Lone Working

1. Induction/Training

No member of staff should work in a one to one situation with a child until they have:

1. Satisfactorily completed an induction programme;
2. Received relevant training;
3. Been approved by a manager as having sufficient prior training/experience.

2. Risk Assessment

Any potential risks associated with lone working can usually be minimised through risk assessments, relevant training, the provision of information and supervision with managers.

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.

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 in the home are responsible 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 gender issues such as female staff or 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.

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.

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

See Staff Supervision and Appraisal Procedure.

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.

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 Link Worker meetings (see Link Worker 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 he or she can take any necessary action.

5. Guidance on One to One Working

Please read in conjunction with:

• Relationships and Physical Contact with Children Procedure;
• Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure.

Staff should view spending time alone with children as an opportunity to develop positive relationships with the young people in our care.

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 secrecy are never appropriate 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;
• 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. It is not usually appropriate for any member of staff to be alone with a young person in their bedroom, with the door closed. Also see Bedrooms Procedure;
• Trips and outings: These should be dispersed among the staff group and subject to collective management approval.

Working Alone Inside and Outside the Home

Usually a minimum of two staff are on duty at any time in the Children’s Homes. However, if there is occasion where only one member of staff is on duty at any time, a risk assessment should be carried out by the Manager 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 EDT Service if necessary.

• Although a minimum of two staff are usually on duty, one member of staff may have to leave the building with a child(ren) to attend appointments, go for an outing, shopping etc. This should only happen when it is as safe as possible. Both staff on duty need to agree that this is the case;
• The member of staff being left and the member of staff going out both need to feel happy and confident with the situation they are being asked to manage. The following need to be considered:
  • The behaviour/ mood of children going out should be acceptable and the risk for this to change to be low;
  • The behaviour/ mood of children being left behind should be acceptable and the risk for this to change to be low;
  • The potential for children to return to the building during this time i.e. from unauthorised contact, home contact, outings etc. and the impact of this;
  • One member of staff should not be left in the building with one child unless another adult i.e. domestic, cleaner, handyman is present;
  • If this is not possible, it may be safe, after considering the above factors and undertaking a dynamic Risk Assessment to leave one member of staff with more than one child;
  • Another option would be for staff to contact a Manager to authorise extra staffing to cover unless this has already been agreed to meet the needs of an individual child's Care Plan;
  • The member of staff going out must carry a mobile phone so that they can be contacted if they are required to return immediately;
  • The member of staff being left behind must be an experienced permanent member of staff;
  • The member of staff inside the building should not confront children during this time unless it is an emergency situation. Unacceptable behaviour can be dealt with later when colleagues have returned, and staff are not alone. Staff should remain downstairs as much as possible and avoid going into children's bedrooms. Staff must follow Safe Care Guidance;
  • The member of staff going out should try and remain in public places when they are in the company of one child. Staff should avoid confrontations with children during this time, unless absolutely necessary. Staff must always have ID with them. Staff must follow Safe Care Guidance;
  • Staff must contact the Manager if they receive an allegation of abuse or a serious complaint from a child, about a carer. The information must not be shared with other staff on duty. If the allegation or complaint made, involves the Manager, then the member of staff must contact the Service Manager;
  • Staff must follow the actions of Risk Assessments on a daily basis and where required Safeguarding Procedures, the latter being in the event that they have safeguarding concerns relating to a child who may place themselves at risk or where a child may have been harmed.

Arrangements for calling Managers

• Managers are available to give advice and guidance and to offer support to staff if needed;
• Staff should contact the Manager or Assistant Manager who has been on duty as close to the time as possible about something which requires advice or support;
• Staff should contact the Registered Manager if they need to or are required to, in line with Regulations and Policy.