General Statement of Policy
We are committed to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of employees, so far as is reasonably practical, and recognise that the effective management of health and safety is an integral part of our overall business performance. We also fully accept our responsibility for other persons such as contractors and visitors who may be affected by our activities. The objectives of the Policy are not just to ensure that our statutory obligations are met, but to continually strive to improve upon them.
(Health and Safety at Work Order [NI] 1978)
Signed: Jack Brownrigg, Manager, Joint proprietor.10/05/2010
- General
An Irish Aunt running someone else's private household as a "Domestic Manager" (or "Housekeeper”) should conduct themselves with exactly the same care and common sense they use when running their own home. An Irish Aunt's qualifications for their job are "the confidence and experience to run a household", and their job training is their lifetime's experience of running their own home. While the Client is contractually responsible for providing the Irish Aunt with a safe place to live and work (and third party insurance cover within their household policy), the individual Irish Aunt is directly responsible with assessing and dealing with any risks that face them in the course of their stay.- Communication
The proper (and safe) running of the Agency is entirely dependant on having good communications at all levels. In the first instance we try our utmost to find out everything we can about the assignment and the household into which we will be sending an Irish Aunt, and the Client has a contractual duty to tell us everything which is relevant to the proper (and safe) running of that assignment and household. Secondly we have a duty of trust to tell the assigned Irish Aunt(s) everything we know about that assignment and household. In turn we need the Irish Aunt to tell us everything relevant that they find out, and when they are "handing over" to another Irish Aunt, we need them to tell their relief everything relevant. Only by talking to each other can we jointly deal with the potential problems and the "accidents waiting to happen".- Fire Precautions
Check that all exits from the house are clear and that none is really a dead end. Pay special attention to smokers and open fires. Always maintain beeping smoke alarms (find batteries for them) rather than disconnecting them. Use exactly the same care and common sense as you would in your own home.- Reporting Accidents
Accidents (as with damage to property) must be reported verbally to the Householder, and must be reported (by telephone in the first instance) to the Agency where they will be recorded. The Irish Aunt should make a further written report for the Agency's record if we request it.- Other Employees
Other employees within the household (cleaners, nurses, gardeners, contractors, etc.) are generally directly responsible to the Client or Householder, only rarely does the Irish Aunt have a supervisory role. Never-the-less, all accidents (and damage to property) involving other employees should be reported to the Agency for the record.- Medication
Irish Aunts given control of their Charge's medication must only give that medication according to a predetermined regime, and should make NO adjustments however minor without consulting a medical professional. Where medication and instructions are passed on to another, the instructions must be passed on in writing.- Moving & Lifting
Moving a charge, for example from bed to chair, is a routine in which an Irish Aunt should be instructed by the District Nurse or other suitable person, and should NEVER involve the Irish Aunt in taking the charge’s weight. Lifting a patient is something only likely to be required if the charge falls and always requires TWO people. An Irish Aunt may ASSIST a nurse or other qualified person, where the Irish Aunt is acting under supervision. An Irish Aunt shall NEVER lift a patient alone. The Charge, if they fall, may require assistance to roll over onto their hands and knees, assistance to straighten up, may require chairs placed to thrust down upon with their hands, assistance to get one foot under them and a steadying hand as they stand up; but the Irish Aunt should NEVER take their weight. Where a Charge falls and can not get up without someone lifting them, they should be made comfortable where they are (pillows, cushions, rugs, etc.) and proper help sought. In the last resort the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service or the local Police Station will (eventually) send a couple of para-medics or a couple of police officers to pick them up and put them back on their feet.- Objects Above Eye Level
Irish Aunts should NOT climb ladders, or onto chairs, stools, tables, etc. in the course of their duties. Objects should not be lifted down unless they can be firmly grasped while standing on the floor. Dusting above eye level should always be done from the floor (try a feather duster). Outside contractors can be found to take down high curtains, clean high windows, etc. Replacing overhead light bulbs should, wherever possible, be delegated to someone else, but may constitute one of the few exceptions to the above, where the Irish Aunt's duty of care requires that there be sufficient light for their Charge to see where they are going and not fall.- Cleaning Materials
Cleaning materials (which may be poisonous or caustic) must be used only in compliance with their instructions, and should be stored where they can cause no harm. Old, unlabeled cleaning materials, and those in unsafe containers, should be safely disposed of.- Dangerous Households
Occasionally (thankfully not very often) an Irish Aunt may be assigned to a household where the physical structure of the house, its equipment, wiring and plumbing may not have been upgraded for a very long time. The householder (who has lived there for years) may see nothing wrong. The Irish Aunt's first duty is communication ; TELL THE HOUSEHOLDER the problem, TELL THE AGENCY. We at the Agency will immediately deal very firmly with the Client, whose responsibility it is to provide the Irish Aunt with a safe place to live and work. Thereafter the Irish Aunt has a duty of care to their Charge, and may have little choice but to make-do, and care for their Charge as safely as is possible in the circumstances until alternative arrangements can be made. Treat it as an adventure, but use common sense, consider everything carefully before doing it. In the meantime the Irish Aunt can be assured that the Agency will be just as adventurous in dealing with those responsible for a speedy resolution of the problems.
