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Lone Working in Care Homes Policy

Policy Statement

The aim of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} has adequate systems in place to ensure the health, safety and welfare of lone workers as far as is reasonably practicable, including staff working alone on-site and those undertaking work for the home away from base.

This policy applies to all employees, permanent or temporary, including any agency, bank staff or visiting professionals employed to provide services on the home’s behalf.

Background

{{org_field_name}} understands that the term “lone workers” refers to members of staff who work without close or direct supervision or company for substantial periods of time. Lone working is not very common in care home premises but where it does occur, staff working alone in potentially isolated conditions have no immediate backup or support and so are at a potentially greater general risk than other staff.

Risks include injury through an accident or illness or as a result of aggression or violence directed towards them.

Younger or less experienced staff are often at a greater risk when working alone than more experienced staff. Such workers also need to rely on their own judgment and initiative and may be at a greater risk of making mistakes or errors which could prove costly to the organisation.

{{org_field_name}} recognises its responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees and its responsibility under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) to identify significant risks within the organisation and implement suitable measures to reduce those risks so far as is reasonably practicable. {{org_field_name}} recognises that this responsibility applies to lone workers and accepts that it is the employer’s duty to assess any risks to lone workers and take steps to avoid or control risks where necessary.

The home accepts that lone workers should not be at more risk than other employees. It recognises that this may require extra risk-control measures to be put into place, including such things as training, supervision, protective equipment, better means of communication, better security measures or means of raising the alarm in case of emergencies.

The aim of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} has adequate systems in place to ensure the health, safety and welfare of lone workers as far as is reasonably practicable, including staff working alone on-site and those undertaking work for the home away from base.

This policy applies to all employees, permanent or temporary, including any agency, bank staff or visiting professionals employed to provide services on the home’s behalf.

Procedures

1. All roles will be assessed for risk and where a lone working risk is identified the home will work with the member/s of staff concerned to reduce the risk to acceptable levels.
2. Where a risk is identified, extra risk-control measures may be required to be put into place, including:
   a. adjusting shift patterns or working hours to ensure staff are not left alone
   b. encouraging staff working alone to lock themselves in
   c. providing additional training in personal safety
   d. providing additional supervision whereby a supervisor can check on the lone worker
   e. ensuring that staff work together, eg buddy systems
   f. issuing protective equipment such as personal alarms or mobile phones
   g. improving means of communication
   h. improving security measures such as access controls to buildings by which lone workers can screen visitors at the door without letting them in, ie with an intercom or CCTV system
   i. improving means of raising the alarm in case of emergencies such as panic alarms
   j. operating check-in systems whereby staff working alone off-site call in.
3. All lone working risk assessments should be regularly reviewed to ensure that they are still adequate and that all risks are appropriately covered.
4. Managers and supervisors will ensure that this policy is fully implemented within the home and is adhered to by all staff. They should know the whereabouts and maintain contact with staff that work alone, taking appropriate action to contact or locate staff who fail to make contact or return at the expected time.
5. Staff will be expected to report to their line manager any situation where lone working risks cannot be controlled. They will be expected to comply with all precautionary and safety measures including guidelines laid down by managers.

Reporting and Recording Breaches of Security

Any breach of security or potential breach of security involving a lone worker should be reported immediately to a senior member of staff or to {{org_field_name}} manager. Upon notification the senior member of staff/care home manager will:

1. where appropriate report the incident to the police and obtain a crime reference number
2. complete a confidential crime report form.

All incidents, no matter how minor, should be recorded in the incident book and an incident report form completed as necessary. Forms should be signed by a witness.

Security incident forms and reports of security incidents should be reviewed on a regular basis and analysed to look for patterns, trends and repeat offenders. This information will then be used by {{org_field_name}} management to tighten security further and make any necessary adjustments to lone working patterns.

Training

All new staff will receive induction training which will include a thorough tour of the premises and thorough guidance on security systems and procedures. Training should be given to all appropriate staff in all aspects of the security implementation at the premises. This is particularly important with respect to security systems which need to be operated both routinely and in the event of an incident.

Staff should sign to acknowledge that they have been given and have understood this training.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}

Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}

Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}

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