SENSE Learning - Health and Safety

This Complaints Policy is made accessible to all Parents, Students, Local Authorities, Schools and SENse Learning associates.

Person responsible for ensuring that these policies are implemented and reviewed in line with the review dates: Sophie Amos, Operational Director

Policy reviewed:

September 2025

Next Review date

September 2026

Introduction & Purpose

SENse Learning considers the health and safety of its employees to be of paramount importance and take seriously the duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all workers, visitors and contractors. SENse Learning is committed to continually reviewing and improving on the provisions of a safe and healthy work environment.

All employees and workers at SENse Learning will be bound by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the accompanying policies and procedures of the Organisation, and must ensure they are made aware of these.

Part 1 – Statement

The Health and Safety policy of SENse Learning is to:

  • Prevent accidents and cases of work-related ill health

  • Manage health & safety risks in our workplace

  • Provide clear instructions and information, and adequate training, to ensure employees are competent to do their work

  • Provide personal protective equipment if necessary

  • Consult with our employees on matters affecting their health & safety

  • Provide and maintain safe plant and equipment

  • Ensure safe handling and use of substances

  • Maintain safe and healthy working conditions

  • Implement emergency procedures, including evacuation in case of fire or other significant incident

  • Review and revise this policy regularly

Part 2 – Responsibilities for Health & Safety

At SENse Learning we believe that maintaining a safe and healthy work environment is a shared responsibility. Employees & associates play a crucial role in our health and safety efforts.

This section of the Policy is essential for translating the policy's aims into actionable steps. It provides practical guidance on implementing safety measures, clarifying roles and responsibilities to ensure accountability across the organisation. By detailing processes for hazard identification, risk assessment, and control measures, it helps manage and mitigate risks effectively.

H&S Element

Details

Responsibility

Overall Health and Safety

Overall and final Health and Safety responsibility

Monitoring, instruction and supervision of Health and Safety Policy

Directors

Risk Assessments (Associates)

Provide risk assessment tools and training

Oversee risk assessments relevant to associates such as: Maternity Risk

Assessments and Initial Home Visit Risk Assessments

 

Pathways & Pastoral Manager

Accidents / Near Misses reporting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provide accident / near misses forms and reporting systems

Ensure a clear and accessible system for employees and associates to report accidents, near-misses, and unsafe conditions.

Ensure reports are reviewed and actioned promptly, conducting thorough investigations of all reported accidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Document findings and corrective actions taken in an accident report

For associates, be continually vigilant and identify hazards in the workplace, or offsite and if relating to a student as soon as possible. When practical, always take immediate action to control a hazard yourself. If the hazard is out of your control, immediately report it to a member of management.

Near miss Incident Guidance is available

Pathways Manager

HR Team (employees)

 

Incident reporting

 

Provide incident forms and reporting systems

Ensure a clear and accessible system for employees and associates to report incidents and unsafe conditions.

Ensure reports are reviewed and actioned promptly, conducting thorough investigations of all reported incidents to identify root causes and prevent recurrence.

Document findings and corrective actions taken in an incident report

For associates, be continually vigilant and identify hazards in the workplace, or offsite and if relating to a student as soon as possible. When practical, always take immediate action to control a hazard yourself. If the hazard is out of your control, immediately report it to a member of management.

 

Pastoral Manager

HR Team (employees)

 

First Aid

 

Provide first aid kits for all associates

Provide relevant first aid training

 

HR Team

 

Work-related ill health

 

Ensure associates and employees know who and how to report ill health

 

HR Team / Directors

 

Emergency Procedures

 

Develop and maintain an emergency response plan covering potential emergencies such as fire, medical emergencies, and natural disasters.

Ensure the plan includes clear procedures for evacuation, communication, and coordination with emergency services.

Conduct regular emergency drills (for Head Office) to ensure employees are familiar with emergency procedures and can respond quickly and effectively.

Evaluate the effectiveness of drills and make necessary improvements to the emergency response plan.

Emergency evacuation plans and critical incident plans will be in place and reviewed termly and updated where necessary.

For associates in an emergency, SENse Learning needs to be able to check the whereabouts of associates and students quickly and efficiently to

 

Director

 

HR Team (for Head office)

 

ensure everyone is safe. It is therefore essential that associates share their location (with safeguarding@sense-learning.com) on the Google Maps app which should be downloaded to your self-supplied work phone. Personal and emergency contact details should also be up to date.

 

 

Fire and evacuation

 

We will make sure escape routes are well signed and kept clear at all times

Evacuation plans are tested/reviewed from time to time as necessary

 

Pathway Manager

HR Team (for Head office)

 

Use of Safety Signs and Equipment (head office)

 

There will be clear and visible safety signs throughout the Head Office to indicate hazards, mandatory actions, and emergency exits.

These are regularly inspected and maintained to ensure they are in good condition and up to date with current regulations. Any issues found from these inspections will be brought to the attention of the landlord for remedy

 

HR Team (employees in head office)

 

Maintaining Equipment

 

Replacing used and out of date first aid kits

 

HR Team

 

Policy and information

 

We will consult with employees routinely on health & safety matters as they arise and formally at any health & safety review.

 

HR Team

 

Training & Competence

 

We will give employees (and contractors) appropriate training (safeguarding, manual handling, lone working etc).

We will ensure suitable arrangements are in place for remote working

 

Pathway & Pastoral Manager

HR Team (for Head Office)

 

Home Visits

 

Ensure assessments are carried out for home visits

 

Referrals

 

Lone Working

 

Have a lone working policy

Provide training

Ensure associates have a self-supplied work mobile phone with their location shared in the Google Maps app

 

Pathway & Pastoral Manager

HR Team (for Head Office)

 

Hygiene

 

Provide hand soap, sanitiser etc where appropriate

Practice and promote good hygiene

 

HR Team (for Head Office Only)

 

Travel Safety

 

Provide travel and adverse weather information

Ensure policies reflect safe working practices, including travel safety procedures.

 

 

Pathway & Pastoral Manager

HR Team (for Head Office)

 

Other

 

Co-operate with Case Coordinators / Pathway Leads on health & safety matters

Take reasonable care of their own and others health & safety

Report all health & safety concerns to an appropriate person as detailed above

Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs

As per legislation it is illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces. Smoking (including e-cigarettes) is therefore strictly prohibited on all SENse Learning premises, students homes and vehicles.

Outside areas at Head Office may have been identified for those who wish to smoke during their break-time.

Bringing alcohol or any unlawful drugs to the workplace or student homes and / or consuming them there is strictly prohibited both during work time or during a period prior to work where the effects carry over to the workplace. Any such instances will be dealt with accordingly.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

As a self-employed associate, it's important to be aware of legal guidance surrounding Display Screen Equipment (DSE) use. If you regularly use DSE - such as a computer, laptop, or tablet, for continuous periods of an hour or more as part of your work for SENse, you may be classed as a DSE user.

Self-employed individuals are responsible for ensuring their own working practices are safe. This includes setting up your workstation ergonomically and taking regular breaks to prevent strain or injury. You can find detailed guidance on your responsibilities and how to stay safe by referring to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/