HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
1. Policy Statement
AMBIT Youth Ltd is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and well-managed environment for all children, young people, staff, volunteers, families and visitors involved in our services.
We recognise that health and safety is fundamental to effective youth work and that children and young people should be able to participate in activities that are enjoyable, engaging and appropriately challenging without being exposed to unnecessary risks.
This policy sets out how AMBIT Youth Ltd identifies, assesses and manages health and safety risks across its programmes, including holiday activity and food (HAF) camps, SEND-exclusive provision, school-based workshops, mentoring, sports activities, community programmes, off-site visits and any future commissioned services.
We recognise that different activities and groups may require different levels of supervision, planning and support. Our approach is therefore based on assessing the needs of the individuals attending, the environment, the activities being delivered and the competence of the staff involved.
AMBIT Youth Ltd will take all reasonably practicable steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of those involved in its services while promoting independence, confidence and positive experiences for children and young people.
Health and safety is a shared responsibility and must remain an active part of daily planning, staff communication, risk assessment and programme delivery.
2. Legal Framework
AMBIT Youth Ltd will operate in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013, the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.
The organisation will also have regard to relevant requirements relating to first aid, manual handling, hazardous substances, equality, safeguarding and the safe transport of children and young people.
Where services are delivered within schools, community venues or other hired premises, AMBIT Youth Ltd will work with the venue operator to understand the relevant safety arrangements and clarify responsibilities.
Where a commissioning organisation has additional health and safety requirements, these will be considered and incorporated into service planning before delivery begins.
3. Responsibilities for Health and Safety
The Service Delivery Manager holds overall responsibility for overseeing health and safety arrangements across AMBIT Youth Ltd.
This includes ensuring that appropriate risk assessments are completed, operational procedures are reviewed, staff understand their responsibilities and significant health and safety concerns are addressed.
The Service Delivery Manager is also responsible for overseeing serious incident investigations, monitoring recurring concerns and ensuring that lessons learned inform future delivery.
The Site Leader is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of health and safety procedures at each delivery location.
This includes completing daily site checks, confirming staffing arrangements, briefing staff, monitoring activities, responding to hazards and ensuring that accidents or incidents are appropriately recorded.
All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others.
They must follow organisational procedures, use equipment correctly, report hazards promptly and cooperate with any necessary investigations or safety improvements.
Staff must never continue an activity where they reasonably believe that an immediate and unacceptable risk exists.
4. Risk Assessments and Safe Programme Planning
AMBIT Youth Ltd will complete appropriate risk assessments before delivering activities.
Risk assessments will consider the location, activity, equipment, staffing arrangements, age of participants, individual support needs and potential hazards.
Where relevant, assessments will also consider medical conditions, allergies, disabilities, SEND requirements, communication difficulties, sensory needs, behaviour-related risks and emergency evacuation arrangements.
Additional assessments may be required for individual children or young people where their circumstances present specific risks or require additional support.
The purpose of an individual risk assessment is not to exclude a child from participation but to identify practical adjustments that enable safe and meaningful involvement.
Risk assessments will be reviewed when circumstances change, including changes to staffing, activities, venues, participant needs or emerging safety concerns.
Staff will be informed of relevant control measures before activities begin.
Where risks cannot be reduced to an acceptable level, the activity must be adapted, postponed or cancelled.
5. Daily Site Checks and Venue Safety
Before children and young people arrive, the Site Leader or designated member of staff will carry out a visual inspection of the premises and activity areas.
This will include checking entrances, exits, toilets, corridors, indoor activity spaces, outdoor areas, equipment, fire exits and any other areas intended for use.
Particular attention will be given to trip hazards, damaged equipment, unsafe surfaces, unsecured access points, cleaning materials and potential hazards within playgrounds or sports areas.
Any hazards identified must be addressed before the relevant area is used. Where immediate action is not possible, the area or equipment must be restricted from use and the concern reported to the appropriate person.
Where AMBIT Youth Ltd hires premises, staff will communicate relevant concerns to the venue operator and agree appropriate remedial action.
At the beginning of each programme, children and young people will be introduced to the setting, including toilets, activity boundaries, emergency exits and how to seek help from staff.
6. Staffing, Supervision and Safe Handover
AMBIT Youth Ltd will establish staffing and supervision arrangements based on the number and age of participants, the activities being delivered, the environment and the individual needs of children and young people.
Additional supervision will be provided where risk assessments identify a need, including for children requiring individual SEND support or assistance with communication, mobility or emotional regulation.
Staff must maintain appropriate supervision during activities, transitions, mealtimes, outdoor play and off-site visits.
Children must not be left without suitable supervision, and arrangements must be made to maintain adequate cover during staff breaks or unexpected absences.
Daily attendance registers will be maintained to record arrivals and departures.
Parents and carers will be required to provide relevant emergency contact and authorised collection information.
Children must only be released in accordance with agreed collection arrangements, unless an appropriate alternative has been confirmed and authorised.
Where a child is not collected at the expected time, staff will follow the late collection procedure and maintain supervision until a safe arrangement is established.
Any concerns involving an unauthorised collection attempt, missing child or unexplained absence must be escalated promptly in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
7. SEND, Medical Needs and Reasonable Adjustments
AMBIT Youth Ltd is committed to making reasonable adjustments so that children and young people with additional needs or disabilities can participate safely and confidently.
Before attendance, relevant information will be gathered from parents and carers to understand the individual's needs, communication preferences, medical requirements, sensory sensitivities and any known risks.
Where appropriate, an individual support plan or risk assessment will be developed to identify suitable staffing arrangements, environmental adjustments and agreed
Last Review Date: September 2026