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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Policy

{{org_field_name}}

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all staff supplied by {{org_field_name}} are aware of their responsibilities and are equipped to respond effectively to fire emergencies and evacuation procedures within client organisations. Fire safety is a critical aspect of health and safety legislation and the duty of care owed to service users, staff, visitors, and other stakeholders. Temporary healthcare staff working in care homes, nursing homes, and other health and social care environments must understand how to prevent fires and act safely during fire emergencies to protect vulnerable service users who may be dependent on staff for evacuation. This policy ensures compliance with The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, The Care Act 2014, and The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. It applies alongside any local fire safety policies and emergency plans of the client organisations.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All registered nurses, healthcare assistants (HCAs), senior carers, and temporary workers employed or engaged by {{org_field_name}} on zero-hours or flexible contracts
• The Director and office-based staff responsible for governance, compliance, and staff training
• Any staff deployed to client organisations, including care homes, nursing homes, or similar regulated healthcare settings

3. Related Policies

• Health and Safety Policy
• Incident and Accident Reporting Policy
• Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
• Communication and Record-Keeping Policy
• Infection Prevention and Control Policy
• Training and Development Policy

4. Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} is committed to ensuring that all staff have the knowledge, skills, and awareness to prevent fires, recognise fire risks, and respond appropriately in the event of a fire emergency or evacuation while working in client organisations. Fire safety is a shared responsibility between the agency, agency staff, and client organisations. Agency staff must always act to prevent harm and protect life when faced with a fire emergency. The Director of {{org_field_name}} will oversee the implementation of this policy and ensure staff receive appropriate training and supervision.

5. Responsibilities

Director
The Director will:

• Review and update this policy annually or sooner if required
• Ensure all agency staff receive fire safety and evacuation training during induction and via annual updates
• Promote fire safety awareness as part of ongoing training and supervision
• Investigate and address fire-related incidents involving agency staff
• Monitor staff compliance with this policy and client-specific requirements

All Agency Staff
All agency staff are responsible for:

• Adhering to the client organisation’s fire safety and evacuation procedures
• Acting immediately and appropriately during fire emergencies
• Reporting fire risks and hazards promptly to client management and to {{org_field_name}} if unresolved
• Participating fully in fire drills, briefings, and training
• Following instructions given by the designated fire warden or senior person on duty during emergencies

6. Fire Safety Responsibilities in Client Premises

While working within client organisations, staff must:

• Familiarise themselves with the client’s Fire Safety Policy, evacuation plan, and assembly points upon commencement of each shift
• Locate fire exits, evacuation routes, fire alarms, and firefighting equipment
• Know who the designated fire warden is or who is in charge during their shift
• Adhere to client procedures regarding service users who require assistance during evacuation (including Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans – PEEPs)
• Identify and report fire safety hazards (e.g., obstructed exits, faulty electrical equipment, or accumulation of flammable materials)

7. Fire Prevention

Agency staff play a crucial role in preventing fires. All staff must:

• Ensure that all electrical equipment is used safely and reported if faulty
• Follow safe kitchen practices when involved in food preparation
• Adhere to the client’s smoking policy
• Report unsafe storage of flammable liquids or materials
• Avoid overloading electrical sockets
• Maintain clear and accessible fire exits at all times
• Immediately challenge and report practices that may create a fire risk

8. Responding to a Fire Emergency

In the event of a fire, all agency staff must:

• Remain calm and act quickly
• Raise the alarm using the nearest fire alarm call point
• Notify the senior person on duty without delay
• Follow the client’s fire evacuation procedure
• Assist in the safe evacuation of service users, prioritising those with limited mobility, sensory impairments, or high dependency needs
• Do not use lifts during evacuation unless specified as part of the client’s agreed evacuation plan
• Only attempt to use firefighting equipment if trained, if safe to do so, and if the fire is small
• Leave the building via the nearest safe exit
• Assemble at the designated assembly point and participate in roll-call
• Do not re-enter the building until declared safe by the fire service or designated person

9. Assisting Service Users during Evacuation

Where evacuation is required:

• Staff must follow the client organisation’s procedures, including specific PEEPs
• Service users who require assistance must be supported calmly and safely
• Staff must never abandon service users or compromise their own safety
• Evacuation aids such as evacuation sheets or chairs should be used where available and trained for
• All staff must be aware of manual handling considerations during evacuations

10. After the Emergency

Once the immediate emergency is managed:

• Agency staff must cooperate with client management, fire services, and emergency services
• Staff must report their actions and observations to the client manager and complete appropriate incident documentation
• Staff must inform {{org_field_name}} via the Incident Reporting Policy within 24 hours
• Where applicable, participate in post-incident debriefings and reviews

11. Incident Reporting

All fire-related incidents, near misses, or hazards must be reported following:

• The client’s internal reporting procedures
• {{org_field_name}}‘s Incident and Accident Reporting Policy
  Reports must be factual, accurate, and submitted promptly. The Director will ensure that all reports are reviewed, investigated where appropriate, and used to improve practice.

12. Fire Drills and Training

Agency staff must:

• Attend and fully participate in client fire drills during placements
• Attend fire safety and emergency evacuation training delivered by {{org_field_name}} at induction
• Complete refresher fire safety training annually or as required following incidents, changes in legislation, or client requests
  Training will include:
• Understanding fire risks in care settings
• Fire prevention
• Correct use of fire-fighting equipment (theory)
• Evacuation procedures
• Roles and responsibilities during a fire emergency
• Assisting service users during evacuation
• Completing post-incident reports

13. Supervision and Support

The Director will:

• Monitor staff understanding of fire safety through supervision, appraisal, and training audits
• Support staff who have experienced distress following a fire emergency
• Provide reflective opportunities to learn from incidents and drills
• Offer additional support and training where required

14. Liaison with Client Organisations

{{org_field_name}} recognises that the primary responsibility for fire safety arrangements rests with the client organisation. Agency staff will:

• Follow all local fire safety arrangements as instructed
• Participate in client inductions specific to fire safety
• Work collaboratively with client staff during fire drills and emergencies
• Respect and follow service user-specific evacuation plans

15. Governance and Quality Assurance

The Director will:

• Review all fire-related incident reports involving agency staff
• Monitor staff compliance with fire safety training
• Analyse trends and implement actions for improvement
• Maintain records of staff training and incident involvement
• Share lessons learnt across the agency to promote continuous improvement

16. Director’s Oversight

The Director is responsible for:

• Leading on the implementation and governance of this policy
• Ensuring that all staff are aware of and comply with this policy
• Ensuring that training remains up to date and reflective of national guidance
• Ensuring the organisation learns from fire incidents and acts to prevent recurrence
• Liaising with client organisations where needed to promote best practices

17. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Director or sooner if required due to legislation changes, learning from incidents, or operational requirements.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
Copyright © {{current_year}} – {{org_field_name}}. All rights reserved.