November 07, 2019
Often spread over large premises, housing expensive equipment and with a high number of visitors accessing the site every day, care homes face numerous threats. Care home safety and security is a big issue. Ensuring the safety of patients, staff, visitors and assets is a top priority, but also a challenge so by installing access control systems, workers are able to easily manage areas around a building. The access control system can also carry out functions such as Time and Attendance, Staffing Level Management and Parking Management.
“Access control systems are increasingly being used to enhance safety and security in residential care homes by restricting and monitoring the movement of staff, residents and visitors without impacting on the residents’ everyday lives” say access control specialists Nortech. “Installing an effective access control system not only provides a flexible form of security but also one that is bespoke to each individual site”.
What is access control?
Access control allows staff to manage, control, monitor and restrict the movement of people or vehicles in, out and around an individual site. Access control can be anything from hard copy visitor books through to identity cards for doors, gates or vehicle barriers.
Access control systems can be easily installed to ensure that only authorised persons can access specific areas. In more sophisticated facilities, systems can also be used to restrict access to areas that need to be kept separate for the safety of other patients, such as isolation rooms.
Why Use Access Control in Care Homes?
Care homes are known to be targets for criminals because they hold valuable goods such as computers, IT equipment and sensitive patient data as well as the personal possessions of staff, visitors and patients. To combat this and deter thieves, a growing number of premises are now installing access control systems to offer instant flexible protection.
Standard systems don’t always prevent residents from entering areas where they can endanger themselves or others, or stop them leaving the premises unaccompanied. People with dementia can often experience problems with orientation, and occurrences of residents getting lost or coming to harm is a major concern.
One system Nortech can offer is a hands-free access control solution which is both secure yet user-friendly. This Nortech system uses Nedap’s uPASS Access readers which offer both convenience and security.
Each member of staff is issued with a long-range (UHF) electronic ID badge that they carry on a lanyard or clip. These UHF ID badges are automatically read by the uPASS readers at a distance of up to 2m allowing staff access though doors without the need to physically present their ID card to the reader.
Two advantages of this hands-free system is that it allows staff to push trolleys or wheelchairs or to carry equipment easily around a care home whilst also avoiding the spread of germs or viruses through constant contact with door handles.
Integrating the system
The ease of integrating access control with other security measures is another reason why this system is so appealing. Access Control software enables hospitals and care homes to provide tougher protection for their sites. The systems are often effectively linked to the likes of CCTV, property marking, perimeter protection or intruder alarms.
It is worth remembering that access control systems can work on a small scale operating just one door or can be used as part of a wider security system. They provide users with a great deal of flexibility according to their individual requirements.
By using access control as a method of security, different authorisation levels can be easily set, preventing people from accessing areas they do not have clearance for and new photo ID cards to be instantly created for new staff or if a replacement is lost.
Invaluable protection
Electronic access control systems are increasingly being used to enhance safety and security in hospitals as well as in residential care homes.
In these environments, hands-free access is the ideal solution as it benefits staff by granting access to areas where escorting patients in wheelchairs / beds or carrying sterile equipment is important whilst restricting patient access to areas containing dangerous equipment or medicines so hands-free access is the ideal solution. Managers, trained staff, ancillary staff, residents and visitors can all be assigned a pass card that will allow them access around the building appropriate to their status.
Nortech has supplied products and solutions to the security industry for over 25 years as an independent British company. The company uses extensive experience and expertise to create new security products to fit their clients’ needs and designs everything with the customer in mind.
For further information please call Nortech on 01633 485533 or by emailing sales@nortechcontrol.com
