerned the review of guidance - updated with key risk topics – further pages to be added on Work equipment, Leadership, domiciliary care to the website and sign up to e-bulletin.
He covered RIDDOR reporting the sections on employees and patient / care service user injuries and gave examples of what is reportable and what may not be considered to be ‘arising out of or in connection with a work activity.
He thanked those members of NASHiCS who submitted comments on the new guidance getting to grips with hoisting.
He stated that the HSE was finalising new guidance on LOLER and its application to Health and Social Care(H&SC) It Helps to clarify how it applies to equipment, e.g. equipment purchased by the individual, etc.
The Application of LOLER in residential care homes (slings). On recent checks found that in 38 homes visited – 54% were either non-compliant or only partially compliant with LOLER.
He quoted a recent case in a Nursing home when an 81-year-old Liverpool woman fell to the ground when she was being transferred from her bed to her wheelchair. The sling failed. No regular or LOLER 6 monthly checks were being carried out.
He raised other concerns covering falls from windows and stated that there had been numerous incidents involving inadequate window restrictors / failures. Concerns with failures of some side stay restrictors – couple of fatalities in H&SC in last few weeks.
Scalding continues to be a major issue in some care settings - double scalding prosecution at two hostels in Birmingham area.
He informed delegates of the work undertaken by HSL on Safety flooring and cleaning research.
There have been concerns that safety flooring makes it harder to hygienically clean floors and, for this reason, they tend to only be used in wet areas at many healthcare premises.
HSL looked at this and concluded that safety floors could be hygienically cleaned using appropriate techniques etc.
Use of safety flooring gives better slip resistance in wet conditions and would significantly reduce the slip hazard. The research has provided evidence that hygiene should not be used as an excuse for not providing appropriate flooring where needed.
Matthew covered duties on commissioners (such as LA’s) under HSWA to set clear contracts and to monitor them and to ensure compliance with relevant statutory provisions SFARP.
This is a matter that the HSE board has an interest in and an intervention strategy will be explored further in the context of H&SC.
HSE approach to commissioning will reflect that the primary duty rests with the provider, not the commissioner but a sensible proportionate approach to monitoring of standards will be required.
HSE is aware that several commissioners may procure services and that we must not place disproportionate burdens on the provider.
Health and Safety at home. Section 51 guidance.
Guidance available on website – If care being provided in private domestic household and the care being provided is general personal care which is not ‘beyond the ordinary’ then HSWA unlikely to apply.
However, if specialist training is required, e.g. for people handling or dealing with challenging behavior then HSWA more likely to apply.
NB – This is advice only – it still has to be tested by courts - each case would have to be considered on merit. There are still civil duties of care.
Recent case – lifting equipment demonstrates how important it is to have clear responsibilities and roles for both provider and cared for.
Newport tracking hoist incident – community provided equipment (for self use) – hoist designed for assisted lifts, no method to summon assistance, hand set was found to be easily detached, some directional buttons didn’t operate in direction indicated, emergency pull cord failed due to battery terminal corroded. User found upside down in sling and had asphyxiated. Section 3 HSWA still applies to equipment provided in the community
Future role of HSE. He sited the Government Reviews. Common Sense, Common Safety, Some low risk industry checklists developed – main change being ‘over 3 day’ to ‘over 7 day’ recommendation being implemented – earliest date April 2012.
SR10 – reduction in budget – review of how we operate. Lofstedt review of H&S legislation - reporting back by December. Good H&S, Good for everyone.
H&SC identified as sector where ‘proactive inspection less likely to be effective’ HSE has stopped proactive inspections in this sector.
Proactive interventions or initiatives will still be undertaken but only where serious issues and evidence of poor standards are identified.
Reactively – will continue as normal but may look wider than initial cause of concern if necessary.
HSE intervention strategy is currently being worked on.
Cost recovery- Awaiting outcome of consultation – if we have to inspect and find evidence of non-compliance there is a proposal for charging for time to deal with issue, the details CD235 on website. A dry run is underway looking at process and arrangements within HSE.
Following morning refreshments delegates had the opportunity to join one of the first series of 'breakout sessions'.
Kevin Doughty continued with Hazard and risks from technology and looking at alternative.
Tony Prosser Head of learning and Development West Midlands Fire Service gave an interesting up-date of the 
Fire & Rescue Service rights of entry including domestic premises. Topical discussions were held regarding the Regularity Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, especially when a domestic premise becomes a workplace. Competence of the fire risk assessors was another topical issue; Tony reiterated the importance of ensuring the assessor was competent.
He also confirmed that the term ‘suitable and sufficient’ was subjective among many fire inspectors.
Tony answered many question especially about inconsistency from fire inspectors and finished the session by asking if NASHiCS would be interested in the near future in entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Fire Service to which Andy Hollingshead Vice Chair welcomed.
Andy thanked Tony for his excellent up-date.
Water Safety and Legionella had a healthy number of delegates attending the session run by Bob Taylor 
General manager of Nant Ltd.
Discussions covered the facts on Legionella and the Water Safety regulations; the essential controls needed to be in place to combat Legionella; How it spreads and the control steps. Examples were given and the topic legionella versus Scalding risks and the use of Thermostatic Mixer Valves (TVM’s). .
Following an excellent buffet lunch with a large assortment of savoury items sweets and fresh fruit etc delegates then had the second chance to choose a breakout session.
Kevin Doughty held the second session repeating the morning one.
Commissioners and the role they play in ensuring a safe service for all and how direct payments affect this outcome was facilitated by Hope Daley, Head of Health and Safety UNISON and Jonathan Lloyd Employment Adviser Welsh Local Government Association.
Hope focused on the role of the carer and how the service is changing and what affected this is having on them as employees.
There were many questions from the floor on the subject with a clear indication that there is some confusion on what direct payments is going to have on the employee/employer relationship.
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Jonathan Lloyd stated that we are clear that we are not clear on this subject and more needs to be done to clarify the situation before problems start to arise.
Looked after Children completed the trio for choice in the afternoon.
Sally Raynor, Quality Manager and Paul Westwick, Head of Health an
d Safety both from Lifeways Community Care split the delegates into pairs and with discussion and the use of flip charts they considered a range of situations which pose a threat to their personal safety and those who work with them.
In particular:-What threats may be present to looked after children; what measures you currently take to manage these risks; what could be put in place to reduce these risks.
These questions to be considered in relation to: When in the community; Violence and aggression; Allegations against support staff and Medication.
The breakout session went very well; Sally is very experienced in children’s services, which then appeared to give the group confidence, the group contributed very well.
Delegates then all convened back in the main room with Chris Jackson giving an update on NASHiCS news, what’s up and coming and moving forward to 2012.
The final session of the day was a question and answer session with the speakers to raise any issues of the day.
The numbers of questions were lower than anticipated but it was probably the result of a full intensive day and the fact that many questions were allowed for during and after the main speakers and of course in the breakout sessions.
Members of the panel were asked to provide thoughts from the day that arose, and matters that are still in need of more clarification or discussion.
Hope Daley – UNISON * Direct Payments.
Kevin Doughty – Rowntree Foundation * Home Safety Approach and Technology.
Paul Westwick – Lifeways * Management of Violence and Aggression. Staff accepting the situation.
Jonathan Lloyd – WLGA Direct Payments. * We are clear, we are not clear. * LA’s do not have the funds they had in the past. * Carer – Employer, Employees Relationships.
Bob Taylor – Nant Ltd. * Misunderstandings. * Understanding overall water safety.
Matthew Hamar – HSE * Direct Payments, Continue to Review, Courts will Decide, Watching Brief. * Violence, tackling in Social Care. *Technology, Difficulty in provision of standard Kit proven to be effective. * Stakeholders to work with. * Thanks for Responses from Members to comments on proposals.
Thanks were given at the close to the Speakers for all their presentations and facilitating the breakouts, to the staff of the Centre and the excellent food supplied.
Thanks also were made to Sarah Byrne the seminar organizer from Mosaic Events on the smooth running of the day. Also to Richard Walder the administrator for his behind the scenes working.
Thanks were given to our sponsors for their support to enable the event to take place.
The weather had cleared up a bit and delegates left in time to beat the home going traffic.
The summary of the evaluation forms received indicated that the event was again up to the mark.
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Administrator. November 2011
