Fire safety guidance - existing high rise domestic buildings and specialised housing and similar premises: impact and effectiveness

5. Research findings: Existing specialised housing and similar premises – Unpaid carers

As noted in Section 4, the Practical Fire Safety Guidance for Existing Specialised Housing and Similar Premises, while primarily for those who are responsible for specialised housing and similar premises, may also be useful for people living in general needs housing who receive a "care at home" service and for anyone involved with their care and well-being. It also contains a hyperlink to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's "Carers' Guide", which provides succinct advice in an easy to read form for vulnerable people and their families and carers.

This chapter summarises the views of the unpaid carers interviewed for the research, considering level of awareness, views on the usefulness of the fire safety guidance; and any gaps or weaknesses in it and potential areas for improvement. Participants were given a copy of the chapter on the person-centred risk assessment and the related appendices prior to the interview.

Appendix B contains a set of case studies drawn from the interviews that reflect the range of views and experience of the unpaid carers interviewed.

Chapter 5 - Key points

The unpaid carer participants were all unaware of the guidance prior to taking part in the research.

On reading the extract provided (person-centred FSRA and related annexes) all thought it extremely interesting and relevant to their situation.

Participants considered the document very professional and highly informative. However, they generally found it too long, technical and not aimed at the layperson.

All found the template fairly easy to understand, and felt that completing it with (or for) their relative would be a worthwhile exercise.

None of the carers interviewed had been aware of the fire safety guidance for person-centred FSRAs before being contacted for the interview.

All found the guidance extremely interesting and informative. Some mentioned that, while they were already alert to potential fire risks, the guidance had either reminded them to check these more thoroughly and/or had identified other risks that they should consider. Such additional issues included risks from emollient creams and the need for evacuation plans.

"Right, what does happen in the event of a fire? How is my dad getting out of this building? I hadn't really thought of it before, I hadn't thought of it really until I read this [the guidance] yesterday. That's obviously something I'm going to take up with them [sheltered housing staff]" – Depth interview, Unpaid carer

However, it would be fair to say, the unpaid carers impressions of the guidance were that it was a document intended for professionals not laypeople. This was a reasonable conclusion, as the guidance is primarily intended for housing and care providers.

"This is aimed more at professionals: you had to get through quite a few pages of text before it became clear that this also included me. If you're not an intuitive reader then you'd be turned off by it I would say. If you're just a home carer, as opposed to a paid professional." – Depth interview, Unpaid carer

That said, most felt they would be able to undertake the risk assessment for the person they care for: while the guidance document was a little wordy, the template itself was straightforward and made sense. They tended to feel they would be able to work through most of the sections fairly quickly, as most of the risk factors would not apply. But in some cases, these sections would be helpful in working out strategies for dealing with smoking indoors, overloaded adaptors, electric blankets, and emollient creams.

Most were bemused by the concept of developing an overall risk assessment or producing an action plan. Once the assessment had been completed, they would typically make a list of what they needed to do, and 'just do it'. One carer thought an action plan would be helpful, as it would provide a focus for all the family to work around in supporting their relative.

"Well that table couldn't be any simpler, could it? So, in that respect it's very good and it gives me the opportunity to engage other family members. Put a score in a box, so that you're sharing the burden of addressing the risk." - Depth interview, Unpaid carer

"I think that would be quite difficult [to assign a score] because someone's idea of it being a high risk is maybe totally different to someone else's idea of it being a high risk. If I was to say to my gran that is a really high risk, she would say oh no, I'm fine, it's not a risk." - Depth interview, Unpaid carer

Some did raise the issue of who should bear the responsibility of undertaking the assessment for people who do not have a carer. One carer, whose father lives in sheltered housing, was concerned that his father is at risk from fire in neighbouring properties.

"Well, myself, but I think it must also be aimed at people that take responsibility for running these types of sheltered housing, or the council. I think everyone's got to a play a part, because there's no use in my dad's house being safe if the person next door is going to set the whole place alight and my dad's not going to get out of the place." – Depth interview, Unpaid carer

Case studies from the Unpaid carer interviews are contained in Appendix B