Safer Care Service for health and care premises
Our Safer Care Service is an initiative designed and developed by Kent Fire and Rescue Service with the aims of reducing risk in health and care premises and keeping such businesses safe and resilient.
As part of the initiative we will be offering seminars for responsible persons and owners of health and care premises – learn more below.
Why we have initiated our Safer Care Service
We have prioritised health and care premises for several reasons:
- ageing population
- increasing demand being placed on the care industry
- varying levels of dependency for both physical and mental needs
This is because the levels of dependency overall within health and care homes are increasing year on year. Other factors may also have a dramatic impact on dependency, as for example, was seen during the Covid 19 pandemic.
Fire safety and your health and care premises
The growth in the care home sector has been achieved partly through the conversion and extension of existing buildings, some of which are centuries old but still provide comfortable and attractive accommodation for residents. These conversions and extensions should be subject to appropriate building control approval, which should provide an appropriate fire safety standard.
Good management of fire safety in the care and nursing home sector is essential to
- reduce the risk of a fire occurring
- if there is a fire, having appropriate building control standards in place will ensure that incidents are controlled or contained quickly, effectively and safely
- if a fire does occur and grows, staff must be able to ensure that everyone in the premises is able to evacuate and escape to safety easily and quickly or remain in a place of relative safety
What our Safer Care Service can do for your business
The aim of our initiative is to help health and care businesses − and in particular residential and nursing care premises − in Kent and Medway stay in business and thrive. To do this, they need to understand and meet their responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order.
To help them do this, the Safer Care Service will provide information and support in the form of:
- seminars
- workshops – in person and online
- information and support via our website
- information on social media
- online content providing fire safety advice
- individual guidance
- regulatory inspections
This information will be tailored to fire safety in health and care businesses and will be aimed at residential and nursing care premises and their Responsible Persons.
Join our seminars
Seminars will focus on 'Fire Detection and Warning systems and Evacuation'. The day will have two sessions:
- morning from 9.30am to 12.30pm
- afternoon 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Please note the afternoon content repeats the seminars delivered in the morning. Please therefore just book one session.
We will be holding our next seminar days on:
- 19 November 2024
- 11 February 2025
- 13 May 2025
- 9 September 2025
- 9 December 2025
Please note: these seminars are for Responsible Persons and owners of health and care premises. They are not suitable :
- for premises that fall under the specialised housing category ie sheltered, supported living and extra care premises
- as CPD for risk assessors and risk professionals, who should instead refer to their dedicated institute or professional organisation dealing with information and training
Book your place to attend one of our seminars
Seminar 19 November 2024 - morning
Book your place to attend our morning seminar from 9.30 am to 12.30pm
Seminar 19 November 2024 - afternoon
Book your place to attend our afternoon seminar from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Seminar 11 February 2025 - morning
Book your place to attend our morning seminar from 9.30pm to 12.30pm
Seminar 11 February 2025 - afternoon
Book your place to attend our afternoon seminar from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Seminar 13 May 2025 - morning
Book your place to attend our morning seminar from 9.30pm to 12.30pm
Seminar 13 May 2025 - afternoon
Book your place to attend our afternoon seminar from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Seminar 9 September 2025 - morning
Book your place to attend our morning seminar from 9.30pm to 12.30pm
Seminar 9 September 2025 - morning
Book your place to attend our afternoon seminar from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Seminar 9 December 2025 - morning
Book your place to attend our morning seminar from 9.30pm to 12.30pm
Seminar 9 December 2025 - afternoon
Book your place to attend our afternoon seminar from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Safer Care Service support
The Safer Care Service also actively seeks to link in with our Community Safety (CS) Team, reaching out and providing support to family, friends, relatives and carers of the residents of these premises. The initiative also recognises the CS Safe and Well Initiatives, Making Every Contact Count, and Fire as a Health Asset.
Contact us
Want to know more, need help or advice? Simply contact our friendly team by email: safercareenquiries@kent.fire-uk.org