The Willows is committed to providing and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all young people, staff, volunteers, and visitors. We will take all reasonably practicable steps to meet our duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and associated regulations.

Nicola Bevan holds overall responsibility for health and safety at The Willows. This includes:

• Ensuring the premises and equipment are safe and fit for purpose.
• Completing and reviewing risk assessments for all activities.
• Ensuring all staff are appropriately trained.
• Maintaining a current first aid kit and ensuring at least one person with a valid first aid certificate is present during all sessions.
• Reporting and recording all accidents and near misses.

The Willows operates across 4.5 acres including the stable yard, converted stable, garden patch, orchard, and woodland area. The following checks are carried out routinely:

• Daily visual inspection of all areas used during sessions.
• Regular checks of fencing, gates, and secure boundaries.
• Seasonal checks for hazards such as fallen branches, wet or uneven ground, and low-light conditions.
• Regular maintenance of the stable and outbuildings.

A fully stocked first aid kit is kept in the stable and is checked and replenished regularly. The lead practitioner holds a current first aid certificate. All accidents requiring first aid treatment are recorded in the accident log on the day they occur.

In the event of a serious injury, 999 will be called immediately. Parents or carers will be notified without delay.

The Willows has a fire safety procedure in place. This includes:

• A clearly identified fire assembly point.
• Fire extinguishers checked annually.
• All staff briefed on evacuation procedures at induction.
• Young people are made aware of the assembly point at the start of their placement.

All animal interactions are supervised at all times. Specific hygiene procedures are in place for all animal contact:

• Handwashing with soap and water after all animal contact.
• No food to be consumed in the stable yard or animal areas.
• Any animal showing signs of illness is kept away from young people until assessed by a vet.
• Young people with known allergies or phobias are risk assessed individually before animal contact takes place.

Food and drink offered during a session are managed with care to support young people's wellbeing and safety.

• All food allergies and dietary requirements are recorded and checked before food or drink is offered.
• Hands are washed before eating or drinking, especially following animal contact.
• Food and drink are not consumed in the stable yard or animal areas.
• Young people are supported to drink water regularly throughout their session.

Where a young person requires medication during a session, written consent and clear instructions must be provided by the parent or carer in advance. Medication is stored securely and administered only in accordance with the written instructions provided. All medication administration is recorded.

All accidents, incidents, and near misses are recorded in the accident log on the day they occur. Serious incidents are reported to the relevant authority in line with RIDDOR where applicable. Parents and carers are informed of any accident involving their child on the same day.

This policy is reviewed annually or following any significant incident or change in legislation. Next review: July 2027.