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Pets: Assessing and Managing Risks from Pets in Care Homes Policy

[The sample policy below has been written specifically for a home where pets are encouraged. For a home which does not allow pets, a simple statement to that effect should be written into the information provided for prospective people receiving care. The sample policy can be modified or used in part by homes adopting an intermediate position, for example, having communal pets but not allowing people who use care services’ own pets].

Policy Statement

In {{org_field_name}}, we are committed to the idea that people should be able to live their lives as closely as possible to the way they would choose if they were living independently and that many people place a high value on contact with their own or other people’s pets.

We recognise, however, that other people may be uncomfortable with living creatures in their immediate environment and that for some people close contact with certain animals may even be injurious to their health and comfort.

This policy aims as far as possible to balance possibly conflicting interests in relation to pets and to make clear the home’s practice so that prospective people receiving care can make an informed choice when deciding whether or not to come into the home.

Policy on Pets

1. Pets and people in care homes’ individuality
   We try as far as possible to enable people who use care services to bring personal possessions with them, and we recognise that in some circumstances it is wise to see pets in this light.
   We know that for many older people a pet, or at least contact with an animal, represents a source of deep emotional satisfaction.
   As part of the pre-admission needs assessment of every prospective person using care services, we will explore feelings about pets while recording their interests, hobbies, social contacts and relationships.
2. Accommodating people in care homes’ pets
   If a prospective person to {{org_field_name}} owns a pet and does not want to be parted from it, we will consider whether we can accommodate the pet. Issues to be taken into consideration will include:
   a. whether the person will be personally able to take care of the pet
   b. whether the pet can generally be accommodated in the person’s own room
   c. whether there are other pets in the home at that time
   d. whether the presence of the pet in the home is likely to impact on other people
   e. how other people are likely to react to the pet.
   If a pet cannot be accommodated, we will advise the prospective person using care services on the alternative arrangements which might be made for the pet’s welfare.
3. The person using care services’ responsibilities
   A person using care services who has a pet in the home, will be expected to:
   a. accept full responsibility for the pet’s exercise, welfare and cleanliness, although limited involvement of staff in the care of the pet may be considered in the context of the person’s care plan
   b. meet all veterinary expenses
   c. make appropriate arrangements in consultation with staff for storing anything the pet may need
   d. keep the pet generally in their own room, unless other arrangements have been specifically agreed
   e. take responsibility for the pet’s behaviour if it has been agreed that the pet may enter communal areas
   f. ensure, as far as possible, that the pet does not distress other people
   g. accept responsibility for any damage or injury caused by the pet, including making appropriate insurance arrangements.
   If a person with a pet becomes unable to meet their responsibilities through disability or deteriorating health, we will:
   a. discuss alternative arrangements with the person using {{org_field_name}}
   b. give every possible help in finding an alternative home for the pet.
   If a person’s pet dies in the home we will:
   a. help the owner to deal with the feelings such a death provokes and with the tasks which follow
   b. help to replace the pet if that is feasible
   c. be sensitive to the possible effects on other people in {{org_field_name}}.
4. Pets belonging to the home
   With regards to pets belonging to the home, as opposed to those belonging to people in {{org_field_name}}, we will:
   a. inform prospective people of the situation and of our policy, accepting that some prospective people receiving care may wish not to come into a home with pets
   b. ensure that specific staff are allocated responsibility for the care of the pets
   c. involve any person who wishes to do so in the care of the home’s pets
   d. use contact with pets as a positive aid to the welfare of people using {{org_field_name}}s who enjoy such contacts
   e. exclude pets from any areas of the home where their presence would constitute a health risk or from areas where it has been agreed should be pet-free
   f. try, as far as possible, to ensure that pets do not distress people who find them uncongenial
   g. consult people in {{org_field_name}} before disposing of an existing pet or introducing a new pet to the home.
5. Other contacts with animals
   We recognise that for some older people, contact with animals may be pleasurable or even therapeutic. If we do not have the capacity to provide such contacts within the home’s own resources, we will:
   a. arrange for organised visits of animals to the home or for visits by people using {{org_field_name}}s to places where they can have contact with animals
   b. explore the therapeutic value of these contacts to maximise the benefits for individuals
   c. ensure that on such occasions there are alternative facilities available for those who do not wish to have contact with animals.

Whenever anyone wishes to bring a pet into the home, eg on a visit, it is important that they seek permission from the manager on duty. If they wish to do so on a regular basis they should obtain the written permission of the registered manager. The manager will arrange for risk assessments to be carried out in relation to the keeping of all pets to ensure both animal and human welfare.

Importance of Risk Assessments

With all pets being proposed or agreed, the service will always carry out a risk assessment based on three main implications of the fact of there being a pet or pets in the home. The assessment will determine if there are:

1. health and safety risks of any kind to any person using services in the home from the pet’s or pets’ presence
2. health and safety risks of any kind to care staff, eg from pet allergens or behaviour and the conditions under which they are being kept
3. risks to the health and wellbeing of the pet or pets because of any difficulties found in providing proper care to the pet, eg where there are clear signs of the pet being subject to neglect.

The service recognises that risk assessment outcomes will vary from situation to situation. They will usually result in bespoke risk control measures being put into place following discussion with the parties involved and their consent being obtained to any proposed plans.

Training

We accept that the presence of pets in the home has implications for the working environment of staff and we will:

1. inform prospective staff of the situation and of our policy
2. allocate duties involving contact with pets only to staff who are happy to take them on
3. provide appropriate training for staff in the care and positive use of pets
4. encourage all staff to read and be familiar with this policy.

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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}}

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