Incident Reporting Policy
1. Purpose
Falcon Greencare is committed to ensuring all incidents, accidents, and near misses are reported, recorded, and managed effectively to protect service users, staff, and clients. This policy supports learning, improves safety, and ensures compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
- All employees, agency workers, and contractors
- Staff working in care homes, supported living, and other healthcare settings
3. Legal and Regulatory Framework
Falcon Greencare operates in accordance with:
- The Health and Social Care Act 2008
- The Care Quality Commission Fundamental Standards (Regulations 12 & 17)
- The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
4. Policy Statement
Falcon Greencare will:
- Encourage a culture of openness and transparency
- Ensure all incidents are reported promptly
- Investigate incidents fairly and proportionately
- Learn from incidents to improve care and safety
- Meet all legal and regulatory reporting requirements
5. Definition of an Incident
An incident includes:
- Accidents or injuries
- Near misses
- Medication errors
- Safeguarding concerns
- Aggressive or challenging behaviour
- Equipment failure
- Any event that could compromise safety or care
6. Immediate Actions
In the event of an incident, staff must:
- Ensure the safety of the service user and others
- Provide or seek immediate medical assistance if required
- Inform the senior person on duty at the care setting
- Follow the client’s internal incident reporting procedure
7. Reporting Procedure
7.1 Internal Reporting
Staff must:
- Report all incidents to Falcon Greencare as soon as possible (within 24 hours)
- Complete an incident report form with accurate and factual information
- Include details of what happened, who was involved, and actions taken
7.2 Client Reporting
• Staff must also comply with the reporting procedures of the care setting they are working in
8. Investigation and Follow-Up
Falcon Greencare will:
- Review incident reports promptly
- Conduct investigations where required
- Liaise with clients and relevant professionals
- Identify root causes and learning points
- Implement corrective actions
9. Safeguarding
Any incident involving potential abuse or neglect must be:
- Reported immediately as a safeguarding concern
- Escalated in line with safeguarding procedures
- Reported to the appropriate authorities where required
10. RIDDOR Reporting
Where applicable, incidents will be reported under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.
11. Duty of Candour
Falcon Greencare supports the principle of openness and honesty:
- Service users and/or their families will be informed of incidents where appropriate
- Apologies and explanations will be provided in line with duty of candour requirements
12. Recording and Documentation
All incidents must be:
- Clearly documented
- Stored securely
- Available for audit and inspection
13. Responsibilities
13.1 Management
Management is responsible for:
- Reviewing and investigating incidents
- Ensuring compliance with reporting requirements
- Sharing learning and improvements
13.2 Staff
All staff must:
- Report incidents promptly
- Provide accurate and honest information
- Cooperate with investigations
14. Learning and Improvement
Falcon Greencare will:
- Analyse incident trends
- Share lessons learned with staff
- Update policies and training as required
15. Non-Compliance
Failure to report incidents may result in:
- Disciplinary action
- Removal from placement
- Termination of employment or contract
16. Monitoring and Review
- Incident reporting is regularly monitored
- This policy is reviewed annually or in line with CQC updates
17. Commitment to Safe Care
Falcon Greencare is committed to:
- Promoting a safe and transparent culture
- Learning from incidents
- Delivering high-quality, person-centred care
Date written: 27/2/2026
To be reviewed: 27/02/2027
