Recent prosecutions brought by the Health & Safety Executive and other regulators have underlined that lapses in basic safety and oversight can have devastating consequences for people who draw on care in all types of service (residential or homecare) and significant repercussions for providers.
The themes emerging from last year’s cases offer important learning for all adult social care services across the UK.
Several incidents involved avoidable harm where risks had either been underestimated, or controls were not sufficiently robust.
Themes we have noted across these prosecutions include:
- Care plans not covering the persons needs or behaviours
- Care plans not read / not accessible
- Reliance on generic risk assessments rather than taking a genuinely person‑centred approach.
- Failures have been highlighted in communication, education, supervision, and staffing arrangements.
Across these cases, what is most notable is the importance of staff competency and training, and the need for clear, good quality and accessible care plans which are well communicated to all staff.
Providers are also reminded of the emotional, operational, and financial toll that serious incidents carry, with fines in recent cases ranging from thousands to over a million pounds, alongside the immeasurable impact on people who draw on care services, families, and staff.
These prosecutions serve as a sobering reminder that compliance alone is not enough. Effective safety in care settings requires ongoing vigilance, personalised risk management and confident, well‑supported staff who understand the people they care for.
As services continue to face workforce pressures and increasing complexity, these fundamentals remain essential in keeping people safe. At HCPA we have a staff at the ready to guide you and if you would like to speak with us about any anxieties you may have, please call us and we can have a chat – We are here to support you: 01707 708108 / assistance@hcpa.co.uk