Service Description

Safety and Emergency Planning is a centrally funded statutory service and does not hard charge any Merton maintained, voluntary aided or Voluntary controlled schools. This service level agreement confirms the service schools receive.  

The council's Safety Services Team provides a professional safety and emergency planning advisory service to all maintained schools within the London Borough of Merton. This service assists schools in complying with their duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and all related statutory regulations.  

Services provided

  • General advice and guidance on all work related health and safety matters under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In addition the team will advise on matters relating to the councils responsibility under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. 
  • Assist school management teams in the development of local policies and arrangements to meet London Borough of Merton corporate policies and prescribed guidance. This is carried out in accordance with government guidance HSG(65) Managing for Health and Safety. 
  • Provide support to schools in using the Council's online accident and incident reporting system (note we are not responsible for IT provision or internet access issues). Statistical information can be provided to leadership teams on request. 
  • Assist the School management team to undertake investigations into the more serious accidents, incidents or events on behalf of the authority under the authorisation of the Chief Executive and the Director of Children Schools & Families. 
  • Undertake planned audits of maintained, VA and VC schools including PFI and provide recommendations to Head Teachers and leadership teams on remedial actions required and timescales for completion.  
  • Provide generic health and safety training which is free to all maintained and community schools. Courses are published on the H&S pages on the Merton website. NOTE: Due to limited resources, we are unable to offer training at school sites. 
  • Providing advice and guidance on emergency planning and business continuity over the phone, by email or other written communication as per request. 
  • Support schools in developing their school critical incident and business continuity plans and provide assistance in exercising school plans. 

SLA pricing

This Service is free to all Community, PFI, VA and VC schools.  

External SLA Agreements, 

Due to reductions in resources, we are no longer able to offer Academy schools a buy back service.  

Further details

Provider's agreement 

  • Provide up to date professional advice and guidance in accordance with current legislation. 
  • Provide Advice to Head teachers and Staff on Health and Safety related matters. 
  • Advice and guidance to duty holders for development of local policies and procedures. 
  • Undertake the Inspection/audit of schools with a written advisory report. 
  • Advice and guidance on all aspects of accident and incident reporting, including formal reporting arrangements. 
  • Advice and guidance on construction related building work and projects from a client related safety and welfare perspective. 
  • Provide the Duty Holder with information relating to the control of Asbestos containing materials within the premises and advice on managing the associated risks.  

School's Responsibilities 

  • To provide the Safety & EP Team with accurate and timely information relating to the safety management of the school and compliance with legislation on request. 
  • Provide full access to all areas of the schools owned and managed premises, the staff and associated paper work in pursuance of the health and safety function. 
  • Allocate suitable time and resources to facilitate H&S audits and inspections. Ensuring availability of the duty holder for discussions on actions and outcomes. 
  • Provide the full cooperation of the Headteacher and staff in matters of health and safety or emergency planning. 
  • Adopt and fully comply with LBM corporate policies and procedures and any systems used to collate information in relation to compliance with policies or procedures. 
  • Report all Accidents on the Council's Online Accident reporting system. 
  • Act on information provided or received relating to Asbestos containing materials and put in place arrangements to manage known risks effectively. 
      

Contacts

If you require additional information please contact

  

Sarah Chittock 

Civil Contingencies Adviser 

Tel: 020 8545 3476 

Email: sarah.chittock@merton.gov.uk 

  

General Admin 

Facilities Management provide administration to Safety Services from a central team. Please contact: 

Tel: 020 8545 3388 

Email: fm.helpdesk@merton.gov.uk