Lone Working

Contents

1. Induction/Training
2. Risk Assessment
3. Supervision
4. Monitoring
5. Guidance on One to One Working

1. Induction/Training

No member of staff should work in a one to one situation with a child until they have successfully completed a Lone Working Risk Assessment and have completed the induction process to be able to safely lone work with the children and young people. The induction process is the minimum organisational standard expected of staff prior to undertaking lone working with children and young people. The lone working risk assessment only applies to the children and young people living in the home the member of staff ordinarily works in. If any member of staff works in another home or service area within the organisation, it is the responsibility of the registered manager or the designated person (Deputy Manager, Senior RSW) of that home/ service area to ensure that they are satisfied with the competency of this member of staff. Where staff were employed prior to the introduction of the Lone Working Risk Assessment (July 2022) it is the responsibility of the Registered Manager to ensure that they are satisfied the member of staff meets the criteria of the assessment.

Where homes are using agency staff they are not permitted to lone work with any child or young person. The exception is in the case of staff who have been employed through an agency with the view to them becoming permanent staff or the agency member of staff has been inducted and the home Manager has risked assessed this is appropriate. In these circumstances staff should be provided the same level of support, training and supervision as other new starters, including completing the Lone Working Risk Assessment and agency induction booklet.

2. Risk Assessment

No member of staff in the Home will be asked or expected to work with a child in a one to one situation, until a risk assessment has been carried out in relation to the child. The risk assessment should be regularly reviewed. See also Risk Assessment and Planning Procedure.

Controlling the risks associated with lone working will also include the relevant training, information, instruction, supervision and possible protective equipment etc.

The risk assessment will consider the safe working measures, controls, training and supervision requirements necessary to ensure the safety of staff and children in one to one situations.

All staff with the child share responsibility for familiarising themselves with the contents of the risk assessment, noting any conditions attached, and any other relevant information contained on the child's file.

The manager must ensure that arrangements are in place to manage any risks presented to staff.

Factors to consider:

• The knowledge of a medical condition the staff member may have;
• The time of day or night;
• Methods of communication;
• The location of the work and if travel is involved;
• The risk of violence to staff (verbal and physical);
• Whether inexperienced staff are particularly at risk?
• Whether there are any issues such as expectant mothers being particularly at risk?
• Has adequate training been provided to ensure the safety of both staff and children in the Home?

Where the risk assessment indicates that a member of staff is likely to be at risk in a given situation, the manager will ensure that a contingency plan is in place should the situation occur, for example by the provision of additional support staff or means of communication.

If the member of staff has any concerns about their own safety, or the safety of the child or others, they must draw this to the immediate attention of the manager who will consider the need for an urgent review of the risk assessment. Any such concerns will be communicated as necessary to all members of staff working with the child. For example during contact with parents/adults, staff may feel threatened by the parent's/adult’s behaviour. See Contact with Parents/Carers and Siblings Procedure.

If the manager has any reason to consider, having regard to any incidents, reports, or events that a child presents a risk to staff, or that an individual member of staff is particularly at risk from a child or may be vulnerable when working in a one to one situation, the manager must take immediate steps to review the deployment of staff. The manager will consider if further training is needed.

3. Supervision

At each supervision meeting, there should be an opportunity for staff to cover any issues related to lone working. Any concerns, training needs or requests for additional support should be shared and discussed.

See Staff Supervision and Appraisal Procedure.

4. Monitoring

The manager must monitor the risk assessment through the regular reading of the child's file, regular supervision with members of staff engaged in lone working, discussion at staff meetings, regular consultation with the young person via Keyworker meetings (see Keyworker Guidance) and Placement Planning Meetings.

As indicated above in Section 2, Risk Assessment where the manager has any concerns that a child presents a risk to lone workers, either in general or to an individual member of staff, the manager must take immediate steps to review the risk assessment and if necessary review the composition or deployment of the staff team, and/or the training needs of the individual member of staff.

Any member of staff who has any concerns must report them to the manager so that they can take any necessary action.

5. Guidance on One to One Working

Please read in conjunction with:

• Personal Care and Physical Contact with Children Procedure;
• Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure
• Bedrooms Procedure.

Staff should view spending time alone with children as an opportunity to develop individual positive adult/young person relationships.

Staff are asked to pay particular attention to the following areas of risk:

• Special relationships: It is beneficial for children to be involved in positive relationships with responsible adults, however exclusiveness and should be challenged;
• Taking children home: This is not allowed under any circumstances;
• Physical care: There are clear guidelines about appropriate privacy boundaries. Young people should be encouraged to undertake personal care and hygiene activities for themselves as soon as appropriate for their age and level of development;
• Access to bedrooms: Staff should be mindful of young people's need for privacy, and the need to avoid situations which could give rise to discomfort or misinterpretation;
• Trips and outings: These should be dispersed among the staff group and subject to collective management approval. There should be careful monitoring when a pattern emerges, linking one member of staff with a particular child, or group of children;
• Safeguarding: As a part of their mandatory training, staff are expected to attend the company's safeguarding training which highlights best practice, risk management and safety issues when lone working with children.

Where only one member of staff is on duty at any time, a risk assessment should be carried out and recorded in writing, identifying any likely risks to children, staff and members of the public, and this must have demonstrated that there is no acceptable level of risk from such an arrangement.

Children should always have a member of staff responsible for them, and know who that member of staff is and how to contact them. There is always at least one member of staff responsible for each identifiable group of children, within or outside the Home, with the means to call for immediate back up from at least one other member of staff or the On Call Service if necessary.