Environmental Sustainability Audit - Domiciliary Care

Evidence to check

• • Current environmental sustainability policy or statement
• • Policy is specific to domiciliary care, travel, office use, procurement and waste
• • Managers and staff can explain practical sustainability expectations
• • Examples of changes made to reduce environmental impact

Evidence to check

• • Staff training or briefing records on sustainability
• • Staff can describe practical actions they take during work
• • Guidance covers travel, printing, PPE, waste and energy use
• • Sustainability messages are reinforced through supervision, meetings or staff updates

Evidence to check

• • Use of secure digital care planning, eMAR, forms or communication systems
• • Printing is limited to necessary records only
• • Paper records still available where needed for safety or accessibility
• • Confidential waste and data protection requirements are maintained

Evidence to check

• • Rota planning considers geography and realistic travel time
• • Unnecessary back-and-forth travel is reviewed
• • Late or missed visits are not created by unrealistic eco-routing
• • Travel efficiency is balanced with continuity of care and staff wellbeing

Evidence to check

• • Fleet review or vehicle procurement records where applicable
• • Consideration of electric, hybrid or lower-emission vehicles
• • Charging access, cost and operational suitability considered
• • Mileage, fuel use or vehicle emissions reviewed where possible

Evidence to check

• • Waste disposal guidance for PPE and care-related waste
• • Staff understand when items must not be recycled due to infection risk
• • Clinical, infectious and domestic waste are managed correctly
• • Lower-impact options are considered where safe and compliant

Evidence to check

• • Energy or water bills reviewed for trends where available
• • Heating, lighting and water use are monitored
• • Maintenance issues such as leaks, faulty heating or inefficient lighting are addressed
• • Staff are encouraged to report waste of energy or water

Evidence to check

• • Procurement records or product lists
• • Reusable products used only where cleaning and safety standards can be maintained
• • Single-use items are not replaced where this would create infection or safety risks
• • Staff understand when reusable options are appropriate

Evidence to check

• • Staff guidance on sustainable practice in home visits
• • Guidance covers respectful conversations, waste, travel, printing and resource use
• • Staff understand they must not impose environmental choices on people
• • Care delivery remains person-centred and safe

Evidence to check

• • Use of virtual meetings, e-signatures, secure messaging or online forms
• • Digital systems are secure and accessible to authorised staff
• • People who need paper or in-person communication are not excluded
• • Unnecessary office travel or printing is reduced

Evidence to check

• • Supplier or procurement policy includes sustainability considerations
• • Eco-certified or lower-impact products considered where appropriate
• • Bulk purchasing or reduced packaging considered where safe
• • Sustainability is balanced with care quality, infection control and value for money

Evidence to check

• • Sustainability targets or action plan
• • Measures such as mileage, paper use, waste, energy or procurement tracked where possible
• • Progress reviewed by managers
• • Actions updated when targets are not met

Evidence to check

• • Care plans record any agreed support with recycling or waste reduction
• • Staff respect the person's choices and home environment
• • Support is only provided where it is part of the agreed care or requested
• • Risks such as hygiene, clutter or mobility are considered

Evidence to check

• • Care plan records shopping, meal and food storage support where relevant
• • Staff check dates, storage and portion needs where part of agreed support
• • Food waste concerns are discussed sensitively with the person
• • Nutrition and hydration needs remain the priority

Evidence to check

• • Travel policy or staff wellbeing guidance
• • Cycle-to-work, car sharing or public transport options promoted where appropriate
• • Staff safety, travel time and lone working risks considered
• • Greener travel is not expected where it would compromise safe or timely care

Evidence to check

• • Business continuity plan includes severe weather, fuel disruption, heatwaves or flooding
• • Plans consider continuity of care and staff travel
• • Environmental risks to people using the service are considered
• • Learning from disruptions is used to improve planning

Evidence to check

• • Energy-efficient lighting or equipment considered
• • Heating and cooling used responsibly
• • IT equipment settings support energy saving where appropriate
• • Staff can work safely and comfortably

Evidence to check

• • Office walkaround observations
• • Staff reminders or guidance on switching off equipment
• • Devices not left running unnecessarily
• • Energy-saving practice is visible and reinforced

Evidence to check

• • Mileage, fuel, printing, waste or utility data reviewed where available
• • Trends discussed by managers
• • Actions taken based on data
• • Progress can be compared over time

Evidence to check

• • Named sustainability lead or eco-champion where applicable
• • Staff suggestions collected and reviewed
• • Green initiatives communicated to staff
• • Examples of staff-led improvements

Evidence to check

• • Annual report, newsletter, staff update or governance report includes sustainability progress
• • Information is accurate and not overstated
• • Progress and challenges are both acknowledged
• • Sustainability communication is linked to real actions

Evidence to check

• • Campaigns or awareness activities promoted where relevant
• • Staff and people using the service are invited, not pressured, to participate
• • Campaigns are appropriate to domiciliary care
• • Learning from campaigns is used to improve practice

Evidence to check

• • Supplier selection includes sustainability where appropriate
• • Contractor environmental practices reviewed for key services
• • Cleaning, PPE, office supplies or fleet suppliers considered
• • Environmental criteria are balanced with safety, quality and compliance

Evidence to check

• • Quality Improvement Plan includes sustainability actions
• • Actions have owners, timescales and review dates
• • Progress is monitored through governance
• • Sustainability actions do not undermine care quality or safety

Evidence to check

• • Purchasing records or procurement decisions
• • Durability, repairability, packaging and ethical sourcing considered
• • Reusable or lower-impact options considered where appropriate
• • Products remain safe, suitable and comfortable for staff and people supported

Evidence to check

• • Care plans record any agreed environmental support
• • Discussions are respectful and non-judgemental
• • People's preferences, capacity and home circumstances are considered
• • Staff do not impose the provider's sustainability goals on the person

Evidence to check

• • Managers demonstrate sustainable practice in office and operational decisions
• • Sustainability discussed in meetings or governance
• • Staff see leaders acting consistently with sustainability messages
• • Environmental responsibility is balanced with safe, person-centred care

Evidence to check

• • Sustainability policy or action plan review dates
• • Changes in guidance, technology or suppliers considered
• • Staff and manager feedback used to update practice
• • Improvements are communicated and embedded

Evidence to check

• • Environmental audit or spot check records
• • Examples of waste, travel or printing improvements identified
• • Actions assigned and followed up
• • Repeated issues are escalated through governance

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessment for sustainability changes where needed
• • IPC, data protection, safety and accessibility considered
• • Staff know when sustainability must not override care safety
• • People's individual needs remain central

Evidence to check

• • Rota reviews consider both sustainability and care quality
• • Travel time and staff fatigue monitored
• • People's preferred times and continuity considered
• • Changes to routes are reviewed for impact on people and staff