Lone Working

No member of staff should work in a one-to-one situation with a young person 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.

Any potential risks associated with lone working can usually be minimised through risk assessments, relevant training, the provision of information and supervision with managers and making sure a young person is appropriately placed within the Service.

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

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

All staff in the Service are responsible for familiarising themselves with the contents of the risk assessment, noting any conditions attached, and any other relevant information contained on the young person’s file.

The registered person 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 young people in the Service?

Where the risk assessment indicates that a member of staff is likely to be at risk in a given situation, the registered person 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 young person or others, they must draw this to the immediate attention of the registered person 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 young person. For example if home invasion is occurring in a young person’s property, then a contingency plan should be drawn up that a staff member will not visit if anyone else is present in the property.

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

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. 

The registered person must monitor the risk assessment through the regular reading of the young person’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 and Placement Planning Meetings.

As indicated above in Section 2, Risk Assessment where the registered person has any concerns that a young person presents a risk to lone workers, either in general or to an individual member of staff, the registered person 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 registered person so that they can take any necessary action.

Please read in conjunction with the Recognising Abuse and Neglect Procedure.

Staff should view spending time alone with young person as an opportunity to develop positive relationships with the young people.

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

• Special relationships: It is beneficial for young person to be involved in positive relationships with responsible adults, however exclusiveness and secrecy are never appropriate and should be challenged;
• Taking young person home: This is not allowed under any circumstances;
• 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.

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