Health & Safety and Compliance

Since we provide accommodation, Richmond Fellowship is registered as a social landlord and is regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing (Homes and Communities Agency).

A number of our residential and all personal care services are registered with and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

We think risk is part of everyday life and that positive risk taking is part of people’s development and recovery.

Our overall aim is to help people make effective decisions regarding their personal development, independence and quality of life. At the same time we have to make sure that our staff are able to identify and help individuals manage any foreseeable risks and ensure we comply with legal requirements.

For all these reasons we take risk assessment and management seriously and do it as part of our day to day work.

We manage risk by:

• Carrying out risk assessments as part of our referral and care or support planning work
• Sharing information regularly between colleagues
• Sharing information appropriately with other professionals and agencies
• Keeping up to date and accurate records.

We believe that anyone using our services has the right to do so free from the fear of potential or actual abuse.

Abuse is anything that may harm another person and may include:

• Physical abuse – such as hitting, pushing or locking someone in a room
• Verbal abuse – such as shouting or swearing
• Emotional abuse – such as bullying, taunting or humiliating someone
• Sexual abuse – such as inappropriate touching or forcing someone to take part in a sexual act against their will
• Financial abuse – such as misusing, withholding or taking someone’s money
• Neglect – such as not providing necessary food, care or medicine
• Discrimination – such as ill treatment due to someone’s ethnicity, age, gender, disability, sexuality or religious beliefs
• Self neglect – such as where someone may be unable to look after and keep themselves safe.

Abuse can happen anywhere and might be carried out by anyone, including family, (ex) partners, friends, neighbours, strangers or a member of staff.

We take this issue very seriously and will immediately investigate any reports of abuse in accordance with our safeguarding of adults policy. If we have reason to believe a crime has been committed we will involve the police.

If, after investigation, a member of our staff is found guilty of abusing an individual, appropriate action will be taken against them.

Recovery Focus partners comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 including the General Data Protection Regulation which sets out how information is collected, stored and disclosed so that people’s privacy and confidentiality are protected.

Recovery Focus partners are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) which is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest by promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals.

Our partners have policies to make sure any information given to them by an individual is treated carefully, sensitively and securely.
Our partners do not pass on any information about individuals to other agencies without written permission unless they believe it will put that individual or others are at risk, they have been involved in a serious crime, or there are concerns in relation to child protection.

The health and safety of our employees, people using our services, visitors or contractors is of paramount importance to us.

We’re committed to providing an environment that is safe and healthy for all our employees and those affected by our activities.

Our operations are carried out to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health, safety or conditions of any person or property will not be adversely affected.

We have robust policies in place and we comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, regulations and codes of practice.

This includes:

• Carrying out regular health and safety checks of all the premises we manage or own, and all equipment, fixtures and fittings
• Carrying out regular fire safety checks and fire drills
• Annually checking all gas and electrical appliances in our properties
• Carrying out regular food hygiene inspections where relevant.

Richmond Fellowship is accredited by the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS) having demonstrated compliance with and sound management of current health and safety legislation.