As the Nursing Home Fire Safety Manager, you will be a focal point for all fire safety matters within the Nursing Home. The role does not necessitate the duty holder to possess fire safety competencies provided that they have sufficient access to competent fire safety advice from a Fire Safety Consultant. The course will enable you to fulfil your role competently and have suitable support structures in place. The Nursing Home Fire Safety Manager course will help management demonstrate compliance with Regulation 28 Fire Safety (HIQA) and the guidance contained within “Fire Safety Handbook a Guide for Providers and Staff of Designated Centres” published by HIQA in January 2021.

Our instructor will detail all the essential duties and roles of a Fire Safety Manager on this course. The roles and responsibilities of a Nursing Home Fire Safety Manager include but are not limited to;

• Compliance with legislation and ensuring that the centre is sufficiently prepared for emergencies
• The Fire Safety Policy & Strategy and the Internal Emergency Response Plan’s development and review in conjunction with the Registered Provider and Fire Safety Consultant
• Liaise with the Fire and rescue service, Deputy Fire Safety Managers and other Department Managers to inform them of the Internal Emergency Response Plan contents
• Implementation of the Fire Safety Policy & Strategy and the Internal Emergency Response Plan
• Have an awareness of all fire safety features within the centre and their purpose
• Requirements for staff and residents living with disabilities regarding their evacuation needs
• Ensure appropriate staff levels are available regardless of the time of day or night to implement the Internal Emergency Response Plan and consider fire safety requirements to ensure residents’ safety within the centre
• Ensure appropriate management levels are available to allow decisions to be made regardless of the time of day or night
• The implementation of a valid fire safety training programme
• Monitoring the inspection and maintenance of fire safety systems
• Monitoring and mitigating unwanted fire incidents and reporting fire incidents in line with best practice to the Registered Provider and HIQA
• Ensure fire procedures are brought to the attention of all staff, particularly new staff members
• Ensure that the Fire Safety Policy & Strategy and the Internal Emergency Response Plan is available to all staff working in the centre

In addition to management training, Phoenix STS is the only company authorised in Ireland to provide trainer-the-trainer courses on the full range of “Ski” evacuation products and the Elite Emergency Evacuation Chair.

In the day-to-day management of a Nursing Home, we know how important it is to have a streamlined Fire Safety, Health & Safety and Internal Emergency Management Plan in place to ensure residents and staff’s comfort, happiness, and safety. Our nursing home emergency management systems cover all aspects of fire safety, health & safety and emergency management, including training courses to ensure your staff have the necessary knowledge and equipment to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency. When it comes to safety, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.

We’re proud to offer a range of systems to cater to your nursing home’s specific needs.

Course Aims

• To provide training to individuals who intend to take on the role of Fire Safety Manager
• To enable the Fire Safety Manager to fulfil their role effectively
• To ensure as far as possible the safety of staff, residents and visitors
• To prevent a fire in the Nursing Home
• For staff to have the ability to evacuate residents safely in the event of a fire

Course Objectives

• To provide training to individuals who intend to take on the role of Fire Safety Manager or Deputy within a Designated Centre
• To enable the Fire Safety Manager or Deputy to fulfil their role effectively
• To manage fire safety within a Designated Centre
• The safety of staff, residents, visitors, and the prevention or effective reaction to a fire
• To ensure adequate fire safety procedures are in place and maintained

Who Should Attend This Course?

• Fire Safety Managers
• Registered Provider
• The Person in Charge
• Clinical Nurse Manager
• Staff Nurse
• Senior Care Assistant
• Maintenance Manager
• Health and Safety Manager
• Training, Quality, Accreditation and Risk Managers
• Human Resources Manager

Pre-Course Requirements

English is the language in which training is delivered, and learners must have fluency in English
Please let us know if learners have any specific learner requirements
The centre is required to provide suitable training areas in line with government guidelines on the management of covid-19

Course Programme

• Irish Fire and Safety Legislation
• Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (HIQA)
• HIQA Fire Compliance Inspection
• Emergency Management System and Fire Safety Audit
• Management Responsibilities and the Role of the Fire Safety Manager
• Staff Training and Record-Keeping
• Chemistry, Spread and Classes of fire
• Portable Fire Extinguishers and Fixed Firefighting Systems
• Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
• Fire Prevention and Fire Safety with Oxygen
• Compartmentation, Escape Routes and Fire Doors
• Fires Involving Clothing
• Emergency Procedures, Evacuation Types and Phases of Evacuation
• Nursing Home Fire Practice Drills
• Fire Safety Signs, Notices and Evacuation Floor Plans
• Action to Take in the Event of a Fire or on Hearing the Fire Alarm
• Assisting the Fire Brigade
• Selection of Appropriate Evacuation Aids

Your Tutor

Paddy McDonnell is the tutor delivering this program, Paddy is a Chartered Engineer, a member of the Institute of Industrial Engineering and Safety Management Systems (C.IIESMS C.Eng), a member of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (MIHEEM), the National Fire Protection Association (M.NFPA), the Institute of Fire Safety Managers (M.IFSM), the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers, the Irish Institute of Training & Development (MIITD), and a graduate member of the Institution of Fire Engineers (G.IFE), and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Grad. IOSH) and holds an H.Dip. SHWW in Occupational Safety and Health.

He is the current Chairperson of the Ireland Branch of the National Association of Healthcare Fire Officers. I previously have been the Chairperson of the Fire Risk Management Section of IOSH and have sat on the Irish Branch of the Institution of Fire Engineers. He has been a speaker at many events/conferences regarding fire safety management, fire safety risk assessments, audits and evacuation strategies.

Training Methods

PowerPoint presentations (the course can be provided by remote learning or face-to-face)
Question and answer sessions with workshops
A suitable training area in line with government guidelines on the management of covid-19

Assessment

Learners will be required to partake in the course workshops to be deemed competent to hold the role of a Fire Safety Manager

Certification

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive a Phoenix STS’s Nursing Home Fire Managers Certification
There is no set requirement, but it is recommended that refresher training be provided at intervals not more than every three years or where there is a change in work practices resulting in introducing a new fire safety system in the workplace
Please note as fire training is non-transferable unless delivered as a public course, this certificate is relevant to the centre in which the training was provided only
Maximum Number of Learners
To facilitate workshops and active engagement by all learners, the course is limited to a maximum of 16 learners

Duration

The programme is delivered over two days, either on-site for nursing home groups or remotely for individual centres