Delivering Safe and Well Visits for those at highest risk
A Safe and Well Visit is a free service carried out by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. Visits are offered to people who are aged over 65 and to those who are considered to be at a particular risk. It involves a pre-arranged home visit to offer advice on how to make it safer and, where appropriate, fit smoke alarms or other specialist fire detection equipment free of charge.
March 2021 performance
The quarterly target based on the annual target of 4000 visits is 1000 visits each quarter. In Quarter 4, 688 visits were made to the property to complete a Safe and Well visit. Extensive activity continues to increase the number of requests and referrals for a visit. Despite the commencement of vaccinations, our target audience remain reluctant to have our staff enter their homes. The annual figure is down 36% on the previous year, which is a result of the pandemic (lockdown and shielding), many of our target audience are clinically vulnerable. A total of 3,460 visits (at all risk levels) were completed in person with an additional 822 being complete over the telephone with the resident declining a visit to their property due to Covid.
For 2018-19 a total of 4,175 high risk Safe & Well Visits were delivered, exceeding our 4,000 target. These had a key focus on fire prevention and fire safety in the home and wider contribution towards general safety, health and wellbeing. Over 4,500 pieces of smoke detection equipment were installed, and over 1,000 additional items such as smoker’s aprons and equipment to protect residents against arson were provided to residents.
Benefits of a visit
It combines the reduction of fire risk in the home with health and wellbeing referrals to partner agencies for extra support where appropriate. Visits are tailored to the specific needs of the household and normally last between 30-45 minutes. The fire service personnel who visit always carry identification.
To find out if your are eligible or request a Safe and Well Visit please use the following link
Smoke alarms
Buying and fitting smoke alarms could help you to save your home and the lives of your family. A smoke alarm (also known as a smoke detector ) is a device that detects fire in its early stages and gives a loud audible warning. To find out more about smoke alarms, please use the following link: