§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made to ensure that (a) the fire regulations and (b) the advice given to local authorities, relating to residential homes for able bodied elderly people, and for psycho-geriatric elderly people make adequate distinction between the right staffing levels needed for the two respective categories to deal with the possible fire emergencies.
§ Mr. John PattenThe National Assistance (Conduct of Homes) Regulations 1962 require managers of private and voluntary residential homes for the elderly and other dependent groups to take adequate precautions against the risk of fire having regard in particular to the mental and physical condition of the residents. The regulations empower local authorities acting as registration authorities to refuse to register, withdraw registration and/or institute proceedings for a failure to take such precautions.
Registering authorities in deciding upon the adequacy of fire precautions have regard to the recommendations of local fire authorities. Both they and the fire authorities also refer to the "Draft Guide to Fire Precautions in Existing Residential Care Premises" (published by the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department in January 1983). This guide, which applies to all residential care homes, stresses the importance of giving due consideration to staffing levels, the degree of staff supervision and the physical and mental capabilities of residents. General advice on staffing levels appropriate to the varying needs of different categories of dependent people is given in "Home Life", a code of practice for voluntary and privately run residential homes recently produced by an independent working party. (A copy is in the Library.) The Secretary of State for Social Services has asked local authorities to regard this code in the same light as general guidance under Section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970.