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Care homes targeted in fire safety drive

Fire officers are staging a safety seminar for care home managers, after revealing they’ve taken enforcement action against a dozen homes in South Yorkshire.

Enforcement action has been taken against 14 residential care or nursing homes since 2013 under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.The action varied from the partial closure of buildings, to forcing owners to put adequate fire safety measures in place.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says there are some basic things that care providers can do to avoid falling foul of fire safety law. This includes carrying out a fire risk assessment, which is essential for ensuring the safety of those being cared for. Other measures include proper maintenance of fire detection systems and ensuring escape routes are adequate.

Technical Fire Safety Manager Amy Jenkinson, said: “Older people, as well as those with mental health problems and those with mobility issues, are amongst the people most at risk from fire. But we are concerned by how many premises- which should be places where people feel safe- are failing to meet some basic fire safety standards.

“Prosecutions under fire safety legislation are always a last resort and we would much rather work with care providers to ensure good safety standards are met. That’s why we are putting on this event, so care home managers can pick up advice on and so they know what to expect when one of our inspectors visits their premises.

Care homes are monitored by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England.