Health and Safety on Courses Policy

Role Models Life Skills uses its risk assessments to ensure that it is a safe and secure place for children, staff & visitors.

Role Models Life Skills carries out regular and thorough risk assessments to ensure that risks and hazards are identified, and appropriate action is taken.

Please also see our First Aid Policy.

Risk assessments will be carried out:

• Before any course begins
• Whenever there is a change to equipment or new equipment is being used
• Equipment or environmental changes due to a specific need of a child or staff member

Not all risk assessments will be required to be written down (e.g., if a jumper is left on the sports hall floor but is moved before the start of the session) however, staff will decide (in consultation with the manager) which risks are to be recorded. We also have an additional COVID-19 risk assessment. Copies of which our risk assessments can be shared upon request.

Pre course checks:

• Visual checks to all areas to be used (e.g., sports hall, classrooms, outside areas) before any children arrive
• All welfare facilities are clean and tidy

During course / session checks:

• If an injury occurs or a danger is spotted, the cause is immediately investigated and dealt with. Any accidents will be written up.
• All welfare facilities are clean and tidy

Post course checks:

• Recording of incidents or accidents
• If there is a serious or dangerous incident or accident then the manager must complete accident report form (in the book). If the incident effected a child, a note must be kept on the child’s file.
• If changes to the risk assessment are to be made, Role Models Life Skills will ensure that staff are informed, and the relevant documents are updated. All of our assessments are in line with current health & safety legislation, the EYFS safeguarding and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA)

Fire Safety

Role Models Life Skills understands the importance of fire safety, below we have outlined the following fire safety points:

• Staff are aware of the location of all fire exits, the fire assembly point and where fire safety equipment is stored
• Children are introduced to the fire safety procedures during their settling in period
• All children are shown the location of fire exits and the fire assembly point
• Fire doors and fire exits are clearly marked, are not obstructed at any time, and are easily opened from the inside
• Fire extinguishers, fire alarms and smoke alarms are regularly tested in accordance with manufacturer’s guidance (and the school’s policy)
• Each site has notices explaining the fire procedures which are positioned next to every fire exit

Fire prevention

Role Models Life Skills will take all steps possible to prevent fires occurring by:

• Ensuring that power points are not overloaded with adaptors
• Ensuring that Role Models Life Skills No Smoking rule is always observed
• Checking for frayed or trailing wires
• Checking that fuses are replaced safely
• Unplugging or turning off all equipment before leaving the premises
• Storing any potentially flammable materials safely

In the event of a fire

• A member of staff will raise the alarm and call the emergency services
• The children will immediately be escorted out of the building to the assembly point using the nearest marked exit
• No attempt will be made to collect personal belongings, or to re-enter the building after evacuation
• The premises will be checked by the venues Fire Safety Officer and the register will be collected, providing that it is safe to do so
• The venues Fire Safety Officer will close all doors and windows to prevent the spread of fire when they leave the building if it is safe to do so
• The register will be taken, and all children and staff accounted for
• If anyone is missing from the register, the emergency services will be informed
• If the register is not available the Role Model will use the emergency contacts list (which is kept off the premises) to contact parents or carers

Other emergency procedures

Procedures for staff and volunteers to follow in an emergency should include:

• raising the alarm and informing the public
• onsite emergency response, ie use of fire extinguishers
• summoning the emergency services and continuing to liaise with them
• crowd management, including evacuation, where necessary
• evacuation of people with disabilities
• traffic management, including emergency vehicles
• incident control
• providing first aid and medical assistance

Staff

Role Models Life Skills considers health and safety to be of utmost importance. We comply with The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 at all times.

Role Models Life Skills has appropriate insurance cover, including public liability insurance.

Each member of staff follows the Role Models Life Skills Health and Safety policy and is responsible for:

• Maintaining a safe environment
• Taking reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others attending Role Models Life Skills Courses
• Reporting all accidents and incidents which have caused injury or damage or may do so in the future
• Undertaking relevant health and safety training when required to do so by the manager
• Any member of staff who disregards safety instructions or recognised safe practices will be subject to disciplinary procedures

Responsibilities of the Role Model

Role Models Life Skills teachers are responsible for ensuring that at each course:

• Premises are clean, well lit, adequately ventilated and maintained at an appropriate temperature
• The premises are used by and solely available to Role Models Life Skills during opening hours (unless previously agreed)
• All Role Models Life Skills equipment is safely and securely stored
• A mobile telephone is available on the premises at all times
• Chemicals and cleaning materials are stored appropriately, and in accordance with COSHH data sheets
• External pathways are cleared in severe weather (as per the site policy)
• Daily environment checks are carried out in accordance with our risk assessment (copies of which can be shared separately)

Security

Children are not allowed to leave Role Models Life Skills premises during the session unless prior permission has been given by the parents (for example, to attend other extra-curricular activities or a medical appointment).

All visitors to Role Models Life Skills must be pre-approved and give the reason for their visit. Visitors will never be left alone with the children.

Security procedures will be regularly reviewed by the manager, in consultation with staff and parents.

Equipment

All equipment is kept clean, well maintained and in good repair. We select resources with care, and we carry out risk assessments before the children are allowed to use them.

We ensure that any flammable equipment is stored safely.

Food and personal hygiene

Staff at Role Models Life Skills maintain high standards of personal hygiene and take all practicable steps to prevent and control the spread of infection.

A generally clean environment is maintained at all times. Toilets are cleaned daily, and soap and hand drying facilities are always available.

Staff ensure that children wash their hands before handling food or drink and after using the toilet.

Cuts and abrasions (whether on children or staff) are kept covered.

Dealing with body fluids

Spillages of blood, vomit, urine, and faeces will be cleaned up immediately.

Staffing

Staff ratios and levels of supervision are always appropriate to the number, ages, and abilities of the children present, and to the risks associated with the activities being undertaken.

We are committed to reviewing our policy and procedures annually. This policy was last reviewed in January 2024.