Fire Safety
Fire safety should always be of paramount concern. Youth work organisations should ensure that all workers, volunteers and young people are aware of fire safety and evacuation procedures relevant and specific to the venue, setting and activity.
Transport
Youth work organisations should give particular consideration to road transport safety. Travelling in various means of transport is likely to be one of the higher risk activities involved in the delivery of youth work services. This guidance focuses upon private hire and self-drive road transport and not other methods such as rail, air or ferry. Safety should always be considered when planning transport but other factors will also need consideration such as convenience, cost, health benefits (i.e. walking or cycling) and environmental impact (i.e. use of public transport). All national and local regulations must be adhered to at all times.
Equipment Safety
The information included within this resource applies to any equipment used during youth work activity, either by young people themselves or the workers who are with them. Information in this resource does not cover workers’ use of occupational work equipment. For example equipment used in office settings which young people do not have access to, or where a contracted third party may be operating machinery to set-up a site in advance of a youth programme i.e. to put up marquees or teepees.
Food Safety
All youth work organisations, regardless of the extent to which they prepare or supply food, should consider and apply principles of good food hygiene and safety. Some organisations may qualify as a ‘food business’ and be subject to the regulations of the food industry (see section below for more details), but all organisations should be mindful of hygiene and safety principles as part of their general health & safety responsibilities.
First Aid Provision
A first aid needs assessment should be conducted by youth work organisations to ascertain the first aid arrangements required for the programme as a whole or for each activity. When undertaking a first aid needs assessment the following considerations should be taken into account:
Supporting Individual Needs
It is essential that youth work organisations understand the individual support needs of all individuals participating in programmes or accessing services in advance, including young people and workers. Organisations should carefully review all information received from young people prior to a programme (i.e. application forms or similar), and pay particular note to any pre-existing conditions or accessibility requirements that have been disclosed.
Medication
Youth work organisations should ensure that they have a policy and procedures in place for managing young people’s personal medication, and ensure that policies take into account the full range of activities and services that may be provided. This may include residential programmes, instances of remote supervision, programmes overseas, or in remote areas where access to professional medical provision may be delayed and/or contact with parents/guardians may not be immediate.
Supervision
Supervision can be provided directly, indirectly (within clear boundaries) or remotely. Workers should always ensure that arrangements are appropriate for the needs and capabilities of the group and that associated risks have been taken into account.
Welfare
All health and safety processes included in this document apply equally to both workers as well as young people. Along with health and safety, welfare is a core part of an employer’s duty to workers as well as young people.
Safeguarding for Youth Work
This document outlines safeguarding policy and procedures for the protection of children and young people at risk. Every organisation and its individual staff members have a duty of care to ensure the protection of the young people they are working with, from unnecessary risk and/or harm.