Health & Safety Policy.

Updated May 25

Health and Safety Policy

This policy aims to explain the responsibilities of managers and employees. It outlines Atriums  health and safety duties for providing a safe and healthy working environment (as far as is reasonably practicable) for all its workers (paid or volunteer) under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, other relevant legislation and common law duties of care. Prisons have more inherent risks for staff than other workplaces and Atrium is not responsible for the wider environment/prison regime and adheres to the prison processes to keep staff safe. Our collective safety relies on effective induction training provided in conjunction with the prison regime and healthcare, our communication skills to report risk and health and safety concerns using the regime’s processes and our communication via our manager to monitor the response to these concerns and agree our mitigation plan. Throughout this Statement, terms such as “staff”, “workers”, “employees”, include both paid, trainees and volunteers.

Atriums Commitment to Health and Safety is to

• Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health.
• Manage health and safety risks in the workplace.
• Provide clear instructions and information, and adequate training to ensure employees are competent to do their work.
• Provide personal protective equipment when and if required.
• Consult with our employees on matters affecting their health and safety.
• Maintain safe and healthy working conditions.
• Implement emergency procedure, including evacuation in case of fire or other significant incident in accordance with the guidance of the prison regime.
• Review and revise this policy regularly and ensure practitioners have access to prison site and healthcare policies and revisions.

 

Atrium will work with our contractors and partners to:

• Assess the risks to health and safety of its volunteers/workers;
• Make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as necessary by this assessment;
• Record the significant findings of our ongoing risk assessments and the arrangements for health and safety measures.
• Delegate health and safety manager lead responsibilities within the setting and within the specified arrangements of our contractor e.g. schools and to lead practitioner.
• Our clinicians are trained via induction to
• Understand emergency procedures in the setting.
• Know how to access medical support/induction training
• Identify when the workplace fails to satisfy health, safety and welfare requirements, e.g., for ventilation, temperature, lighting and for sanitary, washing and rest facilities and report any failings to the service manager or facilities manager within the setting;
• Identify when work equipment or is suitable or work environments (E.g. rooms in which clients are seen) pose a risk to health and safety and report failings to the service manager.
• Take precautions against danger form flammable or explosive hazards, electrical equipment, noise or radiation.
• Avoid hazardous manual handling operations and, where they cannot be avoided, reduce the risk of injury.
• Identify escalating risk of conflict or harm to others and take evasive action or request support from an officer and report concerns to manager.
• Provide feedback on health surveillance to the setting and our healthcare colleagues when we identify concerns as appropriate and follow guidance.

Procedure

Health and Safety Rules

All workers must exercise ordinary care to avoid accidents in their activities at work and comply with the following rules of the setting and our health/education/workplace or other commissioning partner/ contractor.

Accident /incident reporting

Practitioners and trainees must comply with commissioner and context processes. All incidents should also be reported to the Atrium lead.

Fire Precautions

All personnel must familiarise themselves with fire escape routes and procedures and follow the directions of the setting guidance and healthcare guidance.

Equipment and Appliances

No equipment or appliance may be used other than as provided by or specifically authorised by or on behalf of the contractor and forensic site.

Safety Clearways

Corridors and doorways must be kept free of obstructions and properly lit.

Maintenance

Defective equipment, furniture and structures must be reported as such without delay. Breakages, glass fragments, items that could be used as a means of harm need to be reported straight away.

Hygiene and Waste

Disposal Facilities for the disposal of waste materials must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition. Waste must be disposed of in an appropriate manner and in accordance with any special instructions relating to the material concerned.

Food Hygiene

When handling or preparing food there are specific hygiene requirements:

• Regularly wash hands before and during food preparation and especially after using the lavatory;
• Tell your supervisor or representative of the Committee of any skin, nose, throat, or bowel problem;
• Ensure cuts or sores are covered with correct waterproof dressings;
• Keep yourself clean and wear clean clothing;
• Remember that smoking in a food room is illegal;
• Never cough or sneeze over food;
• Clean as you go. Keep all equipment and surfaces clean;
• Prepare raw and cooked food in separate areas. Keep perishable food covered and either refrigerated (less than 8”C) or piping hot (above 63”C);
• Ensure waste food is disposed of properly. Keep the lid on rubbish bin and wash your hands after putting waste in it;
• Avoid handling food as far as possible;
• Tell your manager in the forensic setting concerns regarding the facilities – e.g., uncleanness, refrigeration malfunction, cracked food preparation surfaces.

Display Screen Equipment

Atrium recognises its responsibility to ensure the well-being of workers who habitually use display screen equipment for a significant part of their normal work. Workers are advised to ensure that they take a five minute break from the display screen equipment at least once an hour.

Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco

All the above are banned in forensic sites and you must report any such substances straight away.

Arrangement and Procedures

The Health and Safety Officer, nominated by the setting will advise Atrium practitioners directly of changes to procedures on health and safety.

First Aid and Accident Reporting

 First Aid

• The current First Aider(s) for the site and healthcare are included in your site induction information.

Accidents

• In the event of an injury or illness, call for a member of staff or ring, follow your site guidance.
• All accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Officer identified in your site and healthcare information.
• All accidents must be entered within the protocol laid down by our contractor and site.
• The Health and Safety Officer in the site may involve the Atrium Manager and practitioners in the investigation of accidents and report writing.

Fire Drills and Evacuation Procedures –please check with your own prison setting safety fire evacuation expectations. The Atrium Clinic in Southend is managed by Maz, who is the lead fire and site officer.

Fire Drills

• All workers and volunteers must know the fire procedures, position of fire appliances and escape routes.
• The fire alarm points, fire exits and emergency lighting system will be tested by The Fire Officer/Health and Safety Officer during the first week of each month and entered in the log book provided.
• In addition, these Drills will be carried out at different times and on different days, so that all users/hirers know the procedures. Check your site for details.
• The last person securing the premises will ensure Fire Prevention Close Down Checks are made of all parts of the premises at the end of a session

In the event of Fire follow local site processes and advice

Bomb Warnings: Follow local site advice and healthcare guidance.

Cleaning Materials: Follow local site advice and healthcare guidance.

 

General Machinery and High-Risk Areas: Follow advice from setting and healthcare partner.

General: Report in reference to local procedures on reporting of risks

• All thoroughfares, exits and gates must be left clear at all times.
• Corridors and fire exits must not be blocked by furniture or equipment.
• Vehicles must not be parked near to the building so as to cause any obstruction or hazard.
• Hazards or suspected hazards or other health and safety matters should be reported to the Health and Safety Officer or the staff member on duty immediately or as soon as practicable, so that action can be taken. If the hazard is of a serious nature, immediate action must be taken to protect or clear the area to prevent injury to staff or other users.

Roles and Responsibilities

All Employees have a statutory duty to read and observe all health and safety procedures and take all reasonable care if and whilst working for Atrium and to promote the health and safety of themselves and others. Wilful breaches of health and safety will be considered a breach of contract and such breaches pose a risk to yourself, the client, the team, and the clinic’s contract.

Upon joining Atrium Counselling services within community settings, employees will be provided with a checklist outlining all training requirements including health and safety. Your attendance and sign off is required.

 

Points of contact with Atrium

Clinical Lead, Sara Ireland, Monique Beckett (Senior therapist Community and schools) and Jemma Paxman (Coordination team and liaison Southend office) to be contacted in all cases of employees and trainee’s health and safety concerns and/or issues.