First reported 29 Oct 2021•Latest report 22 Oct 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures to assess and control accessible elevated fall hazards within or directly adjoining residential or rehabilitation accommodation, including windows opening onto balconies, accessible roofs, fire escapes and comparable routes, together with dedicated barriers, restrictors, railings, access restrictions, warnings or environmental controls intended to prevent unsafe access.
Not included
Excludes the existing narrower concern concerning window fall-prevention controls when the assertion is limited to window restrictors, stays or other window-specific devices without a comparable wider accommodation elevated-area risk.
Excludes generic premises maintenance, building safety or individual patient-risk-assessment failures where no accessible elevated area or dedicated fall-prevention control is identified.
Excludes bridges, public roads, railway locations, multi-storey car parks and other non-accommodation elevated hazards unless the assertion explicitly concerns the same accommodation-based elevated-area control.
Excludes falls or unsafe access outcomes where no continuing deficiency in environmental assessment or dedicated access control is asserted.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2021–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
6
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System1
Care Quality Commission1
Clarion Housing Group Limited1
NHS England1
Seascape Homes And Property Limited1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Health and social care service regulator1
Health-system partnership1
Private limited company1
Registered provider of social housing1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Unprotected fire escapes providing easy access to roofs in rehabilitation settings
Lack of environmental risk assessment of fire escape and roof accessibility
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
Action
Publish national best-practice guidance promoting person-centred safety assessment, formulation, management and environmental safety planning.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
Action
Liaise with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust about environmental risk assessment and unauthorised roof access from the fire escape.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
Action
Scope revisions to HTM 05-02 fire-safety guidance for healthcare-premises design.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
Action
Escalate and monitor the development of national guidance on fire-escape protections in rehabilitation settings.
Stated by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and NHS Black Country Integrated Care BoardStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
Action
Request environmental risk assessments and observe ward environments during inspections to assess premises safety.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 October 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Existing guidance and provider risk-assessment arrangements are considered appropriate to manage fire-escape and roof-access risks.
Stated by NHS EnglandExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Specific environmental risk assessments are not required; providers must instead take reasonable steps to manage health and safety risks.
Stated by Care Quality CommissionDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
The Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Service is responsible for addressing the local fire-escape risk assessment in greater detail.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Further comment on the specific local risk assessment cannot be provided.
Stated by NHS EnglandUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Dorset
Concerns raised1
Failure to restrict access from the carpark to the wooded area
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner North London
Concerns raised2
Failure to check unauthorised balcony access
Lack of risk assessment of flat and balcony access
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Issue staff guidance requiring identification of potentially accessible flat roofs and engagement with the safety team.
Stated by Clarion Housing Group LimitedStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 4 November 2021.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Private flats cannot be entered randomly to check balcony access, absent specific information reaching CHG.
Stated by Clarion Housing Group LimitedOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
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Includes failures to assess and control accessible elevated fall hazards within or directly adjoining residential or rehabilitation accommodation, including windows opening onto balconies, accessible roofs, fire escapes and comparable routes, together with dedicated barriers, restrictors, railings, access restrictions, warnings or environmental controls intended to prevent unsafe access.
