Health and Safety in the care sector addressed by dedicated forum of care organisations

A new forum dedicated to addressing safety and health concerns in the care sector has met for the first time.

During the first meeting of the Social Care Partners Forum (SCPF), members highlighted the need for sensible risk assessments and easily accessible guidance for those working in the sector as key issues the forum hope to tackle.

The forum will look at the health and safety concerns of employees and service users, working as a partnership to deliver clear and practical solutions to widely spread issues.

Chris Jackson, national chair of the National Association for Safety and Health in Care Services (NASHiCS) said: “This forum is a much celebrated step forward for this important and growing sector.

“Whilst the safety of both employees and those receiving care are an integral part of good care provision, there was previously no dedicated forum to bring together commissioners, care providers, regulators and other interested parties to address how everyone’s safety and health is achieved in the wider context of delivering quality care.

“After discussing the forum’s working arrangements, the first priority was to agree the most important and pressing needs for the sector.

“The areas highlighted to tackle initially included a mapping exercise of all the different guidance available to those working in the sector, allowing for it to become more accessible and consistently used. Secondly, the group discussed the aspects of health and safety involved in commissioning care services and also taking a consistent approach across the sector to sensible risk assessment.”

Other organisations invited to join the SCPF include the Department of Health, the Care Quality Commission and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) in England.