SENSE Learning - First Aid Policy

This First Aid 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

Introduction & Purpose

This policy is the First Aid Policy for SENse Learning which will be followed by all members of the Organisation and promoted by those in the position of leadership within the organisation. This policy will be applied to all students and SENse Learning associates.

Policy Principles & Values

• The Organisation aims to ensure the health and safety of all associates, students and visitors.

• The Organisation will look to comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and regulations regarding first aid.

• The Organisation aims to ensure that all associates are aware of their responsibilities with regards to health and safety and will provide training for First Aid.

• The Organisation aims to provide a framework for responding to an incident, recording and reporting the outcomes.

Procedures

Legislation

This policy is based on advice from the Department for Education on first aid in schools, health and safety in schools and actions for schools during the coronavirus outbreak, and the following legislation:

• The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, which states that employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment and facilities to enable first aid to be administered to employees, and qualified first aid personnel.

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992, which require employers to make an assessment of the risks to the health and safety of their employees.

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which require employers to carry out risk assessments, make arrangements to implement necessary measures, and arrange for appropriate information and training.

• The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013, which state that some accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and set out the timeframe for this and how long records of such accidents must be kept.

• Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, which set out rules on the retention of accident records.

• The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, which require that suitable space is provided to cater for the medical and therapy needs of pupils.

Roles and Responsibilities

All associates will be trained in First Aid to be able to support their student if required. The associates role as a First Aider will be:

• Taking charge when someone is injured or becomes ill.

• Ensuring there is an adequate supply of medical materials in first aid kits, and advising Head Office if medical materials need replacing.

• Ensuring that an ambulance or other professional medical help is summoned when appropriate.

• Acting as first responders to any incidents; they will assess the situation where there is an injured or ill person, and provide immediate and appropriate treatment.

• Sending students home to recover, where necessary.

• Filling in an accident report on the same day, or as soon as is reasonably possible, after an incident.

• Keeping their contact details up to date.

All associates are responsible for:

• Ensuring they follow first aid procedures.

• Ensuring they complete their First Aid training.

• Completing accident reports for all accidents they attend to.

• Informing Head Office of any specific health conditions or first aid needs.

First Aid Procedures

In-home procedures where a parent or carer is present:

• The first aid trained associate will assess the seriousness of the injury and inform the parents/guardians of their conclusions.

• Provide first aid treatment where the parent/guardian asks them to, or the parent/guardian is unable to.

• The first aid trained associate will assess the injury and decide if further assistance is needed from a colleague or the emergency services. They will remain on scene until help arrives.

• The first aid trained associate will also decide whether the injured person should be moved or placed in a recovery position.

• The first aid trained associate will complete an accident report form on the same day or as soon as is reasonably practicable after an incident resulting in an injury.

Out of Office procedures, where outside of the home:

• Make sure everyone is safe and call for emergency services if needed.

• Give First Aid if needed.

• Make parents/carers aware.

• After the session finishes, complete the Accident/Incident form.

If the student or associate requires any medical intervention more than minor first aid, call Head Office at the earliest convenience and make sure the case coordinator is aware.

A typical first aid kit (kept in Head Office, and associates vehicles) in our provision will include the following items. These kits will be replaced every 3 years.

• 1 x First Aid Emergency Booklet

• 1 x Large Sterile Dressing 18 x 18cm - in Paper Pouch

• 1 x Resuscitation Face Shield

• 1 x Triangular Bandage Viscose 90 x 90 x 127cm with Paper Insert

• 1 x No. 16 Eye Pad Dressing – In Paper Pouch

• 1 x Tweezers (Pair)

• 1 x Washproof 50% Bamboo 50% Wood Pulp Sustainable Plasters (Pack of 20)

• 1 x Hand Sanitizer 60ml

• 1 x Low Adherent 5 x 5cm

• 1 x Microporous Tape 1.25cm x 10m

• 2 x Nitrile Medium Powder-Free Gloves (Pair)

• 2 x Medium Sterile Dressing 12 x 12cm – in Paper Pouch

• 2 x Eye Wash Vials 20ml

• 4 x Sterile Hydrogel Burn Gel Sachet 3.5g

• 4 x Wound Cleansing Wipe – 100% Viscose – Plastic Free

Record keeping and recording

• An accident form will be completed by the associate on the same day or as soon as possible after an accident/incident resulting in an injury.

• As much detail as possible should be supplied when reporting an accident ensuring all boxes of the SENse Learning accident form on the shared G-Drive is filled in fully.

• A copy of the accident report form will also be kept within SENse Learning’s records.

• Records held in the first aid and accident book will be retained by SENse for a minimum of 3 years, in accordance with regulation 25 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1979, and then securely disposed of.

• The Health and Safety Trained Member of Leadership will keep a record of any accident which results in a reportable injury, disease, or dangerous occurrence as defined in the RIDDOR 2013 legislation (regulations 4, 5, 6 and 7).

• The Health and Safety Trained Member of Leadership will report these to the Managing Director as soon as is reasonably practicable and in any event within 10 days of the incident.

Reportable injuries, diseases or dangerous occurrences include:

• Death.

• Specified injuries, which are:

  • Fractures, other than to fingers, thumbs, and toes

  • Amputations

  • Any injury likely to lead to permanent loss of sight or reduction in sight

  • Any crush injury to the head or torso causing damage to the brain or internal organs

  • Serious burns(including scalding)

  • Any scalding requiring hospital treatment

  • Any loss of consciousness caused by head injury or asphyxia

  • Any other injury arising from working in an enclosed space which leads to hypothermia or heat-induced illness, or requires resuscitation or admittance to hospital for more than 24 hours

  • Injuries where an associate is away from work or unable to perform their normal work duties for more than 7 consecutive days (not including the day of the incident)

  • Where an accident leads to someone being taken to hospital

  • Near-miss events that do not result in an injury but could have done. Examples of near-miss events including, but are not limited to:

  • The collapse or failure of load-bearing parts of lifts or lifting equipment

  • The accidental release of a biological agent likely to cause severe human illness

  • The accidental release or escape of any substance that may cause a serious injury or damage to health

  • An electrical short circuit or overload causing a fire or explosion

The associate will inform parents or carers of any accident or injury sustained by a student, and any first aid treatment given, on the same day, or as soon as reasonably possible

Training

All associates that work with students are expected to undertake first aid training. Associates will not be able to leave the home environment until the associate has completed their First Aid training.

All first aiders must have completed a training course, and must hold a valid certificate of competence to show this. SENse Learning will keep a register of all trained first aiders, what training they have received and when this is valid until.

Associates are expected to renew their first aid training every three years.

Review and Compliance

This policy will be reviewed annually or following any significant change to office operations, the workforce, or relevant legislation.

Non-compliance with this policy may result in disciplinary action or termination of contracts.

This policy is intended to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all associates to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at SENse Learning.