The QCS Podcast

Consent is a key part to bespoke, person–centred care delivery, without it, you simply aren’t providing a person-centred service. That said, consent is not always a straightforward process, there are other factors such as Mental Capacity to consider.

Evidencing consent

• For our service users
• How can we support staff to ensure that consent to care/support happens?
• What can providers do to monitor the evidence of consent?

This month Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Head of Health and Safety at AfterAthena, embarks on the journey that is ESG - Environmental, Social and Governance.  We can say it is a collective term for an organisation’s impact on the environment and society as well as how the organisation is governed in terms of leadership, pay, audits and internal control and processes. 

This episode looks at the upcoming changes to the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 which is due to come into force in Summer 2024. 

This episode looks specifically at moving and handling operations, as well as: 

• Hierarchy of control and how employers can reduce the risk
• Importance of a moving and handling policy and risk assessments
• Lifting equipment 

This episode looks specifically at one of the new safe environments quality statements under the key question of safe. 

• Recap of the Acts and how they have changed
• Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 

This episode looks at the term Reasonably Practicable, what it means and Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and reasonably practicable.

This month, Head of Health and Safety at AfterAthena, Neil Hughes‑Hutchings, looks at updated guidance on fire safety responsibilities under section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, which come into force from 1st October 2023. 

This episode looks specifically at one of the new safe environments quality statements under the key question of safe. 

This episode looks specifically at the importance of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans or PEEPs and the recommendations under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. 

This episode explores temperature in the workplace, looking specifically at thermal comfort and what the law states about temperatures in the workplace. There are also tips for keeping cool and reasonable adjustments that can be considered.

The next in our difficult conversations series, this episode explores what to do when an employee is underperforming, including the use of personal improvement plans and the formal stages of the capability procedure. 

This episode explores workplace violence, particularly the warning signs to look out for and how to prevent and reduce the risk of workplace violence occurring. It's important that employees are also provided with the right information and training to support them should they encounter workplace violence firsthand.

In this month's health and safety podcast, Neil Hughes-Hutchings looks specifically at powered transporters, most specifically e-scooters and e-bikes which are the most common form, and explores the legislation surrounding these modes of transport. These considerations should be taken on board should you manage or own these new modes of transport.

In this month's health and safety podcast, Neil Hughes-Hutchings discusses the different types of active monitoring, audits, safety inspections, safety surveys, safety tours and sampling. These types of active monitoring will help you to identify compliance with standards, so that you can recognise good performance and ensure it is maintained. It may also identify non-compliance and will allow you to put corrective actions in place to rectify the situation and prevent recurrence. 

This month, Sarah Baker, Apprentice Solicitor at Napthens, discusses the decision around why the menopause will not be considered a protected characteristic by Government, what perimenopause and the menopause are and the symptoms.

If you are a care home provider or care sector organisation, icy surfaces on your premises can also present a hazard to members of the public/visitors who enter your premises. The general duties under section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, poses a duty to manage all hazards in the workplace (this would include snow and ice), and section 3 of the same Act, poses a general duty to non-employees, as long as they are part of our undertaking. 

This month, Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Head of Napthens Health and Safety,  discusses what you might expect if an HSE inspector visits your organisation, the powers they have and the different types of notices, letters or advice they may give you.

This episode gives an overview of what neurodiversity is and how HR can support with neurodiversity in the workplace.

We will discuss:

• People who identify themselves as neurodivergent typically have one or more of the conditions or disorders such as autism, ADHD, epilepsy, dyslexia, OCD, Tourette syndrome or an acquired neurodivergence (i.e., through incidence or brain trauma)
• In terms of the workplace, to be seen as ‘inclusive’, an employer needs to make an effort to celebrate neurodiversity while taking steps to accommodate the specific challenges that neurodiverse individuals may face. If an employer refuses to adapt processes with neurodivergent individuals in mind, they actually risk missing out on top talent
• Top tips to support people who are neurodiverse in the workplace 

This month,  Neil Hughes-Hutchings senior Health and Safety Consultant at Napthens Health and Safety is going to guide you through one of the health and safety terms that crop up on many occasions, and that is competence. 

Neil will talk you through what competence is and why it is important to identify the competencies needed for the different job roles within your organisation. 

In this podcast you will get an overview of what High Functioning Anxiety is, the common symptoms, possible causes and ways in which someone suffering with anxiety can get help and treatment.