CareHomeDeskCareHomeDeskWhat a water safety group does, who should be in it, and when it is required.
A Water Safety Group (WSG) is a multidisciplinary group that oversees the management of water safety risks in a healthcare setting. NHS guidance (Health Technical Memorandum 04-01) requires WSGs in NHS premises. For care homes, a formal WSG is not mandated by regulation, but the principle -- that water safety is governed by a defined group with clear responsibilities -- is good practice.
For most care homes, a formal WSG is replaced by a water safety plan that assigns specific responsibilities to named individuals: the responsible person (RP), the competent person (typically the contractor), and the monitoring team (typically housekeeping or maintenance staff). Regular documented review of water safety performance -- at least quarterly -- is the equivalent of WSG meetings.
Larger care providers operating multiple homes, or providers with complex water systems including cooling towers or hydrotherapy pools, should consider establishing a formal WSG with representation from facilities management, infection prevention, clinical leads and an external Legionella consultant.
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