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SL83-Reducing Carbon Footprint in Supported Living Policy

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Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

Reducing Carbon Footprint in Supported Living Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to explain how {{org_field_name}} will identify, manage and, where reasonably practicable, reduce the environmental impact of its supported living operations without compromising people’s safety, health, wellbeing, dignity, independence, choice, tenancy rights or access to care and support.

This policy supports compliance with applicable environmental, waste, health and safety and social care requirements. It should be read alongside the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, as amended, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, applicable waste-separation legislation in England, the Climate Change Act 2008 and relevant statutory guidance.

The Climate Change Act 2008 establishes the United Kingdom’s statutory net zero target for 2050. Unless {{org_field_name}} is subject to a separate statutory or contractual carbon-reporting obligation, the Act does not by itself impose an individual net zero reporting duty on this supported living service. {{org_field_name}} will nevertheless take proportionate action to reduce avoidable emissions and use resources responsibly.

2. Scope

This policy applies to employees, agency workers, volunteers, managers and contractors carrying out work on behalf of {{org_field_name}}. Relevant requirements will also be communicated to suppliers and other organisations where their activities may affect the environmental performance of the service.

People receiving support are not employees of {{org_field_name}} and will not be required to comply with organisational environmental targets as a condition of receiving care or support. They will be offered accessible information, encouragement and practical opportunities to participate voluntarily, in accordance with their preferences, communication needs, assessed needs and rights as occupants of their own homes.

This policy covers:

2.1 Supported Living Boundaries and Tenancy Rights

Supported living accommodation is normally the person’s own home and the arrangements for accommodation must remain legally and operationally separate from the provision of personal care. People must retain genuine choice and control over their home and, where applicable, their care provider.

{{org_field_name}} will not make changes to a person’s home, utilities, heating, appliances, waste arrangements, garden, fixtures, fittings or tenancy arrangements without lawful authority and the person’s valid consent. Where the person lacks capacity to make the particular decision, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 must be followed and any decision must be made in the person’s best interests using the least restrictive option.

Where responsibility rests with a landlord, housing association, managing agent, local authority, utility supplier or another organisation, {{org_field_name}} will report concerns promptly, retain a record and follow up proportionately. Staff must not undertake structural work, install equipment or enter contracts on behalf of a tenant unless they are specifically authorised to do so.

Environmental initiatives must not interfere with a person’s occupancy rights, privacy, possessions, preferred lifestyle, cultural or religious practices, disability-related needs or ability to receive safe care and support.

3. Related Policies

3.1 Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy has been developed with reference to the following, where applicable:

4. Policy Statement

{{org_field_name}} is committed to reducing avoidable environmental harm through proportionate, evidence-based and person-centred measures. Environmental action will be balanced against the organisation’s overriding duties to provide safe, effective and lawful care and support.

No carbon-reduction measure will be introduced where it would create an unacceptable risk to a person’s health, safety, nutrition, hydration, infection prevention, mobility, communication, comfort, dignity, independence or ability to receive care.

Environmental decisions will take account of the needs and wishes of people receiving support, including people who may require:

Cost savings will not take priority over safe care, assessed needs, reasonable adjustments or people’s legal rights.

5. Key Objectives

{{org_field_name}} will:

6. Energy Efficiency

6.1 Safe and Proportionate Energy Use

6.2 Water Efficiency

{{org_field_name}} will take reasonable steps to reduce avoidable water use in activities under its control. This may include reporting leaks promptly, using equipment efficiently and considering water-efficient fittings when provider-controlled equipment is replaced.

Water-saving measures must not reduce hand hygiene, cleaning, laundry, food safety, personal care, hydration, continence support or infection prevention standards. Staff must not restrict a person’s access to water as an environmental measure.

6.3 Renewable Energy and Building Improvements

6.4 Fuel Poverty and Affordability

Staff must remain alert to signs that a person cannot afford adequate heating, electricity, water or other essential utilities. Concerns must be discussed sensitively with the person and escalated through the care-planning, safeguarding or welfare-support process where appropriate.

Staff may support a person to obtain independent advice, access eligible benefits or grants, contact their landlord or supplier, or use an authorised advocacy service. Staff must not provide regulated financial advice or change a person’s tariff, supplier, direct debit or utility contract without the person’s informed consent and appropriate authority.

7. Waste Management and Recycling

7.1 Waste Prevention and the Waste Hierarchy

{{org_field_name}} will apply the waste hierarchy by seeking, where reasonably practicable, to:

Waste reduction must not compromise infection prevention, food safety, medicines safety, personal hygiene, dignity, safeguarding, product integrity or the use of required personal protective equipment.

Digital records may be used where lawful, secure, accessible and operationally appropriate. Paper records must continue to be available where needed for business continuity, accessibility, care delivery or legal reasons.

Confidential paper, labels, medicine packaging or other material containing personal information must be destroyed through an approved confidential-waste process and must not be placed in ordinary recycling without secure destruction.

7.2 Workplace Waste Separation and Recycling

{{org_field_name}} will assess which premises and waste streams fall within the workplace recycling requirements applying in England.

From 31 March 2025, affected workplaces must arrange for relevant recyclable waste streams to be collected separately from residual waste in accordance with current legal requirements and their waste collector’s arrangements. The relevant streams include:

Dry recyclable materials may be collected together where this is permitted by the applicable arrangements. Food waste must be presented separately from dry recyclables and residual waste.

A qualifying micro-firm with fewer than ten full-time equivalent employees may be temporarily exempt until 31 March 2027. The Registered Manager or nominated lead must document whether the exemption applies and review the position before the exemption ends.

Clearly labelled containers will be provided in provider-controlled workplace areas. Arrangements in a tenant’s private home will be agreed with the person, landlord, local authority and waste collector as applicable.

Staff will receive clear instructions on:

7.3 Waste Duty of Care

{{org_field_name}} will take all reasonable steps to ensure that waste under its control is managed safely and lawfully from production to final transfer.

The organisation will:

Staff must report any suspected unlawful disposal, spill, leakage, sharps incident, missing documentation or unsafe storage immediately to the Registered Manager.

7.4 Healthcare, Clinical, Sharps and Medicines Waste

Healthcare waste must be assessed and segregated according to its actual properties and the applicable waste classification. It must not automatically be described as hazardous merely because it arises in a care setting.

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that:

Unused, unwanted or expired medicines must be managed in accordance with the Medicines Management Policy and the disposal route applicable to the service. Medicines must not be placed in sinks, toilets, ordinary refuse or recycling containers.

Where a medicine belongs to a person living in their own home, staff must establish who is responsible for arranging its return or disposal and must record any support provided.

7.5 Food Waste

Food waste will be reduced through proportionate stock control, date checking, suitable storage, meal planning and portioning. These measures must not restrict personal choice, culturally appropriate meals, therapeutic diets, nutrition or hydration.

Food must not be reused, donated or redistributed where this would create a food-safety, allergen, infection or traceability risk.

Where workplace food-waste separation requirements apply, food waste arising from staff kitchens and provider-controlled operations will be placed in the designated food-waste container. Arrangements for household food waste within a tenant’s home will be agreed with the person and the relevant waste-collection authority.

8. Sustainable and Lawful Procurement

Environmental considerations will be incorporated into procurement where they are relevant, proportionate and consistent with safety, quality, value for money and the needs of people receiving support.

When purchasing goods or services, {{org_field_name}} may consider:

Locally supplied goods may be considered, but local origin alone will not be treated as proof that a product has a lower environmental impact.

Cleaning products must be selected on the basis of suitability, effectiveness, infection prevention requirements, manufacturer instructions and COSHH assessment. The terms “eco-friendly” and “non-toxic” must not be used as substitutes for a documented assessment of hazards and safe use.

Single-use products will only be reduced or replaced where a safe, hygienic, accessible and suitable alternative exists. Required personal protective equipment, continence products, clinical products and infection-control items must not be withdrawn solely to meet an environmental target.

Staff must not substitute a prescribed, assessed or agreed product with a “greener” alternative without appropriate approval and confirmation that the alternative is safe and suitable.

9. Travel and Transport

9.1 Business Travel and Transport

Staff will consider whether business travel is necessary and whether the objective can be achieved safely through telephone, video or other remote arrangements.

Where travel is required, walking, cycling, public transport, car sharing or lower-emission vehicles may be considered where these options are safe, practical, reliable and suitable.

Travel decisions must take account of:

A person must not be denied an appointment, community activity, family contact or other assessed support merely because the available transport has a higher carbon impact.

Staff must comply with the organisation’s driving-at-work, vehicle-insurance, licence-checking, roadworthiness and expenses procedures.

9.2 Electric Vehicle Charging

Electric vehicles, electric bicycles and mobility devices must only be charged at approved locations using suitable equipment.

Staff must not use unauthorised extension leads, damaged chargers or unapproved sockets. Charging arrangements must be risk assessed and must consider fire safety, electrical capacity, storage, evacuation routes, landlord permission and manufacturer instructions.

10. Staff Awareness and Involvement of People Receiving Support

10.1 Staff Information, Instruction and Competence

Staff will receive environmental information, instruction or training that is proportionate to their role and responsibilities.

Relevant content may include:

Completion will be recorded where training is required. Understanding and practice may be checked through supervision, observation, audit or competency assessment.

10.2 Involvement of People Receiving Support

People receiving support will be offered opportunities to contribute to environmental initiatives that affect their homes, support or daily lives.

Participation is voluntary. A person will not be criticised, disadvantaged or have care restricted because they do not wish to participate.

Information will be provided in a format the person can understand, including Easy Read, pictures, large print, translated information, British Sign Language or other communication support where required.

Where a proposal affects a person’s home, personal spending, possessions, utility use or daily routines, staff must obtain valid consent before proceeding. Where there is doubt about capacity, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 procedure must be followed for the specific decision.

10.3 Voluntary Environmental Initiatives

{{org_field_name}} may introduce proportionate voluntary initiatives, such as recycling information, gardening, reducing food waste or sharing practical energy-saving guidance.

A Green Champion or environmental lead may be appointed where this is proportionate to the size and structure of the service. Any appointment must include a defined role, appropriate time, support and an escalation route.

Activities must be risk assessed where necessary and must not involve coercion, unpaid work expectations, unsafe manual handling, exposure to hazardous substances or interference with people’s homes and possessions.

11. Climate-Related Risks and Emergency Planning

Environmental management includes preparing for foreseeable events that may affect the safety and continuity of supported living services.

Relevant risk assessments and business continuity plans will consider, where applicable:

Plans will identify:

Staff must follow the relevant emergency, safeguarding and business continuity procedures where environmental conditions create an immediate or significant risk.

12. Monitoring, Assurance and Continuous Improvement

Environmental monitoring will be proportionate to the size, activities and resources of {{org_field_name}} and to the reliability of the data available.

The Registered Manager or nominated lead will:

Targets will be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound. Baseline data, scope, units of measurement and exclusions will be recorded so that comparisons are meaningful.

Where accurate carbon data is available, {{org_field_name}} may prepare an annual environmental or carbon summary. The organisation will not publish unsupported estimates or describe itself as carbon neutral, net zero or fully sustainable without robust evidence.

Records generated under this policy will be retained in accordance with the Records Management Policy and applicable legal requirements.

13. Roles and Responsibilities

The provider or governing body will:

The Registered Manager will:

The environmental lead or nominated person, where appointed, will:

Employees, workers and volunteers will:

Contractors and suppliers will:

14. Environmental Incidents and Escalation

Environmental incidents include:

Staff must:

The Registered Manager will determine whether the incident must be reported to the landlord, waste contractor, local authority, Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive, CQC, commissioner, insurer or another relevant body.

15. CQC Regulatory Relevance

Environmental sustainability is not, by itself, a separate fundamental standard for supported living providers. However, the way {{org_field_name}} manages environmental issues may affect compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, as amended.

This policy is particularly relevant to:

CQC may consider evidence arising from this policy under the Safe and Well-led key questions, particularly in relation to safe environments, risk management, governance, people’s experience and effective use of resources.

Compliance with this policy does not, by itself, demonstrate compliance with all CQC requirements. Compliance must be evidenced through practice, records, outcomes and the experiences of people receiving support.

16. Equality, Human Rights and Reasonable Adjustments

Environmental measures will be assessed for their potential impact on people with protected characteristics and on people who require reasonable adjustments.

{{org_field_name}} will not apply environmental measures in a way that directly or indirectly discriminates against a person or places them at a substantial disadvantage.

Examples of adjustments may include:

Decisions and agreed adjustments will be recorded in the person’s care or support plan where relevant.

17. Data Protection and Monitoring Technology

Smart meters, occupancy sensors, vehicle tracking, energy-monitoring systems and similar technologies must only be used where there is a clear purpose, lawful basis and proportionate need.

Before introducing monitoring technology, {{org_field_name}} will consider:

Monitoring must not be used to exert inappropriate control over a person’s lifestyle or to restrict legitimate energy or water use.

18. Policy Review

This policy will be formally reviewed at least annually and sooner where:

people receiving support or staff identify a significant concern.

legislation or statutory guidance changes;

CQC publishes relevant regulatory or assessment changes;

workplace waste requirements change;

a significant environmental incident occurs;

audit, complaint or inspection findings identify a weakness;

services, premises, regulated activities or organisational responsibilities change;

new technology or working practices create material risks;

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.

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