Leeds North West Primary Care Trust on behalf of the Leeds 5 PCTs CHILD HOME SAFETY EQUIPMENT SCHEMES A Good Practice Guide Protecting children from their biggest killer Unintentional injuries Produced in partnership with Leeds City Council Neighbourhoods and Housing Department Health Promotion Specialist in Injury Prevention North West Primary Care Trust (on behalf of the five Leeds Primary Care Trusts) We would like to thank the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) for their financial help Good Practice Guide for setting up and running home safety equipment schemes in Leeds Practical support for preventing injuries to the under 5 age group is vital, as injuries are responsible for the majority of deaths and disablement of children in the UK today. As a result of the experiences of many groups and organisations struggling to set up and maintain successful schemes providing child home safety equipment a need was identified for greater support and research into running a scheme. It is our hope that this guide serves a practical use in helping schemes to overcome many of the hurdles that often prevent schemes running successfully, or at all. The guide does not aim to promote any one way of running a scheme, but to highlight all the potential advantages and disadvantages of different elements of schemes. • Throughout the good practice guide the term ‘parent’ is used but we are also referring to grandparents, guardians and carers. Also, ‘accidental injury’ is used as opposed to the term ‘accident’. • We do not advise that you photocopy any pages of this resource as some information may be subject to change. © Copyright also applies. • To obtain further copies of the guide contact Charlotte Orton at Leeds City Council on 0113 247 6291. • Numbers throughout the guide indicate a reference. For full reference list see References section (p.36). Acknowledgements We would like to thank the Department of Trade and Industry for their financial support through their Modernisation Fund 2002/3. Thanks also to the Leeds’ Sure Starts as well as all the existing home safety equipment schemes in Leeds and around the UK who have provided information and advice. The Good Practice Guide was produced with support and advice from Jill Gunn (Health Promotion Manager), Ian Mallinson (Principal Environmental Health Officer), both from the Neighbourhoods and Housing Department and Anna Cronin de Chavez (Health Promotion Specialist in Injury Prevention), Leeds North West Primary Care Trust. Guide researched and developed by Charlotte Orton March 2003 Contents Summary .................................................................................................................................... 1 Accidental Injuries .................................................................................................................... 2 Preventing Accidental Injuries ................................................................................................ 3 Child Home Safety Equipment Schemes ................................................................................ 4 Planning .................................................................................................................................... 5 Partners ...................................................................................................................................... 6 The Steering Group ............................................................................................................ 7 Target Group ............................................................................................................................ 8 Types of Equipment .................................................................................................................. 9 Payment & Finance ................................................................................................................ 12 Loan Scheme ...................................................................................................................... 12 Loan Scheme Summary .................................................................................................... 13 Low Cost Scheme .............................................................................................................. 13 Low Cost Scheme Summary .............................................................................................. 14 Voucher Scheme ................................................................................................................ 15 Voucher Scheme Summary ................................................................................................ 16 Purchasing Equipment ...................................................................................................... 16 Resources ............................................................................................................................ 18 Funding .............................................................................................................................. 19 Insurance & Legal Issues ........................................................................................................ 21 Delivery .................................................................................................................................... 22 Storage .................................................................................................................................... 22 Fitting ...................................................................................................................................... 23 Maintenance .......................................................................................................................... 25 Referrals .................................................................................................................................. 26 Education & Advice ................................................................................................................ 27 Training .................................................................................................................................... 29 Publicity .................................................................................................................................. 30 Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 31 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 33 Loan Scheme Summary .................................................................................................... 34 Low Cost Scheme .............................................................................................................. 34 Voucher Scheme ................................................................................................................ 35 References .............................................................................................................................. 36 Contacts .................................................................................................................................. 37 Useful Contacts .................................................................................................................. 38 Free Resources .................................................................................................................... 39 Funding Information ........................................................................................................ 39 Funding Available in Leeds .............................................................................................. 40 Equipment Suppliers .......................................................................................................... 40 Safety Standards ................................................................................................................ 41 Useful resources ................................................................................................................ 41 Appendices Appendix 1 Checklist ............................................................................................................................ 42-46 Appendix 2 Inclusion Criteria .................................................................................................................... 47 Appendix 3 Equipment Guide .................................................................................................................... 48 Appendix 4 Sliding Scale ............................................................................................................................ 49 Appendix 5 Safety Items ............................................................................................................................ 50 Appendix 6 Sample Referral Form ............................................................................................................ 51 Appendix 7 Sample Loan Agreement ........................................................................................................ 52 Appendix 8 Feedback Request .................................................................................................................. 53 Notes .................................................................................................................................. 54-57 Child Home Safety Equipment Schemes Injury has now become the leading killer of children and for every child who dies of an injury many more live with the varying degrees and durations of disability and trauma 1 Summary We have designed this good practice guide for anyone who has contact with parents of children under five years old and for those interested in injury prevention. The guide covers all aspects of child home safety equipment schemes to help individuals and groups set up and run schemes throughout Leeds. 1 Accidental Injuries • In the UK, almost 600,000 children under the age of 5 visit A & E as the result of an accident in the home 2. • The home environment is responsible for a significant number of deaths and a high number of serious injuries 3. • The 0-4 age group are exceptionally vulnerable (particularly boys) in the home environment as this is where these children spend most of their time. • Hazards in the home are numerous. Children’s exposure to such hazards vary as their abilities develop. • To prevent every childhood home injury would be impossible. Risk and exploring are necessary for a child’s development and physical health. • Children have accidents because they do not always recognise hazards or understand risk, they have to cope with unsafe environments from a very young age, are not experienced at doing things safely, and they aren’t always physically or mentally capable of safely doing the things their impulses and curiosity drive them to do. • As young children cannot always judge risks for themselves parents are responsible for protecting their children from harm and as far as possible providing a safe environment. • Children from families on a low income are more likely to experience an accidental injury. Children of all ages living in disadvantaged areas are more likely to be exposed to traffic, lack of safe play areas and may have dangerous sites surrounding their home. They are also more likely to live in lowerstandard housing and may experience parenting difficulties from stress, depression or social isolation 4. • Unfortunately, all of these features contribute to a child being at higher risk from accidental injuries within the home. It does, therefore, make sense to prioritise families who are living in such difficult circumstances. 2 Preventing Accidental Injuries Reducing the number of accidental injuries will lessen the stress involved for the child, the childs’ parents, relatives and carers. The cost of an accidental injury to a child and his or her family in terms of pain, distress and care is incalculable. Lowering the number of accidental injuries amongst children not only reduces costs to the NHS who regularly treat injuries but also to families where parents may need time off work to look after their child or for hospital or doctors appointments. More importantly, however, is the fact that the majority of accidental injuries are preventable not inevitable. Home safety equipment will significantly help prevent accidents. There are a number of explanations as to why parents do not have safety devices in their home: • Not knowing what to buy • Not knowing where to buy equipment • Low income • Safety not a priority within the family With help from schemes that address these problems and provide home safety items, such as safety gates and fireguards, parents can protect their child from unnecessary harm such as that caused by burns, scalds and falls. Equipment cannot substitute adequate supervision 3 Child home safety equipment schemes • Child safety equipment is often provided through home safety equipment schemes and there are currently many schemes running throughout the country, particularly through Sure Starts. Sure Starts are Government funded projects that aim to provide a variety of support for families with children under 4 years of age. There are currently eight Sure Start programmes in Leeds. To contact any of these, see Contacts section (p.37). • Providing home safety equipment is one of the most achievable ways of reaching targets set by the Department of Health for accident reduction for young children and home safety schemes are recommended by various government departments5,6,7. • Child safety experts recognise that accidental injuries can be prevented by correctly fitting and using home safety equipment. This supports the need for practical schemes that provide access to home safety equipment. • It is important that home safety equipment schemes support parents in protecting their children from accidental injuries. Schemes must also try to offer parents more than just safety equipment and should provide information, advice and support. There are three approaches to providing home safety equipment; loan schemes, low cost schemes and a voucher scheme: • A loan scheme provides equipment on loan to families. This may be free of charge or at a low cost, usually to cover administration fees. Some loan schemes do not expect equipment to be returned. Essentially, these are give away schemes. • A low cost scheme provides families with equipment at a cost lower than any retailers’. • A voucher scheme involves families being given a voucher to purchase their equipment from selected retailers. To decide which scheme will best suit your group or organisation it is helpful to know some of the advantages and disadvantages of the different types (see Evaluation p.31). There are many factors to consider in addition to whether or not parents pay for, loan or are given a voucher for their equipment. For example, you may need to consider insurance, storage, fitting and access, but this will depend upon the type of scheme you are planning to provide. 4 Planning As with any project, the planning stage of your scheme is important. Thinking through the scheme from beginning to end and using this good practice guide should minimise unexpected complications arising and help make your scheme a success. Although there is no right or wrong way of delivering a home safety equipment scheme you can work through the checklist provided as your scheme develops (Appendix 1, p.42). This will ensure you have covered all aspects and will help you tailor your scheme to your own circumstances. In order to plan a home safety equipment scheme you will need to understand what you are taking on and have an idea of what methods of purchasing, delivery, storage and fitting are most appropriate for your group of parents and your resources and capacities. For example, if the majority of parents you are targeting live in high rise flats this would require more fireguards and window locks and fewer safety gates. Many schemes have experienced difficulties that have affected their success. In order for your scheme to be successful and sustainable you must identify who needs safety equipment and the priorities in the target area e.g. depending on the type of housing, number of families with young children, incidence of particular injuries, etc. Such factors should be taken into consideration during the planning stages. Funding is an issue that should be given consideration from the outset. As there is no consistent mainstream funding available for home accident prevention you should be aware that you may need to develop a funding plan. Before you provide home safety equipment you must decide which type of scheme would be most suitable. Identifying the needs and priorities of your target group are important elements in the initial planning stages. This process ensures you are providing a service that is needed and helps identify that accidental injuries are a problem and a priority within your target area. Some examples of meeting parents’ needs; A family with more than one child under five may need equipment for a long period and equipment may be susceptible to wear and tear. In this case a low cost scheme may be most appropriate. If the target groups are parents on low income who require a lot of support or advice a loan scheme could be the best approach. When providing equipment to families who have their own transport and who can also afford to contribute, a voucher scheme is more appropriate. However, a voucher could cover all equipment costs. These are typical examples of how you can adapt different elements of a scheme to your own circumstances. 5 Partners Anyone who wants to provide a service to their community can set up a home safety equipment scheme. We recommend that one person or a small group of people champions the scheme. A consultation period prior to implementation is a particularly useful way to plan your scheme. This process aids decision making with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds that have experience or an interest in injury prevention. A multi agency approach that supports your target group will be the most effective. All schemes will need someone with access to families as well as support from a range of individuals and organisations. Partners involved (see Contacts, p.37) in a scheme could include any of the following individuals: • Community Development Workers • Emergency Services (e.g. Fire Services, Police) • Family Centres • Funding Bodies • Health Promotion Specialists • Health Visitors • Housing representatives (e.g. tenants, landlords, etc) • Local Council • Midwives • Nurseries • Primary Care Trusts • Parent and toddler groups • Regeneration workers • Representative for injury prevention • Representative for under 5’s (e.g. Sure Start) • Social Workers • The community • Voluntary Organisations (e.g. Home Start) Most important is to seek involvement, help and advice from your target group - PARENTS 6 Think about whether or not those involved in the scheme have all the necessary skills, as it is a good idea to be aware of any training needs early on (see Training, p.29). Think about who will be responsible for what, particularly administration duties. Recruiting volunteers from your target area is a good source of support for your project. For information on recruitment, training and other issues around volunteers go to www.val.gov.uk. Alternatively, write to Voluntary Action Leeds (see Contacts, p.37). The Steering Group Enlisting the support of individuals and organisations that are interested in home safety and home safety equipment schemes is helpful and forming a steering group is an excellent way to collaborate. Forming a steering group will allow you to liaise with various people who can provide input from their experiences and knowledge and help you develop your scheme (see Partners, p.6). If your project group meets regularly, which is advisable, together you can drive the project forward. A steering group can help you: • Plan your scheme • Identify and obtain funding e.g. who to apply to and how • Identify who will do what and when • Develop useful links, contacts and ideas • Decide how you will evaluate your scheme Setting up a steering group allows the planning process to be agreed, which will increase the likelihood of your scheme being a success and running smoothly from the outset. If you want parents to be involved it is a good idea to provide créche facilities for meetings. You might want to carry out a pilot run of the scheme. This could involve starting with a limited number of people and a few items of equipment for a small area that will be relatively easy to manage. This will help you identify what might go wrong and how the scheme could be improved or made more appropriate for the particular parents or area. 7 Target Group Once you are sure of your target group, i.e. geographical boundary and population group, you will need to determine the number of families you can reach. This can be estimated by: • The amount of money you have available • The number of families in your target area • Anticipated take up rate • The scale that you think the scheme can cope with Setting strict rules on who can be included in the scheme and geographical areas (Appendix 2, p.47) will help you decide how many families you can reach. This will also help you to estimate the number of safety items required. Conflict may arise with parents who are not eligible for the scheme. However, resources will be limited so you must decide whether to offer alternative help such as providing them with advice or offering equipment at cost price. It is useful to get hold of accident data to determine the number and types of accidental injuries in your area. Unfortunately, this information is very difficult to obtain but you could try liasing with local Health Visitors, who may possess this information, Accident and Emergency Departments and GP’s to help determine whether or not specific accidents need targeting. Although demand for safety equipment is generally high not all parents will want to be involved. When liaising with parents: • Be sensitive when advising parents about safety measures. Remaining positive and emphasising what they are doing right rather than wrong will help • Be aware that there may be legitimate reasons why equipment is not in place never assume • Be sensitive to cultural differences. Don’t assume parents speak fluent English and don’t assume parents will accept outside help • Always emphasise the benefits of equipment • Try not to make parents feel inadequate or irresponsible, etc • Make them valued members of your partnership • Try not to let the scheme seem like charity 8 Types of equipment Health professionals have found that a typical family requires one fireguard and two safety gates. However, your scheme must decide what it can realistically provide versus individual need. For example, you could provide only one safety gate along with a number of pressure pads or fixing points so that the gate can be moved around the home. This is not ideal, but your scheme might not have the means to provide each family with more than one large item. The majority of home safety equipment schemes concentrate on providing large items of safety equipment such as safety gates and fireguards. This is because their potential to prevent an injury is high and they can be expensive therefore less likely to be purchased by parents on a low income. Some schemes provide safety packs, which can be adapted depending upon the childs’ age or developmental stage (Appendix 3, p.48). Safety packs, usually containing small items such as bath thermometers and door jams, can be expensive so think about their ability to prevent an accidental injury. There are over 45,000 A&E admissions in the under 5s age group for accidental falls on stairs 8 • Safety Gates are very effective in preventing access to rooms and stairs, if used correctly and consistently. They can be used to block access to rooms in the home whilst the parent or carer supervises. Safety gates are generally easy to install and CAPT write ‘not much can go wrong with them’9. However, they can be easily pushed out of place by a child if they are not securely fixed, particularly if pressure mounted. For safety standards see Purchasing Equipment (p.16). 9 Each year over 10,000 accidents occur that involve a fireplace, grate or fender 8 • Fireguards must be securely fixed to the wall, rather than free standing. They prevent a child from touching a fire or heater and can stop any individual getting too close. They should never be used to dry clothes on, as this is itself a fire hazard. Parents may need encouragement to use a fireguard as they can be fairly big and some parents may feel that they do not suit the look of their room or fireplace. • Bath Thermometers can be useful as a child’s skin is thinner than an adults therefore scalds at a lower temperature. However, many people believe bath thermometers to be inaccurate or relied upon and it is recommended that parents manually check bathing temperatures. Although expensive, thermostatic mixer valves are the only way of ensuring bath water temperatures do not get too hot. These require fitting. • Corner Cushions/Protectors aim to prevent injuries from falling onto sharp table edges. It is a good idea to check their suitability as they generally only fit square corners. Some corner protectors require adhesive and some parents may be reluctant to use them on their furniture. • Cupboard and Appliance Locks are essential to prevent a child’s access to liquids and items that can burn, poison or cut as well as tumble dryers and washing machines. Locks should remain locked to be effective however inconvenient. • Door Jammers, or anti-slam door stops, prevent fingers getting trapped either side of doors by preventing full closure. Be aware that door jams might not always stay on and when bitten may become a choking hazard. Also important to remember is the recommendation that all internal doors remain closed at night to prevent the spread of house fires. • Oven door guards prevent access to an oven door, which may become hot and burn a child. • Second Hand Equipment. Although possessing a form of safety equipment is better than none, second hand home safety items should be used with caution, as this may give parents a false sense of security. Schemes that provide second hand equipment need to be aware that equipment may have been damaged, used incorrectly and may have been weakened, which is often unnoticeable. An integral aspect of home safety equipment is that it is used 10 and assembled as intended. To accomplish this parents and carers often require instructions, guidelines for correct use, fixings and other spare parts, all of which are not always present when second-hand equipment is provided. Second-hand may be viewed as second rate. It is crucial that safety equipment complies to current safety standards (see Purchasing Equipment, p.16). • Smoke Alarms/Detectors give a warning in the event of a fire, allowing individuals to escape. The device must be checked regularly to ensure it is functioning correctly and that batteries are working. Smoke alarms that are tamper-proof with 10 year batteries and alarms that are mains-wired are recommended. • Socket Covers are used to prevent children inserting fingers or other objects into plug sockets. If resources are scarce you can limit these to areas where children spend most of their time. However, it is felt that modern sockets pose minimal danger. • Video Locks prevent a child from putting fingers or other objects into a video recorder. However, few injuries are caused in this way. • Window Locks are needed to prevent falls from windows, particularly during summer. They must be fitted correctly and parents must keep locks on to be effective. Avoid placing furniture under windows. Be aware that window locks may hinder an escape should a fire occur. 11 Payment and Finance It is likely that you will incur start up and administrative costs for any home safety equipment scheme e.g. initial purchase of equipment and paperwork to get the scheme started. It is advisable to set fees parents pay according to their financial circumstances, which could be dependent on a family’s income (see example in Appendix 4, p.49). This is useful as it is likely that your referrer will have contact with parents in very different circumstances. Proof of Income Support is a straightforward way of establishing parents’ income. However, not all parents will want to discuss this. Loan Scheme A loan scheme can be set up to provide parents with equipment for a period of time, usually within a loan agreement. Some schemes charge parents to loan equipment or to cover administration costs. Others do not expect equipment to be returned as it is not always usable (see Loan Scheme Summary, p.13). Essentially, these are give away schemes. Small items of safety equipment can be offered at low cost along with loaned equipment e.g. cupboard locks (Appendix 5, p.50) to generate a small level of income, to purchase further equipment and to help keep the scheme running. Parents may also place more value on their equipment if a small fee has been paid, which can also benefit the scheme. A loan scheme is suitable for parents on a low income as costs are minimal. There is also the opportunity to reach many families as equipment could be loaned several times, or given to parents’ friends and families. Be aware that loan schemes are more likely to incur insurance and liability issues as loan schemes are responsible for any equipment distributed (see Insurance & Legal Issues, p.21). 12 Loan Scheme Summary Advantages • Parents can keep in contact with the scheme • Renewing loan agreement, etc, gives opportunity to offer parents information, advice and support • Cost to families can be low (or no cost) Disadvantages • Start up and administration costs • Need to record details of all loaned equipment and keep track of loan renewal dates • Limited stock to loan • Loan charges can purchase further equipment • Few items of equipment may be returned. Items that are returned may not be re-usable • Opportunity to sell small items of equipment to help sustain scheme • Returned equipment must be cleaned, checked, repaired, etc • Equipment can be used by many people e.g. passed on to friends, family members, neighbours • Scheme may be liable for any advice, service, or equipment it provides • Parents may approach scheme with any problems they are experiencing • Requires storage (cost, availability, convenience, theft, etc) • Often requires fitting service due to liability issues Low Cost Scheme Many loan schemes running have experienced problems surrounding issues of liability and insurance (see Insurance & Legal Issues, p.21). For this reason, many people prefer a low cost home safety equipment scheme. Although there are many loan schemes running low cost schemes are currently the favoured approach. This approach might, however, depend on who you are aiming your scheme at e.g. you might prefer loan to low cost if parents in your target group are unemployed or are not in a position to give one large payment. Low cost home safety equipment schemes provide safety items at a cost lower than the retailer’s price. The person running the scheme is able to do this by purchasing equipment in bulk or directly from the manufacturer. The cost of equipment can also be subsided by funding allocated to the scheme. 13 Although a low cost scheme will generate income it is not necessarily selffinancing. Parents usually give a one-off payment for equipment but some schemes offer an instalment method e.g. £2 per week until equipment is paid for. In this way ownership of the equipment is passed on to the parent. When providing low cost safety equipment costs can be subsidised in order to keep prices low. Some low cost or loan schemes give their referrer, often a health visitor, credit notes to give to parents at their discretion should they feel a child is at risk of an accidental injury and the parent cannot offer any payment towards safety equipment. It is a good idea to limit the distribution of these credit notes to keep costs low. Low Cost Scheme Summary Advantages • Parents can purchase equipment cheaper than from a retailer • Opportunity to offer range of payment methods; one large payment, no payment, instalments or sliding scale • Ownership of equipment is passed on to the parent following initial purchase • Parents can do as they choose once they own equipment • Reduces risk of liability (unless a fitting service is provided) • Potentially unlimited stock • Opportunity to reach many families (as scheme costs can be low) Disadvantages • Scheme not always self financing • Start up and administration costs • Parents cannot always afford to contribute • Costs may need to be subsidised • Parents may have little contact with the scheme (does not give the opportunity to address parents’ concerns) • Requires storage facilities (cost, availability, convenience, theft, etc) • Often requires delivery service • Equipment may be sold on (may need to regularly check that this is not occurring) • Equipment may not be installed correctly, or at all, where a fitting service is not provided 14 Voucher Scheme A voucher scheme operates in a similar way to other schemes. Rather than taking payment from parents to purchase or loan equipment this type of scheme identifies who needs equipment (and meets the criteria set) then allocates vouchers. Parents usually make a contribution towards equipment as well as producing a voucher e.g. a £15 voucher towards a safety gate may require a £3 contribution from the parent. The parent’s contribution may depend upon the make and model of the equipment. Contributing gives parents the chance to feel more responsible for their childs’ safety. However, a voucher scheme could provide safety equipment at no cost to the parent. Parents take their voucher to a nominated store to collect their equipment. Both the parent and the retailer can be given a time frame within which they must claim their equipment or their money back from the scheme. This process should help monitor who has or hasn’t claimed. This should also help keep a steady flow of cash from the time of referral to the point retailer’s request their money back, rather than having to reimburse all retailers at the end of the scheme. You should arrange with the retailer to only provide new equipment and advise them to identify equipment provided by the voucher scheme so that money cannot be refunded for those particular pieces of equipment, only exchanged under the normal store policy. It is a good idea to print vouchers on coloured paper so they cannot be copied. You could also give vouchers a code, known only to the scheme leader and each retailer involved. Financial problems associated with this type of scheme are that parents may be expected to contributed towards equipment, the retailer may take some time to redeem their money and parents may try to return equipment to the retailer for a cash refund. A voucher could be used to purchase equipment and to get equipment fitted correctly. You could, for example, give parents who need a fitting service a fitting voucher that could be given to a fitter. The fitter could then invoice the scheme. 15 Voucher Scheme Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Start up costs are minimal (printing vouchers, etc) • More suited to parents with their own transport • Administration duties are minimal • Parents may be expected to contribute • Does not require storage • Parents do not always collect their equipment • Does not require delivery service • Reduces risk of liability • Manufacturer is responsible for equipment, rather than scheme • Parents are involved in the purchasing process • Parents feel empowered and responsible for their child’s safety • Vouchers are relatively easy to produce • Costs may need to be subsidised • Retailer may take a long time to redeem the money • Parents may attempt to return equipment for a refund • Possibility vouchers may be copied • May need to keep track of who has/hasn’t collected equipment • Parents might not fit their own equipment once it has been collected (may need to check this) Purchasing Equipment Prior to purchasing safety equipment you must calculate the amount you will need. You could calculate this by selecting your target group (see Target Group, p.8). The equipment you purchase and the retailer you choose may be dependant on the amount of money you have available. It is important that the right equipment is purchased to fit the housing type of your area e.g. homes with wide staircases may need a safety gate with an extension. In this situation extension gates should be kept in your stock so that parents who have been given a safety gate can use it correctly immediately. To help you estimate the cost of large safety items see p.17 (for contact details see Equipment Suppliers, p.40). 16 March 2003 Safety Gates Extensions for Safety Gates Fireguards Argos £16.49 to £29.99 (Extension gates supplied by manufacturer) £17.75 Bettacare £20.50 to £31.50 £5.95 to £12.00 £15.75 Ikea £11.00 & £25.00 (both models extend) N/A Index £19.99 to £29.99 (£19.99 models extend) £14.99 to £17.99 Kid Rapt £11.50 to £23.50 £5.25 to £6.75 £13.25 to £15.25 Mothercare £14.99 to £29.99 £9.99 £19.99 & £24.99 Toys R Us £15.99 to £29.99 (Many of their gates extend) £24.99 Instructions on how to use and install safety equipment should be included when purchased. Make photocopies of the manufacturers instructions so that spare copies are available and so that you can offer parents help and advice. Diagrams or step-by-step guides are helpful, particularly if parents are fitting equipment themselves. Some schemes sell alternative items of equipment at low cost e.g. video guards, door jams, etc. In this way the scheme can generate income, highlight safety messages and increase safety within the home. The types of equipment you can provide or sell are shown in Appendix 5 (p.50). Although there are no statutory requirements regarding home safety equipment you must provide items that conform to current European/British safety standards; but note that standards do change from time to time. Safety Gates must comply with standard EN1930:2000 Fireguards must comply with standard BS8423:2002 17 Resources Resources does not just refer to money, it also includes peoples’ time and effort, which is why careful planning is needed. As well as purchasing equipment you may also have to consider: Costs to consider Example Accommodation Office space, storage for equipment Administration Telephone, postage Bank charges Fitting Training, tools Initial start up Purchasing equipment Instructions Photocopies, printing Insurance Scheme workers, namely the fitter Legal fees To allow disclaimer to be checked Maintenance of equipment Cleaning, spare parts Publicity Advertising, printing Recruitment Advertising Safety education Leaflets, posters, training Salaries Administration, scheme leader Staff development Training Transport Travel expenses VAT Equipment Some schemes require resources for all areas mentioned above, however, you can run a scheme with a selected few e.g. by not providing a fitting or delivery service you will free up money for other areas such as safety education leaflets (see Education & Advice, p.27). 18 Funding Funding your scheme can become an on-going issue, particularly as there is no consistent mainstream funding for home injury prevention. Many schemes fold due to this as they experience a lack of funding. Past schemes have received funding from: • Charitable Donations • Children In Need • Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) • Early Years Awards • Health Action Zone • Health Promotion Departments • Healthy Living Network • Neighbourhood Renewal Fund • Primary Care Trusts • Regeneration funding • Safer Communities Initiative • Sure Start The cost to set up and run your scheme will depend on a number of factors. To obtain an idea of costs you should calculate the average cost of equipment that you hope to provide. You may need help when applying for funding for your scheme - Leeds City Council produce a booklet entitled Small Grants to Voluntary Organisations that will assist deciding whether or not you are eligible and who you can apply to. The booklet outlines contact details for individuals who will be happy to offer you advice and support regarding grants. The booklet is available in languages other than English and can be obtained by contacting the Department of Social Services, Joint Planning Support Unit (see Funding Available in Leeds, p.40). It is a good idea to ask to be put on Voluntary Action Leeds’ mailing list so that they can keep you up to date with grants and funding information. They also run training days on applying for funding. 19 Establishing the success of your scheme is important, as this will help you secure future funding. Funders may want to see proof of your schemes’ success so be prepared to provide evidence e.g. number of safety items being used, level of interest received, and information regarding existing ownership prior to the scheme (see Evaluation, p.31). A comprehensive list and explanation of government funding in the UK is detailed in the UK Community Grants Directory (see Funding Information, p.39). 20 Insurance and Legal issues One of the main concerns when running a home safety equipment scheme is the issue of liability. Problems are more likely to occur if you provide a fitting or loan service. If someone fits equipment or demonstrates how parents should use their equipment then an injury occurs this could mean that person is liable and may be sued. A fitter may also cause accidental damage to parents’ property whilst fitting equipment. It is for such reasons that legal advice must be sought. A loan scheme can become particularly difficult as your scheme may provide second hand equipment i.e. equipment that has been loaned previously must be checked before it is re-loaned to make sure it is not faulty (see Maintenance, p.25). Equipment may also need to be cleaned. Loaning faulty equipment, which then results in an accident, may render those operating the scheme liable by law. By providing vouchers or equipment at low cost any issues regarding liability and insurance are eliminated. Selling equipment at low cost, rather than loaning, means breakages or missing parts are the responsibility of the manufacturer rather than the schemes’. In this way the scheme is less liable after a sale. A loan scheme requires a loan agreement (example in Appendix 7, p.52), which can take some time to produce. This could become a time consuming task due to the importance of covering all aspects of liability and you must seek professional legal advice. The loan agreement must highlight that responsibility for the childs’ safety remains with the parent. These aspects of a loan scheme are often the reason for opting for a low cost safety equipment scheme, or for choosing not to provide a fitting service. Whatever scheme you decide to provide you should always emphasise that equipment is not a replacement for supervision. A problem that you may experience is parents blaming those involved with the scheme for any accidental injuries that occur. Past schemes have found this when equipment has been provided as well as during parents wait for their equipment. It is recommended that any loan agreement, application form or disclaimer emphasises the fact that the childs’ safety remains the responsibility of the parent at all times. Disclaimers, however, cannot totally guarantee legal cover. 21 Delivery The resources you have available will determine whether or not your scheme has the means to provide a delivery service. A voucher scheme has the advantage that it does not require delivery as parents are expected to collect their safety items directly from the retailer. You must think about your target group when providing a voucher scheme as it is most suited to parents who have their own transport. You should be aware that although parents may have their own transport, or access to a vehicle, not all will be willing to collect their equipment. For some parents injuries in the home are not a priority. This highlights the need to accurately record any equipment that has been collected or delivered, etc. It also shows that information and advice may be needed to reinforce home safety messages. Storage Try to keep an adequate supply of safety items in stock so that parents do not have to wait for long periods. This is important because their child is at risk of an accidental injury within the home and an injury may occur whilst they await equipment. It is a good idea to store equipment in a central location so that those involved in running the scheme can collect it, etc. Equipment should be stored safely and you should be aware of theft. Storage space (lock-up, etc) can be rented but be aware that insurance covering theft or damages may be needed. 22 Fitting Along with providing safety equipment you could, ideally, provide a fitting service. Schemes may provide this if their target groups are unlikely to fit equipment themselves. This will require a fitter who may need transport to collect and deliver equipment. The fitter could be a joiner, handyperson or volunteer. Some schemes employ a retired joiner who lives locally to fit equipment. You may decide to employ a full or part time fitter who could be paid per hour. You could also contract one or more companies to fit equipment. This is a relatively straight forward way to provide a fitting service. You should ensure your fitter, handyperson or carpenter has public liability insurance. This means they have their own insurance and are covered for any work carried out. Care and Repair may assist with contact details of local joiners, etc (see Useful Contacts, p.38). When providing a fitting service you might need to take measurements to ensure equipment is appropriate. Some schemes actually measure, deliver and fit equipment. Parents are not always in a position to fit equipment, as some equipment requires skills and tools they might not possess. Fitting a safety gate or fireguard to a wall or banister can be tricky e.g. crumbling plaster walls and using tools whilst supervising young children may not be feasible. Fitting equipment can be an expensive service to offer. Costs may include: • Employing a fitter (advertisement) • Transport/Mileage • Insurance • Tools • Training • Paperwork • Police check 23 You must take into consideration the welfare of the fitter as they will be expected to visit a number of unknown households. Equally, families must be safe with the fitter. A police check is the only way safety can be guaranteed for families, however, there is a small fee and this process can take some time. Fitters and other people involved in the scheme should carry identification to reassure parents and to ensure access to homes. It is a good idea for health visitors and social workers, etc, to advise on households that might pose a risk to the fitter, however, this may be difficult e.g. due to confidentiality, data protection. It is recommended that fitters and other individuals who may visit parents’ homes do so in twos to avoid allegations of theft, etc. Although this may increase costs it will allow both the worker and the parent to feel safe during a home visit. If your scheme provides a delivery or fitting service you must notify parents in advance and arrange a time convenient for both parties. Parents should be given the opportunity to rearrange any appointments made, so ensure you provide all relevant contact details. Parents should observe equipment being fitted and should also be shown how to use equipment correctly. Installing safety equipment cannot guarantee that an injury will not occur, therefore, it is advisable that parents sign a disclaimer to ensure equipment has, at least, been fitted correctly and to their satisfaction. Be aware that a signed disclaimer does not guarantee protection from future legal action. Again, seek legal advice if you are in any doubt. Schemes have experienced parents asking fitters for help with other maintenance jobs around the home. Be aware that a consequence of any inaccurate or incorrect information or advice offered by anyone involved in the scheme could result in the scheme being liable for any damage to property or injuries sustained. It is recommended that any fitter is advised to refuse other jobs when carrying out scheme work. Remember to inform parents whom to notify should they experience any problems regarding equipment fitted by the scheme e.g. fireguard not secure. 24 Maintenance Schemes that offer home safety equipment on loan often do so for as long as necessary to protect the child from home accidents. However, not all schemes give a return date for the equipment to take into account families having further children or to acknowledge that certain items may be needed for many years. At the end of the loan period equipment is returned or re-issued to other families in need, however, many schemes do not anticipate the return of any equipment that is loaned to parents. Equipment that is returned is not always usable due to: • Equipment on loan for long periods • May not meet current safety standards • Parts missing or broken Equipment may become damaged whilst on loan. Second hand equipment is often seen as second rate, particularly as weaknesses in safety items cannot always be seen. It is advisable to label all equipment to keep track of its’ location. For a loan scheme this will help monitor loan renewal dates, as parents may need prompting. When loaning safety equipment remember: • Equipment may have been used for many years • Few items may be returned • Returned equipment is not always usable • Returned equipment must be checked, repaired, cleaned, etc 25 Referrals There are a range of referral mechanisms your scheme can adopt. Parents could be referred to your scheme by a range of people: • Family member • Family support worker • Fire Service • Friend • GP • Health visitor • Home Start • Midwife • Neighbour • Parent and baby groups • Self referral • Social worker • Sure Start • Tenants and Residents Association Healthcare providers who regularly visit parents with young children are in an ideal position to encourage safer practice and a safer environment within the home. This is why the majority of home safety equipment schemes use health visitors to refer parents. Your referrer must make a decision as to whether or not the parent meets the criteria to be included in the scheme. For this reason it is a good idea that your referrer is familiar with safety devices or has knowledge of injury prevention work. The health visitor or other referrer must decide which of their existing clients, who live within the boundaries you have set, needs home safety equipment. A referral form can then be passed on to the scheme co-ordinator stating why the child is at risk of a home injury (example in Appendix 6, p.51). Schemes often receive more referrals than it is physically possible to follow-up, as most health professionals know someone who needs home safety equipment, hence the need for strict inclusion criteria. 26 Education and Advice Accompanying home safety equipment with educational materials can be an effective way of preventing accidental injuries. Offering advice to parents and carers about hazards in the home and providing health education is more likely to result in a change being made to a child’s home. This should also encourage parents to be committed to keeping gates closed and cupboards locked, etc. If your scheme does include an educational element it is recommended that you include your target group in your planning process, as a participative approach is most effective in achieving change. Ideally, you should involve an individual with knowledge and experience of home safety to highlight such messages. You can obtain leaflets and other educational resources from a number of organisations, many of which can be found in our Contacts section (see p.37) Many schemes offer parents a home safety check or home safety audit. These are relatively simple but can be very effective in getting across safety messages. The aim here is to offer parents information so that they can assess their own home for safety through the eyes of a child. Parents can then make any necessary changes to their homes and their behaviour. A useful booklet is available, produced by the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT), should you decide to provide a home check service (booklet costs £6) (see Useful Resources, p.41). You may decide to offer parents a demonstration of how to use safety items. To assist this process Kid Rapt (www.ChildSafety.co.uk) may be able to attend the venue of your choice to display and talk about the different types of safety equipment available and how to use and install them correctly. Be aware that this is not a free service, however, Kid Rapt may be willing offer advice on issues regarding equipment or safety items for your scheme. 27 Schemes may need to think about the best way of providing safety education, as English is not a first language for many parents. You should, therefore, think about whether or not your scheme needs workers or volunteers with specific language skills or consider using audio visual material to get home safety messages across. If you decide to provide loaned equipment be aware that this provides you with an excellent opportunity to offer parents advice and support, particularly whilst renewing loan agreements. There is less contact with parents when providing a voucher or low cost scheme as little contact is needed once parents have been provided with equipment. 28 Training CAPT The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) offers tailor-made training sessions to meet individual’s needs. CAPT can adapt a full or half day session for those new to injury prevention or for people with experience in this field. Sessions can be arranged to suit and can be run in your local area (see Contacts, p.37). CAPT also run a course held at Newcastle University for those involved in injury prevention entitled ‘Professional Development in Unintentional Injury Prevention’. For more information contact Michael Hayes (see Contacts, p. 37). RoSPA Those involved in a home safety equipment scheme may require some training on home safety issues. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) provide home safety training, including an introduction to home safety, which is held in Belfast. This course costs £80 (+VAT), or £75 (+VAT) for RoSPA members. RoSPA also provide a City and Guilds course entitled ‘Introducing Home Safety’, which costs £890 (+VAT), or £790 (+VAT) to RoSPA members (see RoSPA contact details, p.37). Another week long course run by RoSPA is the City & Guilds ‘Home Safety Auditors’, for those involved with home safety audits or home safety checks. RoSPA may also be willing to provide you with training for up to 20 people on your own site. Leeds Metropolitan University LMU are currently running a single module entitled ‘Unintentional Injury Prevention’, held at Queen’s Square House, Woodhouse Lane. The module, which may run for some time, is worth 10 credit points at Masters Level. Funded places may be available for those working in health. For further information contact Clare Page on 0113 283 1911. 29 Publicity Publicising your scheme using posters, leaflets or newsletters will allow local people to become aware that your scheme exists. Publicity materials can be distributed to health centres, parent and baby groups and other local services in order to promote your scheme and to raise awareness of safety in the home. You could also try talking to parents about the advantages of installing safety equipment and encourage them to share their experiences of accidental injuries. This could involve demonstrating how safety items should be used and explaining the ways in which different safety items can help prevent a home injury. You could also write a news release to publicise your scheme through the local media. It has been known that retailers or suppliers of home safety equipment donate equipment in return for publicity. This may involve displaying the retailers’ logo on your application forms, or on safety equipment, etc. However, this should be discussed with your suppliers and those funding your scheme. Another good way of raising awareness of your scheme is holding a launch day. This could involve inviting parents, the local community and those who may be included in your scheme to a promotional day. If the funding you have available can stretch you could provide refreshments or lunch to encourage attendance. During the launch you can inform parents what the scheme involves and how they can apply to the scheme. You could even supply application forms on the day. An event like this can increase uptake of the scheme and can give you the opportunity to promote safety in the home. Equipment can be displayed for parents to view. Depending upon your target groups’ needs you may require an interpreter. 30 Evaluation As with any project, the planning stage of your scheme is important. If you follow the stages we have provided there should be little left to chance with regard to problems or complications throughout the course of your scheme. When planning your scheme you must set clear, well-defined objectives or outcome measures to evaluate how effective it is. Your evaluation is about establishing what you are doing and will help you decide whether or not you have achieved your objectives. This will allow you to show others e.g. funding bodies, how you are doing. Make sure that you record adequate information as you go along and keep sufficient data in order to evaluate later on in the project. Monitoring your scheme to ascertain it’s affects and success is important. It is a way of learning from successes and mistakes as well as giving you the right information to seek future funding. Your approach to monitoring and evaluating will vary depending on your schemes’ aims and objectives, however, you can evaluate your scheme by focusing on the following: • Amount of interest shown from health visitors, parents, etc • Number of referrals • Number of applications • Equipment being used • Positive or negative feedback from social workers, parents, etc • Equipment being returned at end of loan period • Number of injuries occurring amongst children under 5 Years • Accident & Emergency attendance or admittance (requires co-operation from A & E departments) • Number of parents who aren’t accessing the scheme & why 31 Feedback can be obtained through questionnaires, interviews, feedback sheets, workshops or focus group discussions. CAPT have identified the following factors for successful evaluation: • Set realistic, measurable aims • Build in the evaluation from the start • Evaluate the process as well as the outcome • Set a timetable for the evaluation • Use your evaluation for future work Remember evaluating should be an on-going part of planning and developing, rather than an afterthought. For more help with your evaluation see Useful Resources (p.41). 32 Conclusion Delivering a home safety equipment scheme may seem like a daunting task. However, schemes are crucial in addressing accidental injuries within the home. Setting up a scheme can be made easier by deciding on components of the scheme such as payments, storage, fitting and delivery. The summary tables on the following pages should help you identify the main advantages and disadvantages of different schemes. Parents, carers and community groups need to be aware of safety issues, the importance of health and safety products and their role in reducing accidental injuries. Those most at risk from accidental injuries also need to have access to and information on home safety equipment schemes. By publicising your scheme, using posters, local media or through newsletters, local people will become aware that you exist. Publicity materials can be distributed to health centres, parent and baby groups and other local services in order to promote both your scheme and safety in the home. For further advice, information and support we have provided contact details for relevant individuals and organisations with expertise in home safety and accidental injury prevention. We have also provided you with a checklist to enable you to see what shape the scheme takes that most suits the aims and capacities of your group or organisation. If you are planning to set up a home safety equipment scheme or have already done so and you wish to add information please send us your comments using the section provided in Appendix 8 (p.53). 33 Loan Scheme Summary Advantages • Parents can keep in contact with the scheme • Renewing loan agreement, etc, gives opportunity to offer parents information, advice and support • Cost to families can be low (or no cost) Disadvantages • Start up and administration costs • Need to record details of all loaned equipment and keep track of loan renewal dates • Limited stock to loan • Loan charges can purchase further equipment • Few items of equipment may be returned. Items that are returned may not be re-usable • Opportunity to sell small items of equipment to help sustain scheme • Returned equipment must be cleaned, checked, repaired, etc • Equipment can be used by many people e.g. passed on to friends, family members, neighbours • Scheme may be liable for any advice, service, or equipment it provides • Parents may approach scheme with any problems they are experiencing • Requires storage (cost, availability, convenience, theft, etc) • Often requires fitting service due to liability issues Low Cost Scheme Summary Advantages • Parents can purchase equipment cheaper than from a retailer • Opportunity to offer range of payment methods; one large payment, no payment, instalments or sliding scale • Ownership of equipment is passed on to the parent following initial purchase • Parents can do as they choose once they own equipment • Reduces risk of liability (unless a fitting service is provided) • Potentially unlimited stock • Opportunity to reach many families, as scheme costs can be low Disadvantages • Scheme not always self financing • Start up and administration costs • Parents cannot always afford to contribute • Costs may need to be subsidised • Parents may have little contact with the scheme (does not give the opportunity to address parents’ concerns) • Requires storage facilities (cost, availability, convenience, theft, etc) • Often requires delivery service • Equipment may be sold on (may need to regularly check that this is not occurring) • Equipment may not be installed correctly, or at all, where a fitting service is not provided 34 Voucher Scheme Summary Advantages Disadvantages • Start up costs are minimal (printing vouchers, etc) • More suited to parents with their own transport • Administration duties are minimal • Parents may be expected to contribute • Does not require storage • Parents do not always collect their equipment • Does not require delivery service • Reduces risk of liability • Manufacturer is responsible for equipment, rather than the scheme • Parents are involved in the purchasing process • Parents feel empowered and responsible for their child’s safety • Vouchers are relatively easy to produce • Costs may need to be subsidised • Retailer may take a long time to redeem the money • Parents may attempt to return equipment for a refund • Possibility vouchers may be copied • May need to keep track of who has/hasn’t collected equipment • Parents might not fit their own equipment once it has been collected (may need to check this) 35 References 1 UNICEF (2001) A league table of child deaths by injury in rich nations Florence, Italy, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre pp. 1-28. 2 HASS (1998) The role of parental supervision and accidents in the home London, Consumer Affairs Directorate, Department of Trade & Industry 3 Towner. E & Ward. H (1998) Prevention of injuries to children and young people Injury Prevention Vol. 4 (Suppl) S17–S25 4 Health Links (1999) The prevention of unintentional injury in children and young people: a literature review Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, & Wirral & West Cheshire Community NHS Trust, Merseyside, Health Links 5 DOH (Department of Health) (1993) The Health of the Nation London, HMSO 6 DTI (1991) Child safety equipment for use in the home London, Consumer Safety Unit 7 HEA (Health Education Authority) (1992) Play it Safe London, HEA 8 RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) (2002) Can the home ever be safe?: the need to improve safety in the built environment of homes and gardens Birmingham, RoSPA 9 CAPT (Child Accident Prevention Trust) (2000) Safety equipment schemes: guidelines for practitioners London, CAPT 36 Contacts It is often helpful to speak to individuals who are already running a scheme. Kid Rapt are able to put you in touch with schemes similar to your own. Call Carol or Penny for more more info (see contacts, p.37). Kid Rapt Ltd provide home safety equipment to many loan schemes, local authorities and health authorities (see Equipment Suppliers, p.40). If you have internet access go to; www.ChildSafety.co.uk From this site you can select ‘Links’ that takes you to contact details for a range of organisations: • RoSPA Home Safety • British Standards Institute (BSI) • Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) • Health & Safety Executive (HSE) • Institute of Home Safety* *Select this, then click on ‘Safety Links’. This allows you to select any of the following organisations: • DTI Home Safety Network • Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) • Department of Health (DoH) The ‘Home Safety Index’ option takes you to a list of leaflets and other resources produced by various organisations on a range of home safety issues e.g. Stay Safe at Home and Too Hot to Handle: are your children safe in the kitchen? 37 Useful Contacts Care and Repair 323 Roundhay Road Leeds LS8 4HT t. 0113 240 6009 f. 0113 249 3349 email: [email protected] www.care-repairleeds.org.uk Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) 4th Floor, 18-20 Farringdon Lane London EC1R 3HA t. 0207 608 3828 f. 0207 608 3674 www.capt.org.uk email: [email protected] Department of Health (DoH) Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SW1A 2NS t. 0207 210 4850 email: [email protected] www.doh.gov.uk/ DTI & Home Safety Network DTI Enquiry Unit 1 Victoria Street London SW1H OET t. 0207 215 5000 email: [email protected] www.dti.gov.uk/index Leeds Voice Suit 56 Concourse House 432 Dewsbury Road LS11 7DF t. 0113 277 2227 f. 0113 276 2960 email: [email protected] www.leedsvoice.org.uk Public Health Resource Library Suites 2, 3 & 8 Armley Park Court Stanningley Road LS12 2AE t. 0113 295 3080 f. 0113 295 3086 email:[email protected] Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Edgbaston Park 353 Bristol Road Birmingham B5 7ST t. 0121 248 2001 f. 0121 248 2001 email: [email protected] www.rospa.com Sure Start Beeston Hill 246-252 Dewsbury Road Beeston Leeds LS11 6HQ t. 0113 270 2288 email: [email protected] Sure Start Bramley 28-32 Elder Road Bramley Leeds LS13 4DL t. 0113 255 7755 email: [email protected] 38 Sure Start Burley The Cardigan Centre 145-149 Cardigan Road Burley Leeds LS6 1LJ t. 0113 289 9805 email: [email protected] Sure Start Chapeltown 6-8 Avenue Hill Chapeltown Leeds LS8 4EY t. 0113 295 1796 Sure Start Harehills Unit 21 Unity Business Park 26 Roundhay Road Leeds LS7 1AB t. 0113 295 1595 email: [email protected] Sure Start Little London Woodhouse Health Centre Woodhouse Street Leeds LS6 2NS t. 0113 245 8480 Sure Start Middleton Middleton Clinic Acre Close Middleton Leeds LS10 4HT t. 0113 276 2386 email: [email protected] Sure Start Seacroft East Leeds Family Learning Centre Brooklands View Leeds LS14 6SA t. 0113 224 3461 email: [email protected] Voluntary Action Leeds Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Hunslet LS10 2QW t. 0113 297 7920 Ext. 207 email: [email protected] www.val.org.uk Free Resources A Child’s Safety is Worth Every Penny: Particularly when it comes to in-car safety & A Child’s Safety is Worth Every Penny: Is ‘Nearly New’ Good Enough? Baby Products Association (BPA) Freepost ANG 5097 Vicarage Road Pitstone Bedfordshire LU7 9ZZ t. 01296 660 990 email your order: [email protected] Funding Information Government Office Yorkshire & Humber PO Box 213 City House New Station Street Leeds LS1 4US t. 0113 280 0600 email: [email protected] www.goyh.gov.uk/ 39 Neighbourhood Renewal Unit Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 3rd Floor, C/5 Eland House , Bressenden Place London SW1E 5DU t. 08450 828 383 email: [email protected] UK Community Grants Directory http://www.have.org.uk/assets/AZ_of_UK_Government_Grants.htm (Sign up to Grants Online) www.grantsonline.org.uk Voluntary Action Leeds’ Library t. 0113 297 7920 email: [email protected] Funding Available in Leeds • Leeds Special Grants Programme • Community Grants for Healthy Living (HAZ) You can also contact your Primary Care Trust: Leeds Public Health Network North West t. 0113 305 South PCT t. 0113 305 East PCT t. 0113 305 West PCT t. 0113 305 North East PCT t. 0113 305 7120 9666 9521 9400 9763 Equipment Suppliers We have provided contact details for a number of equipment suppliers. This is not an exhaustive list. Argos Leeds Crown Point Unit 1, Crown Point Retail Park Junction Street Leeds LS10 1ET t. 0113 245 6153 www.argos.co.uk • Leeds Community Chest Grant • Leeds Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting Strategy 2001-2011 To apply for any of the funding listed, request an application form from: Leeds City Council Joint Planning Support Unit Social Services Department 2nd Floor East Merrion House 110 Merrion House Leeds LS2 8QB t. 0113 247 7396 f. 0113 247 7779 email: [email protected] Bettacare Ltd 9-19 Faygate Business Centre Faygate West Sussex RH12 4DN Tel. 7 fax. 01293 851 896 email. [email protected] www.bettacare.co.uk/ Ikea Holden Ing Way Birstall Batley WF17 9AE t. 0845 355 2261 www.ikea.co.uk/ 40 Index Units 15/16/17 St Johns Centre Leeds LS2 8LQ t. 0870 163 4842 4 White Rose Shopping Centre Leeds LS11 8LU t. 0113 277 1992 www.littlewoods-index.com Kid Rapt 56 Barton Road Luton, Beds LU3 2AG t. & f. 01582 493 382 email: [email protected] www.ChildSafety.co.uk Mothercare Crown Point Retail Park Junction Street Leeds LS10 1EW t. 0113 244 0555 www.mothercare.com RoSPA Products & Services - To obtain a catalogue see ‘RoSPA’ Toys R Us Gelderd Road, Birstall Batley WF17 9XG t. 01924 420 556 www.toysrus.co.uk/ Safety Standards Trading Standards PO Box 5 Nepshaw Lane South Morley Leeds LS27 0QP t. 0113 253 0241 f. 0113 253 0311 email: [email protected] www.ts.wyjs.org.uk/index1.htm Useful Resources Child Accident Prevention Trust (Booklet) CAPT (2000) Safety Equipment Schemes: Guidelines for Practitioners CAPT, London Child Accident Prevention Trust (Booklet) CAPT (2000) Home Safety Checks: A Guide, CAPT, London Health Action Zone (Resource Pack) HAZ (2002) Evaluation Toolkit: A practical guide to project evaluation, HAZ, Leeds www.haznet.org.uk/hazs/hazmap/l eeds_eval- rpt.jul02.pdf To obtain a copy of this contact the Public Health Resource Centre (see Useful Contacts, p.38). Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) DTI Enquiry Unit 1 Victoria Street London SW1H OET t. 020 7215 5000 email: [email protected] www.dti.gov.uk 41 Appendix 1 Checklist Your Home Safety Equipment Scheme - A Summary You can follow this as your scheme develops to help ensure you have covered all aspects of your home safety equipment scheme. 1. Partners 2. Payment Who will be involved? Will you loan equipment? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Free of charge " Parents pay a deposit " Parents pay a small fee " ...................................................................... Will you provide equipment? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Who will you seek advice from? Free of charge " At reduced/subsidised cost " At cost price " Will you give parents vouchers? To purchase equipment " ...................................................................... To contribute to purchase " ...................................................................... To get equipment fitted " ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Which retailers can parents go to? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Will you use a sliding scale so that parents from different circumstances pay different amounts for equipment? Yes " No " 42 3. Services Seeking support with fundraising " From whom? What services will you provide? Delivery " Fitting " Maintenance " Home safety check " Home safety advice " Safety education e.g. leaflets " Other " ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... 5. Target Group & Boundaries ...................................................................... Where will your target area be? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Defined geographically: " By postcode " By Sure Start area " Other " ...................................................................... Who will your target group be? 4. Finance Particular groups: " Low income " defined by evidence of: How will you fund your scheme? Income support " Unemployment " Funding is already provided " Ethnic Minorities " Seeking funding " Other " Where from? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Seeking advice on fundraising " From whom? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Will you provide any services to those who do not meet your criteria for inclusion? Provide discounted equipment " Provide equipment at cost price " Provide a delivery service " Provide a fitting service " Offer advice " 43 Depends on request " ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Will you buy equipment by item? " Will you buy equipment in bulk? " Will this reduce the cost of each item? " ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... 6. Purchasing Equipment 7. Storage What equipment will you provide? Will you need to store equipment? " ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Storage is already available " Storage needs to be arranged " Storage space is secure " Storage is covered by ...................................................................... insurance ...................................................................... Location of storage: ...................................................................... " ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Who will supply this equipment? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... 8. Fitting ...................................................................... Will you provide a fitting service? What is the cost of each item? " Fitting all equipment " Fitting selected items " £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... £ .................................................................... ...................................................................... 44 Full-time fitter to be employed " Part-time fitter to be employed " Contract/Session worker " Volunteer fitter " Fitting equipment yourselves " Advertise " Arrange salary " What are the needs of the fitter? Fitter will collect and deliver " Delivery only " Only deliver to point of storage " Only deliver to parents’ homes " Have you: Sought legal advice " Prepared a disclaimer " Sought insurance cover " Child injury prevention training " Health and safety training " Safety equipment training " General fitting training " Police check " Will you provide a maintenance service to Provide tools " check and repair safety equipment? " Insurance " Other Needs ...................................................................... ...................................................................... 10. Maintenance Check/repair loaned equipment " Check/repair fitted equipment " Check/repair returned equipment " Check/repair any safety items that are to be re-loaned/re-issued " ...................................................................... What is the role of the fitter? To fit all home safety equipment " To fit selected safety items 11. Education " Will you provide information? ...................................................................... ...................................................................... " Safety equipment " Current safety standards " Correct installation of equipment " ...................................................................... Correct use of equipment " To check or measure house first " Child development " To advise parents on fitting " Second hand equipment " Supervision " Home safety check " To advise parents on correct use " 9. Delivery Will you provide a delivery service? " 45 12. Referral 15. Costs Who will refer parents to the scheme? Have you calculated the following costs? ...................................................................... Administration ...................................................................... ...................................................................... Créche for steering group £............ Educational materials £............ ...................................................................... Equipment and ...................................................................... parts (P&P) ...................................................................... 13. Publicity £............ £............ Hospitality e.g. refreshments £............ Insurance £............ Legal advice £............ Maintenance of How will you publicise your scheme? Leaflets " Newsletters " Launch event " Advertise locally " Where? equipment £............ Police Checks £............ Publicity £............ Recruitment £............ Rent (Office space, Storage) £............ Salaries £............ Tools £............ Training £............ Transport £............ Volunteer expenses £............ Other £............ TOTAL COSTS £............ ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... 14. Evaluation How will you evaluate your scheme? What are the outcome measures? e.g. the number of safety items distributed ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ...................................................................... 46 Appendix 2 Inclusion Criteria The majority of home safety equipment schemes follow strict inclusion criteria in order to target those most in need and to keep costs low. Criteria parents must meet to be referred to the scheme could include any or all of the following characteristics; • At least one child under 5 years • The child is known to have had an injury within the home • Known hazard within the home • The family do not own safety equipment • The family are on a low income or experiencing financial difficulties • Appropriate borough or known deprived area • Parenting problems e.g. marital breakdown, domestic violence, etc • Parent or child has special needs (emotional, social or disability) • Overcrowded or poor housing • House is in poor state of repair and family do not have resources to rectify • Unemployed or receiving benefits • Multiple occupancy accommodation Generally, parents are referred to the scheme once the referrer has identified that their child is at risk of an accidental injury within the home, whether that be a burn, scald or fall. 47 Appendix 3 Equipment Guide Ticks show where equipment should be in place to prevent a child from sustaining an injury within the home: Child’s Age (from) Birth - 3 months 4 months - 4 years Appliance Locks ✓ Coiled Kettle Flex ✓ Corner Cushion ✓ ✓ Cupboard Lock ✓ ✓ Door Jam ✓ ✓ Fireguard ✓ ✓ Lockable Container ✓ ✓ Match Container ✓ ✓ Oven Door Guard ✓ Safety Gate ✓ Safety Glass / Film ✓ Socket Cover ✓ Video Lock ✓ Window Locks ✓ ✓ Children develop at different paces. Due to this we have given an outline of the types of equipment that are most useful according to the child’s age. Although a four month old baby may not be particularly mobile, having items such as door jams or a fireguard in place early on will help parents provide a safe home environment before their child is at risk. However, some parents may want equipment installed in their homes earlier or later than outlined above. Parents should be aware that some items of equipment are not recommended once their child develops e.g. a child may learn to unscrew a safety gate or learn how to open it and access the stairs. 48 Appendix 4 Example of a Sliding Scale The home safety equipment scheme run by Sure Start Bramley, Leeds, follow a similar sliding scale. You can develop your own scale depending on your target group. Financial Situation Amount Payable / Discount Both parents working Full price Single parent / borderline for benefits £1 - £3 reduction Working families tax credit 20% discount Income Support - lone parent 50% discount Income Support - couple under 25 50% discount Income Support - couple over 25 40% discount 49 Appendix 5 Safety Items There are a number of items that you could provide, many of which are recommended by RoSPA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents): • Appliance locks • Car seats and restraints • Child resistant match containers • Choker testers • Coiled kettle/toaster flexes • Corner cushions • Cupboard locks • Door jams • Fire blankets • Fireguards • Garden pond mesh • Gas detectors • Lockable containers • Non-slip bath mats • Oven door guards • Playpens • Plug socket covers • Room thermometers • Safety gates and extensions • Safety glass • Safety glass film • Safety harnesses (prams & pushchairs) • Smoke alarms/detectors • Thermostatic mixer valves • Video locks • Window locks 50 Appendix 6 Example Referral Form You can adapt this referral form for your own needs. Discuss any forms with those involved in the scheme, particularly your referrer. Your form must comply with any legal obligations of the organisation from which you are running your scheme. You may need to include your funders’ logo. Client’s Details Name of Client: Address: Postcode: Telephone Number: Mobile: Equipment Details Equipment Required: 1 ................................................................ 2 ................................................................ 3 ................................................................ 4 ................................................................ Date of referral: / / Reason for Referral: Referrer’s Details Referrer’s Name: Organisation / Role: Telephone Number: Signed: ...................................................... Date: / Print Name: .............................................. / Please return completed form to the scheme co-ordinator 51 Appendix 7 Example Loan Agreement You can adapt this loan agreement for your own scheme. You should discuss any forms with those involved in the scheme, particularly your referrer. Your form must comply with any legal obligations of the organisation from which you are running your scheme. Client’s Details Name of Client: Address: Postcode: Telephone Number: Mobile: Details of Loaned Equipment 1 ............................................ Ref No .................................... Date Fitted: / / 2 ............................................ Ref No .................................... Date Fitted: / / 3 ............................................ Ref No .................................... Date Fitted: / / Equipment Fitted by: Equipment Supplied by: Date equipment will be fitted by: / / Client’s Declaration I understand that the items loaned to me under this agreement remain the property of ............... I have been shown how to use and maintain equipment correctly and I understand that equipment will be checked by ............... I understand that my child’s safety is my responsibility at all times. Signed: ...................................................... Print Name: .............................................. Scheme’s Declaration We undertake to loan the above items and to check them regularly. We have shown the client how to use and maintain the equipment and will offer any support or advice should they need it. Equipment has been fitted, as advised by the manufacturer’s instructions. A copy of the instructions has been given to the client. Signed: ...................................................... Date: / Print Name: .............................................. / 52 Appendix 8 Feedback We would welcome any feedback. Please use the space provided for any suggestions you may have. ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................................ 53 notes notes notes notes
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