Safeguarding Vulnerable People, Particularly Children, Outside of their Home Policy

Policy Statement

This policy is consistent with {{org_field_name}}’s commitment to keeping people safe whenever it is responsible for a person’s care and wellbeing. It is produced mainly to ensure that children are kept safe when taken out of their home under the care of workers employed by a care or support service. The general principles apply also to the escorting of vulnerable adults, for example, in care homes or supported living arrangements.

Care workers might on occasion, depending on the service provision agreed, be expected to take a person out of their home, either alone or with the person’s representatives/parents. This is more likely if the person using services is a child.

This might be on an organised trip or an informal outing, eg to the local park, shops or library. Outings might be on foot, require use of public transport or be made by car. Car journeys might be made with the parents/relatives in their car or the care workers’ own means of transport.

All outings that form part of the care plan, including the modes of transport to be used, will be subject to a risk assessment. This will take into account the purpose of the outing and use of transport, and the user’s disabilities and developmental needs that the care plan is meeting.

When a child or young person (or vulnerable adult) is taken out of their home a number of important issues could emerge: how they are going to react, whether they could get lost or run away, how dangerous are the activities and what safeguards are in place.

Principles

When care staff plan to take or help to take a vulnerable adult, child or young person out on an outing they are expected to do the following.

Make sure that all outings involving people receiving care who are children or vulnerable adults are thoroughly planned and the locations are agreed by parents/representatives and {{org_field_name}} management.
Make sure that parental or representative permission is obtained for the outing and that the parents or representatives are kept fully informed.
Where the outing does not involve the child’s parents or other adults, arrange for there to be at least one care worker to one child or adult user. (Where appropriate two care workers should support one child or adult user depending on the user’s needs and disabilities, and the outcome of any risk assessments.)
Carry out appropriate risk assessments relating to the chosen venues, itineraries, etc.
Assess any risks relating to an individual’s behaviour on an outing, eg. any likelihood of aggression and what risks this might pose.
Review the health and safety systems in place at any venues or locations being visited and in relation to any activities planned.

Procedures

When planning an outing care staff must:

work in partnership with users, parents and others responsible
make sure parents and other responsible parties are fully informed and give formally any consents needed
select suitable locations for any outings (taking into account the purpose, how they fit into the care plan and the person’s needs etc)
review or carry out required or precautionary risk assessments
determine any precautions needed to protect people, particularly if they are children
check on the competence of any other service providers involved
plan for any medical contingencies, taking first-aid kit, etc
where possible, visit any venue or location ahead of the planned outing
make sure that everyone involved is fully briefed.

During the outing it is important to:

keep copies of relevant documentation
instruct the person(s) using services on rules and health and safety arrangements, including travel and accommodation where applicable
make sure that the outing is well managed
revise any risk assessments during the outing/visit where necessary if conditions change
investigate any accidents or incidents that occur during the outing as soon as possible
maintain communication with parents/responsible others (if not present) and other representatives
review and debrief with the concerned people after the outing/visit.

Safe Transport

Journeys made on foot

In any form of outing, the person’s safety is paramount in any mode of transport used. If the person using the services is a child and the mode of transport is a pram, pushchair or wheelchair (depending on the age and abilities of the person) the care staff member will ensure that the user is correctly protected in terms of harness, headwear, etc. All road safety rules should be observed.

Journeys made by car

If people using services who are children are to be transported in a carer’s personal car the following procedures will be observed.

The care staff member will have a full driving licence, which is available for any parent or representative to see on request.
The staff member will ensure that the car is in roadworthy condition by having it regularly serviced by a reputable garage.
Any car used to transport a person will comply with all legislation and its MOT and road tax will be up to date.
The car will be insured for business use and the certificate will be available for any parent or representative to see.
Children or young people will not be taken into petrol stations whilst on outings except in an emergency; the expectation is that cars will be filled prior to a trip.
All car seats will be correctly fitted, and be age- and stage-appropriate for the children using them. Children will be correctly strapped into them.
Note:
The law currently requires all children travelling in cars to use a suitable child restraint until they are either 135cm in height or the age of 12 (whichever they reach first). After this they must use an adult seat belt. It is advised that babies be transported in the rear of the vehicle, but where a baby is carried in the front the baby seat must be suitable for that purpose and the passenger vehicle airbag disabled. Children should normally travel in the rear of a car. Children must only be carried in baby seats that meet the required stage/group for that child’s age or weight.
The driver will be responsible for making sure that any child under the age of 14 years is restrained correctly in line with legal requirements.
Child restraints (baby seats, child seats, booster seats and booster cushions) will conform to the current regulations and standards.
Child safety locks will be in use on all the cars.
Each staff member will carry a mobile phone in case of emergency, but will not use it whilst driving.
The carer will always carry identification for themselves and the children in case of emergency.
The care staff member as driver will always carry a first-aid kit in the car in case of emergency.
Children will never be left unattended in a car.
A no-smoking rule will be observed.

{{org_field_name}} expects to be informed if the user or any passenger suffers from travel sickness and make the necessary adjustments.

Where a care staff member travels in a car driven by a parent or someone else with the user he or she should expect the driver to comply with all legal safety requirements. {{org_field_name}} does not expect its staff to collude with unsafe driving practices in any way that could put other passengers at risk.

Travelling by bus or tram

Most journeys involving bus or tram travel will normally be planned with the user or their parent or representative.

When using public transport for educational purposes as part of a care plan, eg to teach someone how to use public transport, care staff are expected to plan trips outside of rush hours and busy times. Crowded buses or trams can be intimidating to a vulnerable person, and more dangerous if they are unable to have a seat. Routes must be planned in advance and risk-assessed. Timetables of buses will also be checked.

Care workers should consider any risks of possible accidents on the stairs of buses and trams before taking the child/vulnerable adult upstairs.

Journeys made by train

When with a person using services or group of them, in addition to following the procedures for other modes of transport, care staff must make sure that they stand back from the edge of platforms, well behind the safety lines. The carers will ensure that all get on and off the train at the same time to ensure that no one is left behind.

Journeys made by coach

If {{org_field_name}} is responsible for organising transport for outings it will only use a coach that is fitted with correct seat belts suitable for people that meets all health and safety requirements. The service will always ask to have a copy of the company’s insurance and other relevant documents.

Training

All staff involved in taking people using services outside of their home or place of residence are trained in the above safeguarding procedures.

Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next review date: this policy is reviewed annualy (every 12 months). When needed, this policy is also updated in response to changes in legislation, regulation, best practices, or organisational changes.

S171. Safeguarding Vulnerable People, Particularly Children, Outside of their Home