Aim of the course

This course aims to give care-home staff the knowledge required to prevent fires, recognise fire hazards and respond correctly when a fire alarm activates or a fire is discovered.

It helps learners understand the importance of raising the alarm, following the premises-specific evacuation strategy, supporting residents according to their individual needs, maintaining compartmentation and summoning the fire and rescue service without delay.

Scope of the course

The course is designed for care workers, healthcare assistants, nurses, support workers, domestic staff, catering teams, maintenance staff, administrative staff, agency workers and others working in residential or nursing care homes.

It provides awareness-level knowledge covering:

1. Fire prevention.
2. Fire detection and warning systems.
3. Fire doors and protected escape routes.
4. Staff responsibilities during an emergency.
5. Resident-specific evacuation arrangements.
6. Fire marshal awareness.
7. Fire extinguishing equipment awareness.
8. Fire drills, reporting and continuous improvement.

This course does not qualify learners to:

1. Complete a professional fire-risk assessment.
2. Act as a designated fire marshal or fire warden.
3. Use fire extinguishers without appropriate practical training.
4. Enter a smoke-filled or fire-affected area.
5. Carry out specialist evacuation techniques without training.
6. Maintain, inspect or repair fire-safety systems.

Designated fire marshals require additional premises-specific training. Staff must always follow the care home’s current fire-risk assessment, emergency plan, evacuation strategy and local procedures.

Topics covered

The course covers:

1. The meaning and importance of fire safety.
2. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
3. The role of the responsible person.
4. Employer and employee fire-safety responsibilities.
5. The fire triangle: heat, fuel and oxygen.
6. Common causes of fire in care homes.
7. Smoking and smoking-material risks.
8. Cooking, laundry and electrical hazards.
9. Candles, portable heaters and charging equipment.
10. Oxygen-enriched environments and medical oxygen.
11. Emollient-contaminated clothing, bedding and dressings.
12. Deliberate fire-setting and security awareness.
13. Good housekeeping and safe waste management.
14. Safe storage of flammable and combustible materials.
15. Fire detection, alarms and manual call points.
16. Immediate actions on discovering a fire.
17. Responding when the fire alarm activates.
18. Calling the fire and rescue service.
19. Fire doors, compartmentation and smoke control.
20. Why fire doors must not be wedged open.
21. Maintaining clear corridors, exits and escape routes.
22. Emergency lighting and fire-safety signage.
23. Simultaneous and phased evacuation awareness.
24. Progressive horizontal evacuation in care homes.
25. Individual evacuation needs and personal emergency evacuation planning.
26. Supporting residents with mobility, sensory or cognitive needs.
27. Evacuation aids and the need for practical training.
28. The role and limitations of fire marshals and wardens.
29. Safe room checks and closing doors.
30. Fire extinguishers and fire blankets.
31. When staff must not attempt to fight a fire.
32. Assembly, roll calls and communicating missing-person information.
33. Preventing unauthorised re-entry.
34. Fire drills and premises-specific training.
35. Reporting defects, hazards, false alarms and incidents.
36. Post-incident review and learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, learners should be able to:

1. Explain why fire safety requires specific planning in care homes.
2. Identify the three elements required for fire to develop.
3. Recognise common care-home fire hazards.
4. Describe practical measures that reduce the likelihood of fire.
5. Explain the risks associated with oxygen, smoking and emollient-contaminated fabrics.
6. Identify basic fire detection and warning arrangements.
7. State the immediate actions required when discovering a fire.
8. Explain how to raise the alarm and summon emergency assistance.
9. Follow the care home’s evacuation strategy.
10. Explain the purpose of progressive horizontal evacuation.
11. Recognise why residents require individual evacuation planning.
12. Support residents according to their mobility, communication and cognitive needs.
13. Explain how fire doors and compartmentation restrict smoke and fire spread.
14. Recognise why escape routes and fire doors must remain unobstructed.
15. Identify the general role of a fire marshal or warden.
16. Explain why staff must not enter a fire- or smoke-affected area.
17. Describe the limitations of portable fire extinguishers.
18. Recognise that firefighting must never delay evacuation or place staff at risk.
19. Explain when extinguisher use requires additional practical training.
20. Participate appropriately in fire drills.
21. Report damaged equipment, blocked exits and other fire-safety defects.
22. Describe the importance of roll calls and preventing re-entry.
23. Identify where to find premises-specific fire instructions and evacuation information.

In England, the principal legislation is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, as amended. The responsible person must maintain a suitable fire-risk assessment and appropriate precautions, emergency arrangements, staff information and training. GOV.UK provides further guidance on workplace fire-safety responsibilities.

Fire-safety legislation differs across the UK, so organisations outside England must apply the law and guidance relevant to their nation.