4. CS Health and Safety Strategy Action Plan 202526ECSPB 21 08 25
Renfrewshire Council · 21 August 2025
Back to Education and Children's Services Policy Board — 21 August 2025 and its agenda
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Page 1 of 3 To: Education and Children’s Services Policy Board On: 21 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Director of Children’s Services ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Children's Services Health and Safety Strategy Update 2024/25 and Children's Services Health and Safety Strategy Action Plan 2025/26 ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1. The Council’s Health, Safety and Welfare Policy requires each service to submit an annual report and an annual Health and Safety action plan to the relevant Policy Board. 1.2. The Children’s Services action plan update for 2024/2025 is attached as Appendix 1 to this report. The action plan details the progress made during 2024/2025 on the health and safety actions set. 1.3. Appendix 2 sets out the planned actions the service will undertake during 2025/2026, outlining the service’s commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety performance. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1. It is recommended that the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board approves the Children’s Services Health and Safety action plan update for 2024/2025 at Appendix 1. 2.2. It is recommended that the Education and Children’s Services Policy Board approves the Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan for 2025/2026 attached at Appendix 2. ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1. Renfrewshire Council’s Department of Children’s Services accepts its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, as an employer, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all its employees, pupils and other persons who may be affected by the operations of the department. Employees must likewise accept their responsibilities under the Act.
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Page 2 of 3 3.2. Children’s Services Head of Education is currently the lead officer for health, safety and wellbeing within the service and is supported by the Resources Support Manager. We have a proactive approach and commitment to health, safety and wellbeing which is supported by the service’s Health and Safety Committee. 3.3. The service has adapted its processes and procedures to ensure that standards for all employees working from home or in the office are maintained, with the health, safety and wellbeing of employees being a priority. The service’s health and safety committee meet’s quarterly via Teams. The membership of this group includes representation from all school sectors, professional bodies, Children’s House, Social Work Justice and colleagues from the council’s Environmental, Housing and Infrastructure Department are also in attendance. 3.4. The action plan 2025/2026 identifies areas for future and continued action which is included as Appendix 2 to this report. The action plan is monitored on a quarterly basis by the service’s health and safety committee. 3.5. The preparation of this annual report and action plan has been supported by the Finance and Resources, People and Organisational Development (People & OD) Health and Safety Team. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of this report 1. Financial None. 2. HR and Organisational Development None. 3. Community/Council Planning Our Renfrewshire is well - The health and safety action plan will ensure that the well being of staff, children and young people is taken into account. Our Renfrewshire is safe - The health and safety action plan will consider the safety of staff, children and young people with the actions that have been set. 4. Legal None. 5. Property/Assets None. 6. Information Technology None.
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Page 3 of 3 7. Equality and Human Rights The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report because for example it is for noting only. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health and Safety The report supports and demonstrates the Council and the Children’s service’s commitment to ensuring effective health and safety management. 9. Procurement None. 10. Risk The report supports the overarching management of risk within Renfrewshire Council in relation to health and safety. 11. Privacy Impact None. 12. Climate Risk None. 13. Children’s Rights The rights and wellbeing of children and young people is at the heart of our Children’s Services Health and Safety Plan. As a council we will continue to work together to promote equality and raise awareness of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to make sure children and young people’s rights are promoted and reflected in all that we do. This will ensure that we are meeting the requirements of the new duties under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. 14. Cosla Policy Position None. List of Background Papers (a) Children’s Services Health and Well Being Strategy Update 2024/2025 The foregoing background papers will be retained within children’s services for inspection by the public for the prescribed period of four years from the date of the meeting. The contact officer within the service is Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager - 07970876292 (laura.baillie@renfrewshire.gov.uk) ___________________________________________________________________ Children’s Services GMcL/LB 22/07/25 Author: Laura Baillie, Resources Support Manager - 07970876292 (laura.baillie@renfrewshire.gov.uk)
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Appendix 1 Children’s Services Health and Safety Action Plan 2024/2025 Action Title Due Date Update Recognise the Council’s Health & Wellbeing Strategy ensuring all employees are aware of initiatives and participate where relevant / required. 31 March 2025 Health Surveillance Programme – Audio Testing has been arranged for all music teachers and music instructors across the learning estate. Technical Technicians received health checks in the following areas: • Lung function, • Teir 2 HAVS, • Skin Check • Audio HR attended the HT operational meeting in February 2025 to discuss the support available to staff across the learning estate on the following areas: • Menopause Support • Carers Entitlement • Mental Health First Aiders in Schools Corporate Health and Safety Team are liaising with the Music Service to determine the risk areas of noise exposure and look at a health surveillance programme to support this.
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Action Title Due Date Update Monitor and review workplace risk assessments in Children’s Houses to ensure they remain suitable and sufficient. 31 March 2025 This action is still ongoing. A review of the suite of risk assessments is currently taking place and should be finalised before the end of the calendar year. Ensure a health and safety inspection programme across educational establishments and Children’s Houses. Trade Union representation should be invited to take part in the health and safety walk round for establishments. 31 March 2025 The resources support manager and corporate health and safety co-ordinator have visited: 1 Secondary School 5 Primary Schools 5 Early Learning and Childcare Centres 2 ASN Schools 1 Social Work Establishment These visits were on request from the head teacher / head of centre looking for health and safety advice. Head Teachers and Heads of Centre were advised that when the annual health and safety walk round is taking place Trade Union / Professional Bodies should be invited to take part in these walk rounds. Monitor DSE assessments across the service with regular updates from managers. 31 March 2025 Heads of Educational Establishments were sent a reminder on 4 November 2024 to ask that they share the link to the DSE with all staff within their establishment.
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Action Title Due Date Update Resources Support Manager sent a reminder email to all staff DSE assessments sitting in workflow to have this signed off as soon as possible. January 2025. Continue to encourage reporting of incidents involving employees via Business World 31 March 2025 Business world reporting guidance was issued to all head teachers / heads of centre at the beginning of term to share with all staff within their establishments. Head of Schools has circulated to all educational establishments the updated V&A policy that details the requirement for reporting. Incidents are monitored on a weekly basis by the Resources Support Manager and the Corporate Health and Safety Advisor. Any issues are flagged with individual head teachers and Education Managers. Ensure Risk Assessments are regularly reviewed and updated in the following areas: Fire Manual Handing HAVS (Hand Arm Vibration) 31 March 2025 All Education Managers / Senior Service Delivery Officers were reminded of the requirement to ensure that these risk assessments are carried out on an annual basis. Staff Training Programme in relation to Health and Safety at Work: • Fire training • Manual Handing • Ensure Social Work Staff Residential and Non Residential are completing all Mandatory Training pathways 31 March 2025 Fire Training All staff have been made aware that Fire Warden Training is now delivered via the I Learn Module. Heads of Establishment to discuss training requirements within their own
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Action Title Due Date Update • Technical Teachers/ Technicians – Metal Work Training establishment and ensure staff undertake training. This was issued to head teachers in the weekly bulletin in October 2024. Manual Handling All Head Teachers have been advised that staff who carry out manual handling activities should receive training before any tasks commence. This was issued to head teachers in the weekly bulletin in November. Social Work Mandatory Training Pathways Confirmation received that there is a training pathway in place for social work staff both residential and non-residential. Social Work managers to ensure this is undertaken. Technical Teachers / Technicians Metal Work Training Resources Support Manager currently liaising with Principal Teachers of Technical Subjects to get finalised numbers for Clyde College to consider running a metalwork course after the spring break. • Maintain weekly monitoring of violence and aggression reports in all establishments to conduct investigation and provide support where required. 31 March 2025 The resources support manager meets with Corporate Health and Safety on a weekly basis to discuss V&A incidents. A weekly report is produced and provided to Head of Education to cascade to Education Managers are follow up any concerns with their cluster of head teachers. • Continue to raise awareness of good practice around classroom / playroom ventilation and encourage staff to monitor their Co2 levels via their classroom monitor or online portal. 31 March 2025 A note relating to this issue was circulated via the Information Bulletin to HTs and asked heads to remind teachers that they can log
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Action Title Due Date Update into the portal to check their Co2 levels. Any issues should be reported to ESM / Janitorial staff to allow a CAMIS call to be raised.
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Appendix 2 Children’s Services Health and Safety Plan Inclusive, Safe and Responsible What will we do What difference will we make Measures Leads / timescales Use of data Identify key data which will be routinely shared, analysed and discussed in the H&S group and wider forums Develop an accessible data dashboard with key data set Through effective use of data, the service will better understand areas of priority and emerging themes which will be used to inform decision making around resource and planning Staff will be better informed around key issues and trends and can use this knowledge within their own services and teams. Suite of key data Data dashboard development Data outputs with analysis and recommendations / next steps Reps from H&S Group Data team to support the development of service dashboard Communications Business Partner H&S is everyone’s responsibility Work with Organisational Development to create a H&S induction model on iLearn Develop and share slides around key H&S messages for all services and teams which can be shared at in-service / training days Staff are aware of service health and safety issues and know how to respond appropriately Staff report improved knowledge and confidence of service health and safety issues There is an improved health and safety culture across Children’s Services Development of H&S module Central H&S representative list Feedback from H&S representatives Number of participants completing H&S module on iLearn Organisational Development Reps from H&S group Resources team
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Review landscape of service H&S representatives and ensure they are appropriately trained and supported There is a central overview of all H&S representatives H&S representatives feel able to represent staff appropriately Violence and Aggression Development of guidance for all establishments including children’s homes in relation to de-escalation and safeholds Work with H&S / BW team to improve consistency of reporting on incidents Work with H&S / BW team to improve inconsistencies with data and data quality Embed new policy Continue to roll out training Update training and policies in line with Included, Engaged and Involved part 3 Roll out iLearn module Continue to improve processes in place to develop interventions to support trends/specific incidents Improved confidence in responding to violence and aggression Improved confidence in de- escalation and appropriate use of safe holds Safer and inclusive establishments for children, young people and staff Improved staff knowledge on how to report incidents Improved confidence on reporting incidents consistently Improved confidence in data which can be used to inform decision making and monitor trends Reduced number of incidents (this may increase temporarily if reporting increases due to improved knowledge and confidence Violence and Aggression Policy De-escalation and safe holds guidance Business World Data and Reports Staff survey / feedback Training evaluations Inclusion team H&S team Resources team BW team iLearn Module to be rolled out in August in-service day
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Intimate care Ensure that there are appropriate facilities in all services / establishments where required Staff receive guidance and training on managing intimate care needs There is clarity around ASNA / PSA roles Children and young people’s needs will be sensitively supported Children and young people will feel included and be treated with dignity Staff will be more confident in managing intimate care needs Reduction in number of complaints regarding intimate care issues Increased understanding of staff roles and remits with less resistance to change Focus group with staff following training Training survey evaluations Complaint data Business continuity planning Set up a cross service short life working group to review the current business continuity planning process ensuring it is fit for purpose Re-launch business continuity planning process Development and piloting of invacuation procedures following Martin’s Law All services / establishments have plans in place to respond to incidents All services / establishments are aware of escalation process and know when it is appropriate to escalate All services / establishments will know how to implement invacuation procedures when appropriate. As a result, children, young people and staff will be safe and supported as a result of invacuation procedure Feedback from establishments piloting invacuation procedures Review data from services / establishments following incidents about the effectiveness and efficiency of plans Examples of high quality business continuity plans Resource Team to coordinate Reps from H&S Group Civil Contingency Group / Alan Gibson All Head Teachers / Heads of Centre
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Maintenance and Repairs There is an agreed service approach, governance and compliance to the security and maintenance of all establishments Through the learning estate strategy, there is an appropriate plan in place for establishment maintenance Launch the new process for requests for adaptations (core and equalities) Engage with EH&I on CAMIS prioritisation processes and feedback loop for Children’s Services repairs The learning estate is inclusive and fit for modern day learning Staff are aware of governance and are compliant with policy Children and young people are safe Children and young people’s needs and rights are supported at the right time Decision making around for requests for adaptations and repairs is robust and transparent Managers / Head Teachers are more aware of the status of priority repairs Reduced flight risk and near miss instances and reports Data from the request for adaptations process e.g. types of requests, decisions, financial Reduced wait time for priority repairs Feedback from managers / heads on use of CAMIS Resource team Inclusion team Strategic learning estate manager H&S team Colleagues from EHI Heads of Service Head Teachers / Heads of Centre