Environmental Risk Assessments and Planning

Risk can be broadly defined as 'the probability that an event will occur with beneficial or harmful consequences.

Risk-sensible not risk-averse practices should be followed when completing any risk assessment so a realistic and proportionate approach to risk is in place which enables children to grow and learn.

Environmental Risk assessments must be in place to support adults and the child in relation to any identified risks from the environment – individual strengths and needs for each child are covered in the Safety Plan which is described within the Safety Plan Framework.

Risk assessments are carried out by all agencies involved in Children's Social Care and the children's social worker should provide the Home with all up-to-date risk assessments relating to the child they support.

The Caldecott Foundation, its homes and schools are required by law to protect the adults who work for the Foundation and others from harm. We ensure that we carry out the following:

• Identify what could cause injury or illness in your business (hazards);
• Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk);
• Take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn't possible, control the risk.

Risk management is a step-by-step process for controlling health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace.

You can do it yourself or appoint a competent person to help you.

• Identify hazards;
• Assess the risks;
• Control the risks;
• Record your findings;
• Review the controls.

The purpose of any risk assessment is to eliminate the risk if at all possible. If this cannot be achieved then we should consider how we can reduce harm or the risk of harm and evidence that these risks are now minimised. We minimise risks by employing the use of control methods. The Risk Assessment should consider all the risks as well as control measures that need to be in place; it should be fit for purpose and consider every issue relevant. It must provide enough information to all relevant people so that they can care for the children safely and appropriately.

Risk assessments are completed in relation to premises, equipment used for the child such as oxygen use in the Home, risks from other people and activities.

Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them.

As children will spend significant periods of time away from the Home, for example in education or training, at appointments with the YOT or for engagement in leisure activities, any assessed risks should be shared with the education provider or service the child is attending if appropriate, so that the service is clear on the action they must take if the child puts themselves at risk while using their service.

Adults should take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental-stage about when to allow them to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. Adults should discuss the decision with the child’s placing authority where appropriate. If a child makes a choice that would place them or another person at significant risk of harm, staff should assist them to understand the risks and manage their risk-taking behaviour to keep themselves and others safe.

Risks can be seen as the following:

• Low - where something may be likely but the consequences are likely not to have a huge impact;
• Moderate - where the consequences may be high but specialist support or skills can mitigate the risk;
• High - where the risk cannot be mitigated.

Control measures take the form of Advice, Protect and Avoid.

• Advice - where skills, appropriate training for staff; supervision and observation can reduce the risks;
• Protect - where specific equipment or specialist expertise can support the situation such as hoists, fire doors, advice in relation to moving and handling, signage;
• Avoid - where the risk cannot be mitigated by advice and protection.

All risk assessments should state what the risk is and how it will be safely managed. All risk assessments should be signed and dated and reviewed when situations change.

Possession of a risk assessment does not guarantee safety and cannot prevent unpredictable situations. However a risk assessment can be a useful tool to help prevent a situation occurring. Adults should always seek advice around dangerous behaviours.

See also: Positive Relationships, Happy Events and Consequences Procedure.

The level of risk may change over time and regular review of risk should take place noting how risk has been successfully managed. Adults caring for the child will make an active contribution to the environmental risk assessment based on their experience of caring for the child.

The Home has a responsibility to make sure environmental risk assessments are being followed by adults and that they are up to date and updated as and when necessary.

Training around how to complete a risk assessment should be in place for adults to aid them in considering how risks and control measures should be addressed.

Legislation, Statutory Guidance and Government Non-Statutory Guidance

Promoting the Health and Well-being of Looked-After Children (Department for Education)

Assessing Risk in Children's Homes (Ofsted)