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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Falls Prevention and Management Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Falls Prevention and Management Policy is to provide a structured, lawful, and best-practice framework for preventing, managing, and responding to falls affecting clients supported by temporary workers of {{org_field_name}}. Falls are a major cause of injury, hospitalisation, reduced independence, and in some cases, premature death, especially among older adults and people living in care homes or supported environments. This policy ensures that all temporary workers, including registered nurses and healthcare assistants, understand their responsibilities to reduce the risk of falls and respond appropriately when falls occur. This policy also aims to ensure compliance with The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, The Care Act 2014, The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, NICE Guidelines (CG161) on Falls in Older People, and The Human Rights Act 1998. {{org_field_name}} is committed to providing temporary workers who contribute to safe, person-centred care, including supporting client organisations to maintain environments that reduce the risk of falls and ensure proper management when they do occur.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All temporary workers employed by {{org_field_name}} under zero-hours or casual contracts, including registered nurses, healthcare assistants, and support staff
• All client settings where temporary workers are assigned, including nursing homes, care homes, and healthcare facilities
• All office staff responsible for overseeing placements, safeguarding, incident management, and training delivery

Temporary workers must comply with this policy alongside the client organisation’s specific falls prevention and incident management procedures.

3. Related Policies

• Health and Safety Policy
• Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
• Incident Reporting and Management Policy
• Infection Prevention and Control Policy
• Risk Assessment Policy
• Code of Conduct for Temporary Workers
• Moving and Handling Policy

4. Definitions

A fall is defined as an unintentional change in position resulting in the person coming to rest on the ground, floor, or lower level, with or without injury. Falls can result from slips, trips, loss of balance, muscle weakness, health conditions, environmental hazards, medication side effects, or behavioural changes.

5. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy is informed by:

• The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (Regulation 12: Safe care and treatment, Regulation 9: Person-centred care)
• The Care Act 2014 (Safeguarding Duty)
• The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The NICE Guidelines (CG161) on Falls in Older People
• CQC’s Fundamental Standards regarding safety and person-centred care

6. Principles of Falls Prevention

Temporary workers must:

• Recognise that falls prevention is everyone’s responsibility
• Promote safe environments that minimise fall risks
• Actively engage in falls risk management in partnership with client staff
• Report all falls, near misses, and hazards immediately
• Promote the dignity, independence, and wellbeing of clients, balancing safety with autonomy

Falls prevention must always be approached within the framework of person-centred care, supporting client choice while managing risks proportionately.

7. Responsibilities of Temporary Workers

All temporary workers must:

• Familiarise themselves with each client’s individual falls risk assessment and care plan upon assignment
• Comply with the client’s falls prevention procedures
• Follow good practice in safe moving and handling
• Support clients with safe mobility, including using walking aids and assisting with transfers
• Promptly report any observed hazards such as slippery floors, poor lighting, loose mats, or inadequate footwear
• Encourage clients to use prescribed mobility aids appropriately
• Supervise clients at higher risk of falls in line with their care plan
• Contribute to falls risk assessments by communicating observations to client staff

Temporary workers must never introduce restrictions, such as limiting mobility or applying restraint, without appropriate authorisation and professional guidance.

8. Identifying and Managing Falls Risks

Temporary workers must be alert to:

• Environmental risks: poor lighting, uneven flooring, cluttered walkways, wet surfaces, or inaccessible call bells
• Client factors: muscle weakness, poor vision, confusion, medication side effects, footwear issues, or illness
• Behavioural indicators: changes in mood, reduced mobility, or non-compliance with using mobility aids

Temporary workers must:

• Address simple environmental risks immediately where safe to do so (e.g., cleaning up a spillage)
• Report unresolved hazards to the client organisation and {{org_field_name}}
• Record all identified hazards and actions taken
• Document concerns about individual clients’ mobility or falls risk

9. Supporting Safe Mobility

Temporary workers must:

• Encourage independence while supporting safety
• Apply appropriate moving and handling techniques in line with their training
• Use equipment correctly (e.g., hoists, transfer belts) following client protocols
• Avoid unsafe manual lifting of clients unless specifically trained and authorised to do so
• Always consider client preferences, dignity, and comfort during mobility assistance
• Ensure call bells and essential items are within clients’ reach

10. Managing a Fall Incident

If a fall occurs, temporary workers must:

• Remain calm and reassure the client
• Avoid moving the client unless they are in immediate danger or have been assessed as safe to move
• Seek immediate support from the client’s senior staff
• Call emergency services if required (e.g., if the client is unconscious, has visible injury, or severe pain)
• Follow the client’s falls response protocol
• Document the incident fully, including time, location, circumstances, and actions taken
• Report the fall promptly to {{org_field_name}} using the Incident Reporting Procedure

11. Post-Fall Procedures

Temporary workers must:

• Support the client as per their post-fall assessment and care plan
• Monitor for signs of delayed injury (e.g., bruising, confusion, pain)
• Record all post-fall observations and interventions
• Attend debriefs with client staff if requested
• Reflect on the incident and identify learning points with support from {{org_field_name}} where appropriate

12. Record Keeping

Temporary workers must:

• Maintain accurate and factual records of all falls, near misses, hazards, and mobility-related incidents
• Follow client-specific documentation protocols
• Report incidents to {{org_field_name}} in accordance with the Incident Reporting and Management Policy
• Document any preventative actions taken, such as removal of hazards or reminders given to clients about safe mobility

13. Safeguarding

Poor falls prevention, inadequate response to falls, or disregard for safety may constitute neglect or abuse under safeguarding legislation. Temporary workers must:

• Report concerns where they believe clients are being placed at risk due to unsafe environments or poor care practices
• Report concerns to both the client’s responsible person and {{org_field_name}} in line with the Safeguarding Adults and Children Policy
• Cooperate fully with safeguarding investigations or audits

14. Training and Competence

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Provide all temporary workers with mandatory induction training covering falls prevention, safe moving and handling, and responding to falls
• Ensure that workers receive refresher training when required, particularly following incidents or changes in legislation
• Support registered nurses to meet their obligations under the NMC Code related to safe care and falls prevention

Temporary workers must:

• Complete all mandatory training before undertaking assignments
• Seek support if unsure about any aspect of falls prevention or management
• Engage in reflective practice as part of ongoing supervision and development

15. Director’s Responsibilities

In the absence of a registered manager, the director of {{org_field_name}} is responsible for:

• Overseeing the implementation, monitoring, and review of this policy
• Ensuring all temporary workers are trained and competent in falls prevention and management
• Reviewing all reported incidents of falls and near misses involving temporary workers
• Investigating concerns, complaints, or safeguarding issues related to falls
• Ensuring lessons learned from incidents are incorporated into training and policy reviews
• Collaborating with client organisations to improve falls prevention strategies

16. Working with Client Organisations

{{org_field_name}} will:

• Support client organisations to deliver safe, person-centred falls prevention and response
• Ensure temporary workers are made aware of client-specific falls prevention protocols during assignment inductions
• Cooperate fully with client organisations in incident investigations, audits, and safeguarding processes
• Share learning from incidents with clients to promote service improvement

17. Continuous Improvement

The director will:

• Review this policy annually, or sooner if required by changes in legislation, national guidance, or organisational need
• Analyse incident data to identify trends and areas for improvement
• Adjust training and placement protocols in response to audit findings or incident analysis
• Foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement in falls prevention and management

18. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the director of {{org_field_name}} or sooner if changes in law, CQC guidance, or best practice require. Any updates will be communicated clearly to all temporary workers, office staff, and client organisations.

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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.