2.4 Lone Working

Contents

1.	Responsibilities of the Centre Coordinator/Manager
2.	Responsibilities of the Employee
3.	Risk Assessment
	3.1	Other Factors to Consider
4.	Monitor and Review
5.	Home Visits
	5.1	Preparation for Home Visit
	5.2	Before the Visit
	5.3	Arriving and During the Visit
	5.4	After the Visit
	5.5	Personal Safety
6.	Emergency Contacts

1. Responsibilities of the Centre Coordinator/Manager

Responsibility for the implementation of these procedures is usually undertaken by the Centre Coordinator, Manager or a nominated additional member of staff.

The Responsible person should ensure that:

• All staff are aware of this procedure;
• Risk Assessments are carried out and reviewed regularly;
• Procedures and safe systems of work are put into practice which are designed to eliminate or reduce the risks associated with working alone.
• Staff groups and individuals identified as being at risk are given appropriate information, instruction and training, updates and refresher training as necessary;
• Appropriate support is given to staff involved in any incident;
• Preventative measures are managed through an effective system of reporting, investigating and recording incidents.

2. Responsibilities of the Employee

Employees are responsible for:

• Taking reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their actions;
• Cooperating and following rules and procedures designed for safe working;
• Reporting all incidents that may affect the Health and Safety of themselves or others asking for guidance as appropriate;
• Taking part in training designed to meet the requirements of the procedure;
• Report any dangers or potential dangers they identify or concerns they might have with respect to lone working.

3. Risk Assessment

Although working alone may not introduce any new hazards, the level of risk may increase significantly when a task is undertaken unaccompanied.  Should an assessment already exist for an activity which is usually conducted with others present, this assessment must be reviewed before allowing the same activity to be undertaken unaccompanied.

The reasons for assessing the risks of working alone are to establish:

• Whether the activity can be undertaken safely unaccompanied.
• The safe working measures and arrangements that should be implemented to ensure that an employee working alone is not exposed to greater risks than staff that work together.

The process of conducting a risk assessment for lone working is no different to that followed when assessing any other activity.  The important point is to carry out the assessment systematically, considering the following:

• Identify the hazards associated with the work that is carried out unaccompanied
• Assess the risks associated with the work, ensuring that staff are involved in the process and decide on the safe working measures and arrangements to control the risk, including the physical controls, training, supervision and monitoring and contact arrangements.
• The limits on what an employee can and cannot do whilst working alone.
• Record the findings of the assessment.
• Monitor and review the safe working measures and arrangements.
• Ensure that the information is shared with all relevant staff.
• Ensure that the assessment is signed and dated by the manager and the date of the last review is recorded on the assessment.

3.1 Other Factors to Consider

Other relevant factors to consider when undertaking a Risk Assessment:

• The knowledge of a medical condition of the lone worker that would increase the risk;
• The length of time the person may be working alone;
• The time of day or night when a person may work alone;
• Methods of communication;
• The location of the work and if travel involved;
• The nature of the work, also considering the equipment to be used;
• The risk of violence to staff, verbal and physical;
• Are young staff or new and inexperienced staff at risk?
• Are there any gender issues such as female staff or new and expectant mothers being especially at risk?
• Had adequate training been received to ensure competency?
• Supervisors periodically visiting and observing the lone worker;
• Regular contact between the lone worker and supervisor or 'buddy', telecommunication systems (mobile phones) or radios;
• Automatic warning devices, which operate if specific signals or codes are not received periodically from the lone worker e.g. manual or automatic personal alarms, fixed transmitters, protable safety systems;
• Ensuring that the lone worker has returned to base or home on completion of the task.

The Risk Assessment will identify the necessary training, instruction, possible protective equipment and supervision that must be delivered to all staff to ensure that if they are working alone, they are aware of the procedures to be followed.

4. Monitor and Review

Once safe working measures and arrangements have been implemented, they need to be regularly monitored and reviewed to ensure that they remain effective. Monitoring the way in which staff are working day to day is a Managers responsibility.

Staff should report any incidents/accidents, which could affect their safety, to allow a proper review of the adequacy of the working arrangements.

All Risk Assessments should be reviewed at least annually, following an accident/incident or where there is evidence that the existing measures are no longer suitable. A record of very review should be recorded.

5. Home Visits

5.1 Preparation for a Home Visit

It is important that parents understand the purpose of a home visit. Although staff may make initial contact by letter, parents should be contacted either by telephone or face to face at the Children's Centre to confirm all details.

Staff should agree with Parents, when they will arrive, how long the visit will take, what will happen, what kind of questions the staff will ask and what information the staff will bring with them.

Staff should remember they have been invited into the parents home and they are representing the Children's Centre.

Staff should ask parents what information they may need to from the Children's Centre.

5.2 Before the Visit

Before the visit staff should:

• Check their mobile phone is charged and all emergency contact numbers are either on the phone or they have a written list.
• Confirm with the Children's Centre Manager the details of the visit.
• Telephone the Parent to confirm the visit.
• The visit should be logged on the Centre's session planning board and on the individual online diary.
• Consider the route they will be taking and where they will park.
• Staff should only take what they need for the visit.

If this is the first visit to the parents home, staff should also consider the following additional actions to be taken:

• Ensure a completed referral form has been received.
• Arrange a joint visit either with the referrer or a colleague.
• Staff should ensure that they have a good understanding of the family that they are visiting by speaking to other professionals the family is know to and asking for additional information as necessary, including any potential dangers.
• Telephone the parent beforehand to get a feel of the atmosphere.

5.3 Arriving and During the Visit

Staff should follow the following steps when arriving and during the visit:

• Upon arrival, knock and step back.
• Check that the person they have planned to see is in.
• Make sure their mobile telephone is close to hand.
• Staff should feel confident to cancel or end the visit at any time
• Staff should be aware of the exits from the building
• Always place themselves between the parent and door at all times.
• Staff should be aware at all time their own safety and others.

5.4 After the visit

Staff should telephone the Children's Centre Manager or a colleague to inform them the visit has finished, if not returning to the office or need to take some time out.

Any significant information relating to the visit should be recorded.

If staff have any concerns regarding a visit they should contact either the Children's Centre Manager or Line Manager.

5.5 Personal Safety

If a potential risk is identified from a home visit the Children's Centre Manager should provide staff with guidance and instructions on how to manage the risk, for example, leaving the home if the parent becomes agitated.

Considering potential risks arising from home visits should result in the Children's Centre having clear guidelines for staff to follow.

Staff should have knowledge of the area they are visiting and they should leave at the Children's Centre details of:

• Their mobile telephone number (if they have one)
• The registration number of their car (if they are driving)
• The name, address and telephone number of the child's home
• The approximate arrival time and estimated length of their visit

If there is a change of plane after leaving the Children's Centre or the Child's home, the Children's Centre should be informed.

If staff feel uncomfortable in the child's home they should leave immediately.

If staff are visiting a location which may pose a risk to their personal safety, they should arrange either to telephone the Children's Centre after the visit to confirm their safe exit, or they should arrange for someone to telephone them during the visit to check their well-being. A record should be kept of each completed visit.

If a member of staff fails to return to work (or reach home) at the designated time, the Emergency Contact procedure should be in place for action to be taken this should also be recorded in the Risk Assessment.

All incidents occurring during home visits should be recorded in writing as soon as possible, while events are still fresh in people's memories.

It is important that staff receive training in strategies to prevent violence. This should result in a greater understanding of the potential risks involved in home visits, and an increased confidence in diffusing difficult situations.

6. Emergency Contact

These procedures should be followed if a member of staff does not return from the visit at the time expected.

• The Children's Centre Manager or allocated colleague should telephone the member of staff on their mobile telephone
• If there is no answer from the member of staff the Manager should contact the last known parent visited
• If the parent confirms the staff member has left the Manager should continue to try and contact the member of staff on either their mobile telephone or home telephone.
• Allow the member of staff time to get back to the Children's Centre
• If no contact has been made to the member of staff the Manager should contact their Emergency Contact number.

Staff must ensure that all contact numbers and personal information held by the Manager are up to date.

End