Environmental Safety Audit - Supported Living

Evidence to check

• • Environmental risk assessment for each property or tenant setting
• • Assessment covers private areas, shared areas, access, lighting, flooring, fire safety, utilities and security
• • Tenant-specific risks are included, such as mobility, cognition, sensory needs, self-neglect or behaviours of distress
• • Assessments are reviewed after incidents, changes in needs, new equipment, repairs or environmental concerns

Evidence to check

• • Walkaround of shared kitchens, lounges, bathrooms, corridors, entrances and stairways
• • No avoidable trip hazards, blocked routes, damaged furniture or unsafe storage
• • Cleaning and maintenance records for shared areas
• • Responsibilities for shared areas are clear between tenants, staff, landlord and housing provider

Evidence to check

• • Hazard reports or maintenance logs
• • Dates reported, chased and resolved are recorded
• • Temporary safety measures are used while waiting for repair
• • Repeated or unresolved hazards are escalated to managers, landlord, housing provider or commissioners

Evidence to check

• • Occupational therapy or professional assessment where relevant
• • Support plan records equipment or adaptations needed
• • Adaptations are suitable, safe and in good repair
• • Tenant feedback confirms adaptations support independence rather than unnecessary restriction

Evidence to check

• • Fire exit routes checked during walkaround
• • Fire exits and escape routes are not blocked by furniture, rubbish, mobility equipment or personal items
• • Signage is clear and visible where required
• • Staff and tenants know what to do if escape routes become blocked

Evidence to check

• • Fire drill, evacuation practice or fire safety discussion records
• • Tenants are supported to understand evacuation procedures in a way they can access
• • Staff understand each tenant’s evacuation needs
• • Learning from drills or fire safety concerns is recorded and acted on

Evidence to check

• • Responsibility agreement, service level agreement or local protocol
• • Responsibilities for repairs, communal areas, fire safety, cleaning, pest control, utilities and adaptations are clear
• • Staff know what to report to the housing provider or landlord
• • Issues are tracked so they are not lost between agencies

Evidence to check

• • Cleaning schedule for communal areas
• • Records show cleaning is completed as agreed
• • Tenant, staff, cleaner, landlord or housing provider responsibilities are clear
• • Cleaning concerns are escalated where shared areas become unsafe or unhygienic

Evidence to check

• • Walkaround observations
• • Records of damp, mould, odour, pest or infestation concerns
• • Escalation to landlord, housing provider, environmental health or safeguarding where needed
• • Temporary controls are considered where the issue affects health or dignity

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessment for window restrictors or access restrictions
• • Tenant’s capacity, consent and wishes are considered
• • Least restrictive options are explored
• • Controls are reviewed when risk changes

Evidence to check

• • Lighting checked during day and low-light periods where possible
• • Broken bulbs, poor lighting or dark areas are reported and followed up
• • Lighting needs of tenants with visual impairment, falls risk or anxiety are considered
• • Tenant preferences around lighting are respected where safe

Evidence to check

• • External walkaround checks
• • No unmanaged slip, trip, ice, leaves, uneven paving or poor lighting risks
• • Access routes are suitable for tenants using mobility aids where relevant
• • Outdoor hazards are reported to the responsible person or agency

Evidence to check

• • Support plans identify how tenants are supported to report repairs or hazards
• • Staff encourage tenants to contact landlord or housing provider where appropriate
• • Accessible information about reporting repairs is available
• • Staff step in where the tenant cannot report or where risk is urgent

Evidence to check

• • Review records consider whether adaptations remain suitable
• • Referrals to OT, physiotherapy, housing provider or equipment services where needed
• • Support plan updated after changes in mobility or ability
• • Faulty, unsuitable or unused adaptations are followed up

Evidence to check

• • Home visit notes or key worker review records include environmental observations
• • Staff record hazards, repairs or changes in living conditions
• • Concerns are escalated and tracked
• • Repeated environmental issues are reviewed for wider risk or safeguarding

Evidence to check

• • Support plan records the tenant’s cleaning support needs and preferences
• • Staff encourage independence and do not take over unnecessarily
• • Refusals or concerns are recorded respectfully
• • Privacy and consent are respected before entering or checking private areas

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessment for hoarding, self-neglect or unsafe home conditions
• • Tenant is involved in decisions wherever possible
• • Capacity, consent and safeguarding are considered
• • Multi-agency support is sought where needed, such as housing, fire service, social worker or environmental health

Evidence to check

• • Waste disposal arrangements are clear
• • Bins are not overflowing or creating odour, pests or fire risk
• • Tenants are supported to manage waste where this is part of their support plan
• • Clinical, continence or hazardous waste arrangements are in place where required

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessments cover shared living and access risks
• • Visitor or access concerns are recorded and escalated
• • Tenants’ rights to visitors are balanced with known risks
• • Incidents involving co-tenants, visitors or neighbours are reviewed

Evidence to check

• • Staff seek permission before entering private areas unless there is immediate risk
• • Support plans identify agreed access arrangements
• • Environmental concerns are discussed respectfully with the tenant
• • Restrictions or access controls are legally justified and reviewed

Evidence to check

• • Gas safety, electrical safety or water safety records where available to the provider
• • Responsibilities for statutory checks are clear
• • Staff know how to report suspected gas, electrical or water hazards
• • Outstanding safety checks or faults are escalated to landlord, housing provider or management

Evidence to check

• • Heating and ventilation concerns recorded and followed up
• • Tenants at risk from cold, heat, respiratory illness or poor ventilation are identified
• • Landlord or housing provider repairs are tracked
• • Temporary support is considered where heating or ventilation failure affects safety

Evidence to check

• • Hot and cold weather risk assessments or contingency plans
• • Tenants at higher risk are identified
• • Support plans include hydration, welfare checks, heating, cooling or clothing support where relevant
• • Concerns are escalated to housing, family, GP or emergency services where required

Evidence to check

• • Emergency lighting and signage checks where applicable
• • Faults are reported and tracked
• • Staff know who is responsible for maintenance
• • Signage is accessible and appropriate to the setting

Evidence to check

• • Tenant preferences and personal belongings are respected
• • Risk assessments consider layout, clutter, mobility and fire safety
• • Staff do not remove or rearrange belongings without consent unless urgent safety action is needed
• • Support balances ordinary home life with proportionate risk management

Evidence to check

• • Incident and complaint records trigger environmental review
• • Risk assessments updated after falls, fire concerns, self-neglect, aggression or deterioration
• • Actions are recorded and followed up
• • Learning is shared with staff and relevant housing partners

Evidence to check

• • Repairs and hazard tracker includes report, chase and completion dates
• • Response times are monitored
• • Unresolved risks are escalated to senior managers, commissioners, safeguarding or environmental health where needed
• • Temporary risk controls are recorded while waiting for repairs

Evidence to check

• • Governance or partnership meeting minutes
• • Environmental incidents, repairs, complaints and hazards are reviewed for themes
• • Actions have owners and timescales
• • Learning improves practice, support planning or partnership working

Evidence to check

• • Staff can describe when to escalate environmental risks as safeguarding
• • Records show safeguarding considered for serious or repeated environmental concerns
• • Rationale recorded where safeguarding referral is not made
• • Multi-agency action is taken where environmental risks remain high

Evidence to check

• • Audit includes walkaround observations where appropriate
• • Tenant feedback is included where possible
• • Audit checks whether reported issues were actually resolved
• • Actions are tracked and reviewed for effectiveness

Evidence to check

• • Risk controls are tenant-specific and proportionate
• • Tenant choice and ordinary home life are considered
• • Restrictions such as locked cupboards, restricted access or removed items are justified and reviewed
• • Managers challenge unnecessary institutional practice