Easy-Read Version

Services covered: Domiciliary care, live-in care, supported living, community support and outreach.

Area covered: Wokingham, Bracknell, Reading, West Berkshire and surrounding areas.

Policy owner: Registered Manager / Nominated Individual.

Review date: We review this policy every year.

Our Policy

1. What this policy is about

At Priority Services4U, we provide care and support in people’s homes and in the community.

We want to provide high-quality care without causing unnecessary harm to the environment.

Through this policy, we explain how we:

• reduce carbon emissions
• reduce waste
• save energy and water
• reduce unnecessary travel
• recycle more
• buy goods responsibly
• support staff to work in a more environmentally responsible way.

We always put people’s safety, dignity, care needs and choices first.

 

2. Our commitment

We are working towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Net Zero means reducing harmful carbon emissions as much as possible.

We take practical steps to reduce the environmental impact of our work.

We do this without reducing the quality or safety of the care we provide.

We also support the environmental aims of:

• the UK Government
• Wokingham Borough Council
• Bracknell Forest Council
• Reading Borough Council
• West Berkshire Council
• health and social care commissioners
• the Care Quality Commission
• other relevant regulators and public bodies.

3. Why this is important

Climate change can affect people’s health, homes and communities.

In our work, we use:

• vehicles
• fuel
• electricity
• water
• paper
• cleaning products
• personal protective equipment
• computers and mobile phones
• other equipment and supplies.

These activities can create carbon emissions and waste.

We take responsibility for reducing this impact wherever we can.

4. What this policy covers

This policy applies to:

• domiciliary care visits
• live-in care
• supported living
• community support
• outreach services
• office work
• staff travel
• staff training
• purchasing goods and services
• waste disposal
• energy and water use
• digital systems
• work with suppliers and commissioners.

We expect all employees, managers, agency workers and contractors to follow this policy.

5. People’s rights and choices

Many of our staff work in people’s own homes.

We respect each person’s right to make choices about their home and daily life.

We do not force people to make environmental changes.

We offer advice and support where this is suitable and where the person agrees.

For example, we may support a person to:

• recycle household waste
• switch off unused lights
• reduce food waste
• save water
• use local community services.

We make sure all support remains person-centred and agreed with the person.

6. Our main environmental impacts

We know that the main environmental impact of our work can come from:

• staff driving between care visits
• travel to meetings, reviews and training
• heating and electricity use
• paper and printing
• cleaning products
• PPE use and disposal
• office and service waste
• buying equipment and supplies
• supplier deliveries
• computers, mobile phones and electrical equipment.

We review these areas regularly and look for practical ways to reduce their impact.

7. Measuring our carbon emissions

We are improving how we measure the carbon emissions created by our organisation.

We use information such as:

• business mileage
• fuel use
• electricity bills
• gas bills
• waste records
• purchasing records
• delivery information
• staff travel information.

Where a tender or contract requires it, we report emissions under the correct categories.

These may include:

• direct emissions from vehicles or fuel
• emissions from electricity and energy
• indirect emissions from travel, waste and purchased goods.

We do not guess or provide false figures.

Where information is not yet available, we explain what is missing and how we plan to collect it.

8. Our carbon reduction targets

We are working towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

We also set shorter-term targets when we have reliable information.

Our targets may include:

• reducing business mileage
• reducing paper use
• reducing energy use
• reducing waste
• increasing recycling
• buying more goods and services from environmentally responsible suppliers.

We review our progress every year.

9. Travel and transport

Travel forms an important part of community care.

We make sure staff can reach people safely and on time.

We reduce unnecessary travel wherever possible.

We:

• plan care visits by location
• allocate staff to people who live nearby where possible
• reduce repeated or unnecessary journeys
• use telephone or video meetings where suitable
• combine visits, meetings and checks where safe
• encourage walking, cycling or public transport where practical
• encourage staff to keep vehicles well maintained
• consider low-emission and electric vehicles in future planning.

We do not reduce travel where this could affect:

• safe staffing
• emergency support
• safeguarding
• medication support
• care quality
• a person’s assessed needs.

10. Energy use

We reduce unnecessary energy use in offices and buildings that we control.

We ask staff to:

• switch off lights when they are not needed
• switch off computers and printers when not in use
• unplug chargers when they are not needed
• avoid leaving equipment on standby
• close doors and windows when heating is on
• report faulty heating controls
• report broken equipment
• use heating and cooling responsibly.

We buy energy-efficient equipment where possible.

11. Water use

We use water carefully.

We ask staff to:

• report dripping taps
• report leaks
• use only the water needed
• avoid leaving taps running
• use water carefully during cleaning.

In a person’s home, we respect the person’s choices and household arrangements.

12. Paper and digital working

We reduce unnecessary paper use.

We:

• use secure digital care records where appropriate
• send documents electronically where safe
• print only when necessary
• use double-sided printing where possible
• remove duplicate forms
• reduce unnecessary letters and postage
• recycle paper where suitable.

We still provide paper or accessible information when a person needs it.

We use digital systems safely and in line with data protection requirements.

13. Buying goods and services

We buy goods and services responsibly.

We:

• buy only what we need
• avoid over-ordering
• choose durable products where possible
• choose reusable products where safe
• use recycled or responsibly sourced paper
• consider local suppliers
• reduce unnecessary deliveries
• ask key suppliers about their environmental policies
• consider whether products can be repaired or recycled.

We always put safety and care quality first.

We do not use unsuitable products simply because they appear better for the environment.

14. Personal protective equipment and care supplies

We use PPE and care supplies when they are needed.

These may include:

• gloves
• aprons
• masks
• cleaning products
• continence products
• other care equipment.

We do not reduce PPE where staff need it for safety or infection control.

We:

• order supplies carefully
• avoid unnecessary waste
• store supplies properly
• use products correctly
• dispose of used items safely
• follow infection prevention guidance.

15. Waste and recycling

We reduce waste wherever possible.

We:

• reuse suitable items where safe
• recycle paper
• recycle cardboard
• recycle plastic
• recycle glass
• recycle tins and cans
• recycle printer cartridges
• separate waste correctly
• use licensed waste companies where required
• keep the correct waste records.

We destroy confidential waste securely.

We handle care-related and hazardous waste safely and legally.

16. Electrical equipment

We manage electrical equipment responsibly.

Electrical items include:

• computers
• printers
• mobile phones
• chargers
• fridges
• freezers
• other electronic equipment.

We do not place electrical equipment in normal waste.

We dispose of it in line with Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment requirements.

Where possible, we:

• repair equipment
• reuse equipment
• recycle equipment
• use an approved disposal service.

17. Cleaning products and hazardous substances

We use cleaning products and hazardous substances carefully.

We:

• use only the amount needed
• store products safely
• keep products away from people who may be at risk
• complete COSHH assessments where required
• train staff
• follow product instructions
• dispose of products safely
• choose less harmful products where they are safe and effective.

We do not replace a safe product with one that is not suitable.

18. Supported living

We respect the rights of people living in supported living services.

We respect each person’s:

• tenancy
• privacy
• preferences
• independence
• control over their home.

Where the person agrees, we may support them to:

• recycle
• reduce food waste
• switch off unused equipment
• save energy
• save water
• use local services
• take part in community activities.

We base this support on the person’s needs, choices and care plan.

19. Community support and outreach

Community support and outreach may involve travel and local activities.

We:

• plan journeys carefully
• use local services where suitable
• reduce unnecessary travel
• support people to use public transport where safe
• combine activities where this benefits the person
• consider environmental impact when planning community activities.

We always put the person’s wellbeing, independence and choices first.

20. Staff responsibilities

We expect all staff to support this policy.

Staff must:

• avoid wasting energy
• avoid wasting water
• reduce unnecessary printing
• recycle correctly
• plan journeys sensibly
• report leaks and faults
• dispose of waste safely
• follow COSHH requirements
• follow infection control procedures
• respect people’s homes and choices
• attend relevant training
• suggest practical improvements.

Staff must report concerns to their manager.

21. Management responsibilities

Our managers lead and monitor this policy by.

• explain the policy to staff
• include environmental issues in staff training
• monitor travel and mileage
• review energy and paper use
• review waste arrangements
• check supplier practices where appropriate
• discuss environmental issues in meetings
• include sustainability in audits
• review progress every year
• update the policy when needed.

Our managers must make sure environmental actions do not reduce care quality or safety.

22. Training

We provide staff with information and training that matches their role.

Training may cover:

• reducing waste
• saving energy
• safe waste disposal
• COSHH
• infection prevention
• responsible travel
• digital systems
• environmental responsibilities.

We provide this information through:

• induction
• supervision
• team meetings
• policy updates
• staff notices
• refresher training.

23. Monitoring progress

We check whether this policy is working.

We may monitor:

• staff mileage
• vehicle use
• energy use
• water use
• paper use
• printing
• waste
• recycling
• supplier information
• staff feedback
• audit findings
• tender requirements
• commissioner feedback.

We record actions and improvements where appropriate.

24. Working with others

We work with:

• Wokingham Borough Council
• Reading Borough Council
• Bracknell Forest Council
• West Berkshire Council
• health and social care commissioners
• NHS organisations where relevant
• suppliers
• waste contractors
• staff
• people using our services
• families and representatives where appropriate
• community organisations.

We support shared environmental goals where they are safe, practical and relevant.

25. Safety comes first

We take carbon reduction seriously, but we never allow it to create new risks.

We do not introduce environmental measures that could harm:

• a person’s health
• a person’s safety
• infection prevention
• medication safety
• safeguarding
• dignity
• privacy
• independence
• staff safety
• service quality.

We make sure every environmental action remains safe, practical and proportionate.

26. Reviewing this policy

We review this policy every year.

We may review it sooner when:

• the law changes
• government guidance changes
• CQC guidance changes
• tender requirements change
• Wokingham Borough Council requirements change
• our services change
• we identify a risk or concern.

27. Our declaration

At Priority Services4U, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact.

We are working towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

We take practical steps to:

• reduce carbon emissions
• reduce waste
• save energy and water
• travel more efficiently
• buy responsibly
• recycle more
• train and support our staff.

We do this while continuing to provide safe, caring, responsive and person-centred services.

Name:  Alyson Hobbs
Role:  Registered Manager
Date:  June 2026