Equipment and Assistive Technology Safety Audit - Supported Living

Evidence to check

• • Equipment and assistive technology policy is current and specific to supported living
• • Policy covers tenant-owned, shared, staff-used and externally supplied equipment
• • Responsibilities are clear between the care provider, tenant, landlord, housing provider, family and external professionals
• • Staff can explain how equipment safety is managed without unnecessarily restricting tenant independence

Evidence to check

• • Equipment inventory or register
• • Inventory includes hoists, slings, beds, wheelchairs, walking aids, sensors, alarms, communication devices and medication aids where relevant
• • Equipment location, ownership and maintenance responsibility are recorded
• • Inventory is updated when equipment is added, removed, replaced or no longer used

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessments for equipment used by or with each tenant
• • Assessment considers mobility, cognition, consent, capacity, environment and staff competence
• • Tenant-owned equipment is included where it affects support or safety
• • Risk assessments are reviewed after incidents, changes in need or equipment changes

Evidence to check

• • Training records for relevant equipment
• • Competency assessments include observation or practical demonstration
• • Staff are not allocated equipment-related tasks until competence is confirmed
• • Competency is refreshed after incidents, concerns or changes in equipment

Evidence to check

• • LOLER inspection records for hoists and lifting equipment
• • Inspection dates are current and tracked
• • Defects are reported and equipment removed from use where unsafe
• • Responsibility for arranging LOLER checks is clear

Evidence to check

• • Servicing and maintenance logs
• • Maintenance dates match manufacturer or professional guidance
• • Faulty equipment is labelled, removed from use or risk-managed
• • Repairs are tracked through to completion

Evidence to check

• • Testing records for assistive technology
• • Staff and tenants know how the technology works
• • Faults, false alarms or missed alerts are recorded and reviewed
• • Technology is reviewed when the tenant's needs, risks or preferences change

Evidence to check

• • Support plan records how the tenant uses the technology
• • Tenant consent, capacity and preferences are considered
• • Staff support the tenant to understand and use the device where possible
• • Technology is not used to control or monitor the tenant without proper justification

Evidence to check

• • Slings labelled for individual use where required
• • Correct sling type, size and compatibility recorded in the care plan
• • Equipment is stored cleanly and safely
• • Damaged, unsuitable or unlabelled equipment is reported and removed from use

Evidence to check

• • Mobility equipment checks or review records
• • Equipment is clean, stable, correctly adjusted and in good repair
• • Staff report concerns such as worn brakes, loose parts or poor fit
• • Tenant's changing mobility needs trigger review or referral

Evidence to check

• • Fault reporting records
• • Dates reported, chased and resolved are recorded
• • Responsibility for repair is clear
• • Temporary controls or alternative equipment are arranged where needed

Evidence to check

• • Care plan and risk assessment reviews after changes in need
• • Referrals to OT, physiotherapy, equipment provider or commissioner where needed
• • Old or unsuitable equipment is removed or clearly marked as not in use
• • Tenant is involved in decisions where possible

Evidence to check

• • Staff can answer equipment failure scenarios
• • Emergency guidance is included in the support plan where needed
• • Incidents or near misses involving equipment failure are recorded
• • Staff know not to improvise unsafe manual handling or bypass safety features

Evidence to check

• • PAT testing or electrical safety records
• • Shared and provider-owned electrical equipment included in checks
• • Damaged plugs, cables or chargers are reported
• • Tenant-owned items are risk-assessed where they affect safety or support

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessment for bed rails, profiling beds or specialist seating
• • Consent, capacity or best-interest decision considered where relevant
• • Entrapment, falls, pressure damage and comfort risks assessed
• • Equipment is reviewed regularly and after incidents or changes

Evidence to check

• • Cleaning guidance or schedule for equipment
• • Shared equipment is cleaned between uses
• • Staff understand cleaning responsibilities
• • Equipment is stored to prevent contamination

Evidence to check

• • Tenant views recorded in equipment reviews
• • Comfort, dignity, appearance, ease of use and independence are considered
• • Tenant refusal or dissatisfaction is recorded and reviewed
• • Advocacy or representative involvement where needed

Evidence to check

• • Assistive technology goals are recorded in the support plan
• • Technology supports communication, reminders, environmental control, safety or community access
• • Privacy and dignity are considered
• • Use of technology is reviewed to check it improves the tenant's quality of life

Evidence to check

• • Tablets, phones, apps or digital devices are working and accessible where needed
• • Devices have appropriate security, passwords or access controls
• • Software updates and faults are managed
• • Staff and tenants know how to report problems

Evidence to check

• • Care plan reviews include equipment needs and effectiveness
• • Tenant feedback about equipment is recorded
• • Staff feedback about practical use is considered
• • Actions from reviews are followed up

Evidence to check

• • Contingency arrangements for critical equipment
• • Staff know who to contact if equipment fails
• • Backup plan recorded for high-risk equipment such as hoists, alarms, sensors or beds
• • Previous equipment failures are reviewed for learning

Evidence to check

• • Responsibility for prescribed equipment is documented
• • Professional guidance is included in the support plan
• • Staff know who maintains, repairs or replaces the device
• • Concerns are escalated to the correct professional or provider

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessment and rationale for restrictive features
• • Consent, capacity or best-interest decision recorded where needed
• • Privacy and autonomy impact considered
• • Restrictions are time-limited, reviewed and reduced where possible

Evidence to check

• • Equipment training records
• • Refresher training records
• • Observed practice or competency sign-off
• • Training updated when equipment changes or incidents occur

Evidence to check

• • Care notes identify changes in needs or ability
• • Risk assessment and support plan updated after changes
• • Equipment reviewed after falls, deterioration, hospital discharge or new diagnosis
• • Professional referral made where equipment no longer meets needs

Evidence to check

• • Professional referrals and advice records
• • OT, physio, nurse or specialist input reflected in the support plan
• • Actions from professional reviews are followed up
• • Delays in professional input are escalated where risk remains

Evidence to check

• • Governance or quality meeting records include equipment themes
• • Incidents, faults, complaints and near misses are reviewed
• • Use of technology is evaluated for impact on independence and quality of life
• • Actions from audits or reviews are tracked and completed

Evidence to check

• • Spot checks include observation of equipment condition and use
• • Staff and tenant feedback is included
• • Checks confirm equipment is available, suitable and used correctly
• • Paper records match what is actually present in the home

Evidence to check

• • Staff can describe role boundaries
• • Support plans identify specialist equipment requiring professional input
• • No unsafe improvisation, repairs or adjustments by unqualified staff
• • Concerns are escalated rather than worked around

Evidence to check

• • Incident and near-miss records involving equipment
• • Unsafe workarounds are identified and stopped
• • Learning is shared with staff
• • Risk assessments, training or equipment arrangements are updated after incidents