1. Governance
1.1. This is the Fire Safety and Evacuation Policy and Procedure for The Good Place Home Care Services Limited.
1.2. The Good Place Home Care Services Limited will be referred to in this document as "The Good Place Home Care Services Limited","The Good Place","We","Us", or "Our".
1.3. Our registered address is: 186 Wetmore Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1QZ.
1.4. We can be contacted by:-
- a. Telephone: 01283 296 337
- b. Email: [protected:ahello][protected:athegoodplace.care]
- c. Post: The Good Place, 186 Wetmore Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1QZ
1.5. Words importing one gender include all genders, and words in the singular include the plural and vice versa, unless the context requires otherwise.
1.6. Document control sheet:-
| Metadata | Value |
|---|---|
| Document fingerprint | HS-2144-V1 |
| Document owner | Dean Hill (Nominated Individual) |
| Document version | 1 |
| Document status | Approved on 19/03/2026 by the Dean Hill (Nominated Individual) |
| Document review cycle | Annually or sooner if legislation or guidance changes. Next review planned for March 2027 |
2. Purpose
2.1. To ensure the safety of all The Good Place service users, staff, and visitors by outlining fire prevention measures and emergency evacuation procedures.
2.2. To ensure all staff members understand their role in preventing fire hazards and responding effectively in the event of a fire emergency in a service user’s home.
2.3. To ensure that we fulfil the legal and regulatory responsibilities.
2.4. To support us to meet, and be able to evidence compliance with, the following CQC Single Assessment Framework quality statements:-
| Safe | |
|---|---|
Learning culture | We have a proactive and positive culture of safety based on openness and honesty, in which concerns about safety are investigated and reported thoroughly, and lessons are learned to continually identify and embed good practices. |
Involving people to manage risks | We work with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically so that care meets their needs in a way that is safe and supportive and enables them to do the things that matter to them. |
Safe environments | We detect and control potential risks in the care environment. We make sure that equipment, facilities and technology support the delivery of safe care. |
| Caring | |
Independence, choice and control | We promote people’s independence, so they know their rights and have choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing. |
| Well-led | |
Governance, management and sustainability | We have clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance. We use these to manage and deliver good quality, sustainable care, treatment and support. We act on the best information about risk, performance and outcomes, and we share this securely with others when appropriate. |
Learning, improvement and innovation | We focus on continuous learning, innovation and improvement across our organisation and the local system. We encourage creative ways of delivering equality of experience, outcome and quality of life for people. We actively contribute to safe, effective practice and research. |
3. Scope
3.1. This policy applies to all The Good Place employees, service users, contractors, and visitors who engage with the company’s operations. As domiciliary care staff work within service users’ homes, it is crucial that they are vigilant in identifying fire hazards and understand their role in evacuation and safety procedures tailored to each individual’s needs.
4. Policy Statement
4.1. The Good Place is committed to taking all reasonably practicable steps to prevent fire and to protect service users, staff, contractors and others who may be affected by our activities from the risk of fire when we are providing domiciliary care in people’s own homes.
4.2. We will ensure that fire safety is embedded within our assessment, care planning and review processes so that individual fire risks in each service user’s home are identified, recorded, and managed in partnership with the person, their representatives (where appropriate) and relevant professionals.
4.3. We will maintain effective arrangements for fire safety in line with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) and Regulation 17 (good governance).
4.4. We will ensure that all staff receive appropriate induction and refresher training in fire prevention, recognition of fire risks in people’s homes, and emergency actions, and that they understand their responsibilities under this policy and related procedures.
4.5. We will promote a positive learning culture in which fire incidents, near misses and identified hazards are reported promptly, reviewed, and used to improve practice, and where learning is shared with staff and, where relevant, with people who use our service.
4.6. We will ensure that information about fire safety and emergency procedures is provided in accessible formats, in line with the Accessible Information Standard and the Equality Act 2010, so that people can understand the risks and participate in decisions about how those risks are managed.
5. Legal & Regulatory Framework
5.1. This policy is guided by:-
- a. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places duties on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees and others who may be affected by their work activities, including when staff are working in service users’ own homes.
- b. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to the health and safety of employees and others arising out of our work, including fire risks in domiciliary care settings.
- c. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies where The Good Place is the “responsible person” for non-domestic premises or common parts (for example, in some supported living or office environments), and informs good practice in fire safety arrangements more generally.
- d. The Care Act 2014, including duties to prevent and reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, which can include fire risk where this arises from self-neglect or other safeguarding concerns.
- e. The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, specifically Regulation 12 on safe care and treatment and Regulation 17 on good governance.
5.2. The Good Place is fully committed to meeting the requirements of the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), as set out by NHS England. This means we will ensure that people with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss receive information and communication support that they can understand and use effectively. This may include large print, easy-read versions, audio formats, or the use of interpreters and communication aids. See our Accessible Information Standard (AIS) Policy and Procedure for further details.
5.3. We also comply with the Equality Act 2010 and are fully committed to promoting diversity, and human rights in all aspects of our service provision and employment practices. We are dedicated to ensuring that all individuals, including staff, service users, and stakeholders, are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and without discrimination. We will also make reasonable adjustments so that no individual is treated less favourably when using our service. This includes supporting people with protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. See our Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Policy and Procedure for further details.
6. Roles & Responsibilities
6.1. The responsibility for fire safety is shared among all stakeholders:-
- a. The Registered Manager is responsible for overseeing fire safety measures, ensuring compliance with legislation, and providing training to staff.
- b. Care Staff must remain alert to fire hazards in service users’ homes, follow fire safety procedures, and assist in emergency evacuations where necessary.
- c. Service Users and Visitors should adhere to fire safety guidance provided and cooperate in emergency situations.
6.2. Staff should regularly inspect service users’ homes for potential fire risks, such as overloaded electrical sockets, blocked exits, and the presence of flammable materials. Any identified hazards must be reported to the Registered Manager immediately.
7. Data Protection & Confidentiality
7.1. At The Good Place, we recognise that protecting an individual's confidentiality and ensuring compliance with data protection laws are fundamental to ethical and legal care practices, especially when handling personal and sensitive health data.
7.2. See our Confidentiality and Data Protection (UK GDPR) Policy and Procedure for full details on how personal and health data must be obtained, stored, shared, and processed in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
7.3. When Data Can Be Shared Without Consent
7.3.1. In some situations, data protection laws allow information to be shared without consent if it is necessary for:-
- a. Safeguarding: If there is a serious risk of harm to a service user or others, staff have a duty to share information with appropriate agencies (e.g., local authority safeguarding teams).
- aa. Local Authority: Staffordshire County Council
- i. Email: [protected:aSSASPB.admin][protected:astaffordshire.gov.uk]
- ii. Online: Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Adults Safeguarding Partnership Board
- iii. Telephone (working hours): 0345 604 2719
- iv. Telephone (out of hours): 0345 604 2886
- aa. Local Authority: Staffordshire County Council
- b. Medical emergencies: If a person is unconscious or unable to provide consent, relevant medical information may be shared with healthcare professionals to provide urgent care.
- c. Legal obligations: Where information must be shared to comply with a court order, statutory duty or other legal obligation (for example, duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, or safeguarding legislation).
7.3.2. In all cases where consent is overridden, the decision must be justified, recorded, and reported to senior management.
8. Fire Prevention Measures
8.1. To mitigate the risk of fire, the following measures must be adhered to:-
- a. Conduct regular fire risk assessments in each service user’s home.
- b. Ensure all electrical appliances and heating equipment are properly maintained and inspected.
- c. Store flammable materials safely, away from heat sources.
- d. Maintain a strict no-smoking policy where applicable, or ensure that designated smoking areas are used safely.
- e. Provide fire safety training to staff, including the correct use of fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
8.2. Fire risk assessments in service users’ homes will be carried out in a person-centred way, involving the service user and, where appropriate, their relatives, advocates or representatives. Identified fire risks and agreed control measures will be clearly documented within the person’s care plan and reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there is a change in needs, environment or behaviour that may affect fire risk (for example, changes in mobility, smoking, or use of oxygen).
8.3. Where a service user may lack capacity to make specific decisions about fire safety measures (for example, safe smoking arrangements or use of cooking appliances), staff must follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including capacity assessment and best interests decision-making, and record the rationale and outcomes in the care record.
9. Fire Emergency Procedures
9.1. In the event of a fire, domiciliary care staff must act quickly and decisively to ensure the safety of service users. The following steps must be taken:-
9.2. Upon discovering a fire:-
- a. Raise the alarm immediately by calling 999 or 112.
- b. Alert the service user and any other occupants, ensuring they are aware of the situation.
- c. If it is safe to do so, attempt to contain the fire using appropriate extinguishers or fire blankets.
- d. If the fire cannot be contained, evacuate the service user and yourself immediately.
9.3. Evacuation Procedures for Service Users:-
- a. Each service user will have an individual risk assessment that considers their mobility and cognitive abilities. Staff must familiarise themselves with these assessments to ensure an efficient response in emergencies.
- b. If the service user is ambulatory, guide them to the nearest safe exit.
- c. If the service user has mobility impairments, assist them using pre-planned evacuation techniques, such as supporting them physically or using mobility aids.
- d. If evacuation is not possible, staff must move the service user to a safe refuge area and inform emergency responders of their location.
- e. Once outside, take the service user to a safe assembly point and provide reassurance until emergency services arrive.
10. Fire Safety Training
10.1. To ensure that all staff members are competent in fire safety:-
- a. Annual fire safety training sessions will be conducted, with refresher training sooner where indicated by risk, incident learning or changes in guidance.
- b. Staff will be trained in hazard identification in people’s homes, safe use of electrical equipment, safe smoking and oxygen use practices, basic fire extinguisher and fire blanket awareness (where present), and emergency evacuation techniques appropriate to domiciliary care.
- c. Practical exercises, such as scenario-based discussions, tabletop exercises or simulated evacuations in a training environment, will be carried out at least once a year to assess staff readiness and understanding of their role in a fire emergency in a service user’s home.
11. Reporting and Record-Keeping
11.1. All fire safety checks, risk assessments, incident reports and training records must be documented. In the event of a fire incident or near miss, staff must submit a detailed report to the Registered Manager, who will review and implement any necessary improvements. Records must be maintained in line with The Good Place’s Record Keeping and Documentation Policy and Procedure and, in any event, for no less than six years or for the period specified by relevant legislation, contractual requirements or insurer guidance, whichever is longer.
12. Review and Continuous Improvement
12.1. This policy will be reviewed annually, when any changes in the regulations occur, or following any fire incident to ensure effectiveness and compliance with updated regulations. Staff feedback will be encouraged to identify areas for improvement.
