Health and Safety Audit - Supported Living

Evidence to check

• • Health and safety policy is current and specific to supported living
• • Staff can explain how health and safety applies in tenants’ own homes and shared areas
• • Policy reflects shared responsibilities between care provider, landlord, housing provider and tenant
• • Staff understand that safety controls must be proportionate and not unnecessarily restrictive

Evidence to check

• • Premises or environmental risk assessment for each setting
• • Assessment covers access, lighting, flooring, fire safety, utilities, security, shared areas and tenant-specific risks
• • Risks are reviewed after incidents, deterioration, new equipment or changes in tenancy
• • Actions are followed up with the responsible party, such as landlord, provider or housing association

Evidence to check

• • Records define responsibilities for repairs, communal areas, fire safety, cleaning, pest control and equipment
• • Staff know what they must report and to whom
• • Concerns are not left unresolved because each party assumes another is responsible
• • Tenants are supported to understand their own responsibilities where appropriate

Evidence to check

• • Tenant views recorded in risk assessments and support plans
• • Staff discuss risks in a way the tenant can understand
• • Choices and refusals are recorded and reviewed
• • Restrictions are not introduced without clear rationale, consent or lawful best-interest decision

Evidence to check

• • Support plans identify what the tenant can do independently
• • Staff encourage safe independence with daily tasks
• • Risk assessments balance safety with autonomy
• • Staff can explain how they support without creating unnecessary dependence

Evidence to check

• • Support plans or risk assessments identify tenancy-related risks
• • Records show early escalation to housing provider, social worker, safeguarding or family where appropriate
• • Tenant is supported to understand risks to their tenancy
• • Actions aim to sustain the tenancy safely, not simply record the problem

Evidence to check

• • Current fire risk assessment for each premises
• • Assessment reflects actual tenants, mobility, cognition, equipment and staffing arrangements
• • Actions from fire risk assessment are tracked to completion
• • Review completed after changes, incidents or fire safety concerns

Evidence to check

• • Fire safety check records
• • Servicing and maintenance records
• • Faults reported promptly to landlord, housing provider or responsible contractor
• • Staff know what to do if fire safety equipment is damaged or missing

Evidence to check

• • Fire drill or evacuation practice records
• • Tenants are supported to understand what to do in a fire
• • Staff know evacuation routes, assembly points and tenant-specific support needs
• • Learning from drills or incidents is recorded and acted on

Evidence to check

• • Environmental standards or guidance are available to staff
• • Staff can identify when a home environment becomes unsafe
• • Tenant choice is respected unless risks require escalation
• • Concerns about cleanliness, repairs or hazards are recorded and followed up

Evidence to check

• • Staff record hazards found in private or shared areas
• • Hazards are escalated to the correct responsible person or agency
• • Urgent risks are acted on immediately
• • Repeated hazards are reviewed for patterns or safeguarding concerns

Evidence to check

• • Lone working policy and risk assessments
• • Known risks such as aggression, substance misuse, visitors or isolated locations are recorded
• • Staff understand when they should not enter or remain in a property
• • Risk controls are reviewed after incidents or near misses

Evidence to check

• • Check-in or buddy system records
• • Staff know how and when to use the system
• • Missed check-ins are followed up promptly
• • Higher-risk visits have additional controls

Evidence to check

• • Failed access and emergency escalation procedure
• • Staff can explain what to do if a tenant does not answer
• • Records show welfare checks and escalation actions
• • Family, housing, emergency services or safeguarding contacted where required

Evidence to check

• • IPC risk assessments and support plans
• • Staff understand IPC in private homes and shared spaces
• • Outbreak or infection guidance is used when needed
• • IPC controls do not unnecessarily restrict tenants’ rights or independence

Evidence to check

• • Cleaning responsibilities are allocated between tenant, staff, landlord or cleaning contractor
• • Cleaning records for shared areas where applicable
• • Staff identify and escalate hygiene risks
• • Tenants are supported to maintain their own space where this is part of the support plan

Evidence to check

• • Support plans record hygiene support needs and preferences
• • Daily notes show support offered and accepted or refused
• • Concerns about self-neglect, odour, skin integrity or infection risk are escalated
• • Staff encourage independence and do not shame or blame tenants

Evidence to check

• • Medication training and competency records
• • Support plans clearly define staff medication role
• • Staff can explain the difference between prompting, assisting and administering
• • MAR or medication records match the agreed support level

Evidence to check

• • Medication incident and near-miss records
• • Immediate action taken to protect the tenant
• • Root cause or contributing factors reviewed
• • Learning shared with staff and support plans updated where needed

Evidence to check

• • Medication storage risk assessment
• • Secure storage used only where required by risk
• • Expired, discontinued or unused medicines are identified and escalated
• • Tenant consent and independence are considered in storage and disposal arrangements

Evidence to check

• • Moving and handling risk assessments
• • Staff training and competency records
• • Correct equipment and number of staff used
• • Assessment reviewed after falls, deterioration or changes in mobility

Evidence to check

• • Equipment checks, servicing or maintenance records
• • Staff report damaged or unsafe equipment
• • Tenant-owned equipment is considered in risk assessments where relevant
• • Assistive technology or aids are reviewed when needs change

Evidence to check

• • Kitchen safety risk assessment where relevant
• • Support plan records safe appliance use and level of support
• • Staff encourage independence with proportionate safeguards
• • Incidents such as burns, fires, spoiled food or appliances left on are reviewed

Evidence to check

• • Food hygiene training for staff providing meal support
• • Support plan records food safety needs and tenant preferences
• • Staff check dates, storage and hygiene where this is part of agreed support
• • Concerns about unsafe food, pests or poor kitchen hygiene are escalated

Evidence to check

• • Emergency procedures are accessible to staff
• • Staff can answer scenario-based questions
• • Incident records show timely escalation and follow-up
• • Emergency plans are reviewed after incidents

Evidence to check

• • Emergency contacts are current and accessible
• • Staff know who to contact in and out of hours
• • Business continuity arrangements cover supported living risks
• • Records show emergency contacts were used appropriately

Evidence to check

• • PEEPs or emergency support plans for tenants who need them
• • Plans match current support needs and equipment
• • Staff understand individual evacuation support needs
• • Plans reviewed after changes in health, mobility or tenancy

Evidence to check

• • Safeguarding policy includes supported living scenarios
• • Staff can identify risks from co-tenants, visitors or associates
• • Support plans and risk assessments reflect individual safeguarding risks
• • Concerns are reported and tracked to outcome

Evidence to check

• • Safeguarding training records
• • Staff scenario-based responses
• • Care notes show concerns are identified and escalated
• • Staff understand less obvious signs such as controlling relationships or financial exploitation

Evidence to check

• • Safeguarding log or tracker
• • Referral dates compared with concern dates
• • Actions and outcomes recorded
• • Learning or protective actions are reflected in support plans

Evidence to check

• • Accessible safeguarding information available
• • Support plans record communication needs
• • Tenants know who they can speak to where possible
• • Advocacy or representative support offered where needed

Evidence to check

• • Consent records are current
• • Decision-specific capacity assessments where required
• • Best-interest decisions recorded where the tenant lacks capacity
• • Staff understand what the tenant has agreed to or refused

Evidence to check

• • Capacity reviewed when circumstances or risks change
• • Assessments are decision-specific
• • Unwise decisions are not automatically treated as lack of capacity
• • Safeguarding or legal advice sought where restrictions or serious risk arise

Evidence to check

• • Visitor risk assessments where specific risks are known
• • Staff understand they cannot impose blanket restrictions without legal basis
• • Concerns about visitors are recorded and escalated
• • Tenants are involved in decisions wherever possible

Evidence to check

• • Training records for positive behaviour support, de-escalation or conflict management
• • Support plans identify triggers, early warning signs and calming approaches
• • Staff avoid punitive or restrictive responses
• • Incidents lead to review of support rather than blame

Evidence to check

• • Incident records
• • Patterns reviewed by person, setting, trigger, time or staff team
• • Support plans and risk assessments updated
• • Safeguarding, police or professional input considered where required

Evidence to check

• • Support plans identify mental health or substance misuse risks where relevant
• • Staff know escalation routes to GP, mental health team, crisis team or substance misuse services
• • Risks to tenant, co-tenants and staff are assessed
• • Support is non-judgemental and focused on safety and wellbeing

Evidence to check

• • Emergency escalation procedure
• • Staff can explain when to call police, ambulance or crisis services
• • Incident records show timely and appropriate escalation
• • Follow-up support offered after emergency involvement

Evidence to check

• • Records are stored securely in offices, shared settings or tenant homes
• • Mobile devices use secure apps, passwords and screen locks
• • Staff do not leave confidential information visible to others
• • Access is limited to authorised staff

Evidence to check

• • GDPR and confidentiality training records
• • Staff can explain how they protect information during visits
• • Consent to share information is recorded where required
• • Data breaches or confidentiality concerns are reported and reviewed

Evidence to check

• • Support plans reflect tenant choice and independence
• • Staff knock, seek permission and respect the person’s home
• • Restrictions are justified, proportionate and reviewed
• • Tenant feedback confirms they feel respected

Evidence to check

• • Hazard reports or maintenance logs
• • Escalation to landlord, housing provider, environmental health or family where appropriate
• • Temporary controls used where risk remains
• • Repeated or unresolved environmental hazards are escalated through management

Evidence to check

• • Records of adaptations, alarms, sensors, mobility aids or assistive technology
• • Maintenance or testing records where required
• • Staff and tenants know how to report faults
• • Equipment is reviewed when needs or risks change

Evidence to check

• • Tenant and relative feedback included in audits or reviews
• • Feedback covers safety, dignity, independence and environment
• • Actions are taken in response to feedback
• • People are told what changed where appropriate

Evidence to check

• • Audit records include observation or staff questioning
• • Actions from audits have owners and timescales
• • Poor practice is followed up through supervision or training
• • Repeated themes are escalated through governance

Evidence to check

• • Governance or quality meeting records
• • Themes identified across incidents, audits, complaints and safeguarding
• • Actions address root causes, not just individual events
• • Improvement actions are reviewed for effectiveness

Evidence to check

• • Team meeting minutes or staff briefings
• • Staff can describe recent learning
• • Support plans, risk assessments or procedures updated after learning
• • Managers check whether learning changed practice

Evidence to check

• • Rota review considers workload, lone working and travel
• • Supervision includes staff wellbeing and safety
• • Staff can access support after difficult visits
• • Incidents involving staff safety lead to review and action

Evidence to check

• • Training matrix and refresher dates
• • Training includes practical supported living scenarios
• • Overdue training is followed up
• • Staff knowledge is checked through supervision or spot checks

Evidence to check

• • Debrief or welfare support records
• • Staff know how to access emotional support
• • Managers check on affected staff
• • Learning is captured without blame

Evidence to check

• • Contractor sign-in or access arrangements
• • Tenants are informed or consent is considered where contractors enter private areas
• • Staff know how to report unsafe contractor practice
• • Essential checks such as gas, electrical or fire safety are completed and followed up

Evidence to check

• • Security arrangements are risk assessed
• • Key, fob or code access is controlled
• • CCTV use is lawful, proportionate and communicated where used
• • Concerns about unauthorised access are recorded and escalated

Evidence to check

• • Financial risk assessments where staff support with money or shopping
• • Records of transactions, receipts or support with finances where applicable
• • Staff can recognise financial abuse and coercion
• • Safeguarding concerns are raised where financial exploitation is suspected

Evidence to check

• • Risk assessments are person-specific, not blanket restrictions
• • Tenants are involved in decisions wherever possible
• • Least restrictive options are considered
• • Managers review restrictions for proportionality and impact on quality of life

Evidence to check

• • Repair and hazard tracker
• • Dates reported, chased and resolved are recorded
• • Risk controls are used while awaiting repair
• • Unresolved risks are escalated to senior managers, commissioners or safeguarding where needed

Evidence to check

• • Support plans include household safety guidance where relevant
• • Staff use coaching and prompts rather than unnecessary control
• • Incidents or near misses trigger review
• • Tenant choice and capacity are considered in risk decisions