Draft Pillar Kincardine Policy   Date of creation: 12 February 2003   Revised: August 2009

Lone Working

Philosophy

Pillar Kincardine believes that the safety of their staff is of paramount importance, and is committed to ensuring their personal security when working alone either visiting members or in an office or activity setting.

Policy

Individual members of staff have a responsibility not to undertake any action which could compromise their personal safety.  The following procedures are designed to minimise any risk to staff acting on Pillar’s behalf and must be adhered to at all times.

Procedures

Scope of the Procedures

These procedures are to be applied to all employees irrespective of the nature of their contract.  They will also apply to other individuals who perform work for Pillar Kincardine or who undertake placements within the Company.

Home visit alone

Whenever any staff member is working in the community with a member, they must ensure the following safety precautions:

  • The member of staff making the visit must leave written details of the name, address and telephone number of the member and the time of the meeting.
  • The information will be left in the message book and with another member of staff, i.e. a Safety Buddy who will either be in the office throughout the duration of the meeting or contactable by mobile phone.  No lone visit should take place unless these arrangements are in place.
  • Ensure you have a working mobile phone with you at all times.  If necessary staff will be issued with a mobile phone by Pillar Kincardine.  It is staff’s responsibility to ensure that mobiles are adequately charged.
  • Before leaving on a visit ensure that the office administrator - and, where appropriate, your safety buddy - has a copy of your mobile phone number.
  • Ensure that you know how to use the emergency 999 dial on the mobile telephone.
  • If using your own transport, ensure that your vehicle is well maintained and has an adequate fuel supply.  Staff will only be able to transport members if they have the appropriate insurance and their documents including MOT and driver’s licence have been checked annually with the Pillar Kincardine office.
  • When dealing with new referrals it is vitally important either to visit with a colleague or, prior to arranging a home visit, to obtain as much information as possible relating to the member.  The member’s GP is likely to be a prime source of information, but in circumstances where:
    1. The member or potential member refuses to divulge details of their GP ...
      Ask the member or potential member if we can contact other professionals such as social worker, hospital staff or primary care worker.  If this is refused it is unlikely that we will be able to work with that person.
    2. The member or potential member refuses to authorise their GP to divulge information ...
      The first step would be to contact the member or potential member by telephone to identify why they do not want information divulged.  The GP should be made aware of the member’s refusal and, in the light of available information, a decision taken on whether a home visit or meeting in a suitable public venue with another member of staff is appropriate.
    3. The GP does not respond within a reasonable time, say one week ...
      They should be contacted by telephone and, if not available, another member of their team may be able to assist.  It may also be appropriate to seek the assistance of a family member in making contact with the GP or other mental health professional.
  • Always carry your ID badge when visiting in the community.
  • Before entering the member’s home, call your safety buddy to advise the time of your arrival at the member’s home and the likely duration of your visit.
  • Report by telephone to your safety buddy as soon as you leave the member’s house.  If you are going to be longer than you first indicated, telephone to give a new estimated time of departure.
  • In the absence of a call back from the member of staff making the visit after either one hour or the estimated duration of the visit, the safety buddy must call to check the situation.  If they are unhappy with the response, the Police and Pillar Management must be advised immediately.
  • Wherever possible, do not put yourself in a vulnerable situation.  Try at all times to ensure you have clear exit from the room you are in or within a member’s home.  Whenever possible be aware of your external surroundings e.g. where bus stops/main roads are.
  • Home visits should be arranged so that they begin and end during normal office hours where possible.  Members with a history of violence/aggression who require to be visited will only be visited by two members of staff together.
  • In any instance where information obtained raises doubts as to the suitability of a home visit, the matter must be raised in the first instance with the Service Manager.  In these circumstances no visit will be arranged or carried out without prior agreement by the Service Manager
  • If any member of staff feels that they are being abused/harassed when on a visit they should leave immediately.  Record and highlight the incident in the contact book which is located in a locked cabinet in the Office.  No further visits will be offered unless agreed by the Service Manager.

Member sessions

Where sessions are run by just one member of staff, appropriate arrangements should be made for back-up support should that become necessary.

Lone office working

Workers must ensure that if they are working in an office alone all necessary procedures are taken to ensure their safety, eg.

  • Lock the front door to the building once other building users have left for the day.

Pillar Kincardine Policy  -   Lone Working  -  Revised version adopted 9 June 2009