Health and Safety Audit - Care Homes

Evidence to check

• • Staff can explain practical safety responsibilities, not just refer to the policy
• • Staff know how to report hazards, incidents and near misses
• • Staff can describe recent safety issues and what changed afterwards
• • Health and safety policy is accessible and understood by staff

Evidence to check

• • Training matrix showing completed and overdue training
• • Staff can explain how training applies to their role
• • Observed practice matches training, such as safe moving and handling
• • Supervision or competency records where concerns were identified

Evidence to check

• • Current fire risk assessment
• • Evidence that actions have been completed or risk-rated
• • Changes in residents, building use or equipment reflected in the assessment
• • Fire risk actions reviewed by management

Evidence to check

• • Fire drill records with dates, times and staff attendance
• • Drills completed across different shifts, including nights where appropriate
• • Issues identified during drills and actions taken
• • Staff can explain what they would do during an evacuation

Evidence to check

• • Service labels on extinguishers
• • Extinguishers located where expected
• • No blocked or hidden extinguishers
• • Staff know not to move or misuse firefighting equipment

Evidence to check

• • Visible fire exit and assembly point signage
• • Evacuation instructions displayed in suitable areas
• • Signage not blocked, damaged or unclear
• • Staff and residents know the expected evacuation route where appropriate

Evidence to check

• • PEEPs completed for all residents
• • PEEPs match current care plans and moving and handling assessments
• • Night staff understand residents' evacuation needs
• • PEEPs reviewed after changes in mobility, health or cognition

Evidence to check

• • No equipment, laundry, furniture or boxes blocking routes
• • Fire doors not wedged open inappropriately
• • Routes accessible for wheelchairs, walking frames and evacuation equipment
• • Staff take action immediately when obstructions are found

Evidence to check

• • Walkaround of external areas
• • No uneven surfaces, loose mats, poor lighting or unmanaged ice/leaves
• • Hazards recorded and followed up
• • Residents with mobility risks considered when assessing outdoor areas

Evidence to check

• • Daily safety check records
• • Examples of hazards identified and resolved
• • Escalation where issues could not be fixed immediately
• • Repeated issues reviewed by management

Evidence to check

• • PAT testing records where applicable
• • Visual inspection of plugs, cables and equipment
• • Unsafe equipment removed from use
• • Resident-owned electrical items included in safety arrangements where appropriate

Evidence to check

• • Equipment register
• • Equipment present and in use matches the register
• • Staff know where key equipment is stored
• • No unsafe, unsuitable or unlabelled equipment in use

Evidence to check

• • LOLER inspection records for lifting equipment
• • Slings labelled and allocated correctly
• • Beds, wheelchairs and hoists in good repair
• • Staff use equipment safely and according to the resident's care plan

Evidence to check

• • Maintenance logs
• • Dates reported, actioned and completed
• • Temporary controls, such as taking equipment out of use
• • Management oversight of overdue repairs

Evidence to check

• • COSHH assessments for current cleaning and hazardous products
• • Staff can explain safe use, dilution and storage
• • Assessments reviewed when products change
• • No unlabelled or decanted chemicals without appropriate labelling

Evidence to check

• • Locked storage for chemicals and hazardous products
• • Labels intact and readable
• • No hazardous substances left unattended on trolleys or in bathrooms
• • Resident risk assessments considered where access risk is higher

Evidence to check

• • PPE available at point of use
• • Staff select PPE based on task and risk
• • No inappropriate reuse or unsafe disposal
• • Staff know when PPE is required for cleaning, spills or waste handling

Evidence to check

• • Direct observation of moving and handling where possible
• • Staff use correct equipment and number of carers
• • Training and competency records
• • No unsafe manual lifting or shortcuts

Evidence to check

• • Care plans and moving and handling assessments match observed practice
• • Correct sling type, hoist and transfer method recorded
• • Assessments reviewed after falls, deterioration or changes in mobility
• • Staff know each resident's moving and handling plan

Evidence to check

• • Accident and incident forms
• • Immediate action taken to protect the resident
• • Management review and sign-off
• • Evidence that learning is shared with staff

Evidence to check

• • Falls and accident logs
• • Trend analysis by time, location, resident or staff team
• • Updated risk assessments and care plans
• • Evidence of referrals, equipment changes or environmental changes

Evidence to check

• • Rails securely fixed and not loose
• • Mobility aids clean and in good repair
• • Equipment labelled or allocated where needed
• • Residents observed using aids safely

Evidence to check

• • Walkaround of corridors, bathrooms, bedrooms and external areas
• • Lighting suitable at night and during low visibility
• • Broken bulbs or dark areas reported and repaired
• • Falls or incidents reviewed for lighting-related factors

Evidence to check

• • Water temperature records
• • Action taken where temperatures are too high or too low
• • Thermostatic mixer valves checked where applicable
• • Resident scalding risks reflected in care plans

Evidence to check

• • Legionella risk assessment
• • Flushing records for little-used outlets
• • Hot and cold water temperature monitoring
• • Evidence of action when readings fall outside safe ranges

Evidence to check

• • Kitchen walkaround
• • Food stored safely and labelled correctly
• • Cleaning records and pest control records
• • Staff follow safe food handling practice

Evidence to check

• • Kitchen and medicine fridge temperature records
• • No unexplained gaps in checks
• • Action recorded for out-of-range temperatures
• • Staff know what to do if a fridge fails

Evidence to check

• • Correct bins and bags used
• • Clinical waste not mixed with general waste
• • Waste areas secure and not overflowing
• • Waste transfer or collection records where applicable

Evidence to check

• • Hazard reporting system or maintenance book
• • Staff know how to report urgent and non-urgent issues
• • Examples of issues reported and resolved
• • Unresolved hazards risk-assessed and monitored

Evidence to check

• • Lift servicing and statutory inspection records
• • Emergency call system working
• • Staff know what to do if lift fails or a person is trapped
• • Out-of-service lifts risk-assessed for resident access

Evidence to check

• • Gas safety certificate
• • Heating and boiler service records
• • Faults recorded and repaired
• • Contingency arrangements for heating or hot water failure

Evidence to check

• • Safety data sheets available for current products
• • Staff know where to find them
• • Staff understand first aid actions for exposure or spills
• • Correct PPE and dilution guidance followed

Evidence to check

• • Staff feedback or supervision notes
• • Examples of staff-raised concerns
• • Management response and actions
• • No evidence of staff ignoring hazards because they think nothing will change

Evidence to check

• • Team meeting minutes
• • Health and safety committee or staff consultation records
• • Changes made following staff feedback
• • Staff can describe recent safety improvements

Evidence to check

• • Resident meeting minutes
• • Care plans showing positive risk-taking where appropriate
• • Mental capacity and best-interest records where restrictions are used
• • Residents' views considered before environmental or safety changes

Evidence to check

• • Lone working risk assessments
• • Staff know check-in, escalation and emergency procedures
• • Panic alarms, phones or call systems available where needed
• • Incidents or concerns reviewed and controls updated

Evidence to check

• • Emergency and business continuity plans
• • Staff know their role in different emergency scenarios
• • Evidence of drills, tabletop exercises or scenario discussions
• • Plans include residents with high dependency needs

Evidence to check

• • Emergency contact lists displayed or accessible
• • Staff know who to contact in and out of hours
• • Records of escalation during previous incidents
• • Information kept up to date

Evidence to check

• • Cross-check incident records, complaints, maintenance logs and care notes
• • Themes identified across different record types
• • Management meetings discuss wider safety patterns
• • Actions address root causes, not only individual incidents

Evidence to check

• • Resident-specific risk assessments
• • Observation of layout, signage, lighting and trip hazards
• • Staff adapt support for residents with cognitive or sensory needs
• • Falls, distress or incidents reviewed for environmental triggers

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessments for restrictive equipment or arrangements
• • Mental capacity and best-interest records where required
• • Consent or resident involvement where appropriate
• • Review records showing least restrictive options considered

Evidence to check

• • Manager walkaround records
• • Spot check records
• • Direct observation of staff practice
• • Actions from checks followed up and reviewed