Lone Working
The Redcar & Cleveland Corporate Lone Working Policy sets out the specific steps that you are required to take by the Local Authority:
- To ensure your own safety;
- To protect other Local Authority colleagues; and
- To respond to any risk that may occur.
You should always refer to it alongside this guidance.
It can be found in the Local Resources section.
It is your responsibility to take a proactive approach to risk assessment and your own personal safety. This involves:
- Identify any existing risk assessments or warnings on the system; and
- Anticipate any likely risks; and
- Explore ways to manage likely risk; and
- Decide the best way to manage the risk; before
- Carrying out the function, task or process to which you have been allocated.
Where an internal reablement service is to be provided it is the responsibility of the person with CQC Registered Manager status to ensure that:
- An assessment of risks to the worker is carried out; and
- The appropriate risk assessment template is used to record risk; and
- Measures to manage any risks to the worker are in place before reablement commences.
Where a risk assessment indicates that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) should be used when carrying out specific tasks:
- The Registered Manager must ensure this is available to workers; and
- Individual workers must use it as instructed.
Risk assessment is name given to the combined processes of:
- Identifying risk;
- Identifying the likely impact of the risk (positive and negative); and
- Identifying how to reduce the negative impact and maximise the positive.
Every situation is different, but the table below sets out some examples of risk that may be present, and the strategies that may be available to manage that risk.
|
Risk |
Examples |
Strategy |
|
Environmental risk |
Cross-contamination Slips, trips and falls |
Keep footwear on at all times Politely decline refreshments offered Wash hands after visit Roll back rugs Use Personal Protective Equipment |
|
Risk from animals |
Bites, stings and scratches |
Arrange for the animal to be in another area of the home Arrange for someone to take the animal out during any visits Arrange for someone else to be present who can pacify the animal |
|
Risks from the person or others |
Verbal aggression Physical aggression Prevention from leaving |
Make sure people know where you are and how long you will be-arrange a follow up if time exceeds this Visit with a colleague Sit near to the exit End the meeting if aggression appears likely Make sure any personal alarms you have are functioning and you know how/when to use them If risk is from others, arrange to meet the person without that person present |
|
Risks from equipment |
Injury when using manual handling equipment |
Do not use faulty equipment Ensure adequate training Follow instructions and guidance Report maintenance concerns |
|
Risk of allegation against you |
Reports of abuse or exploitation |
Visit with a colleague Keep accurate records of visits and conversations Record and report any issues or concerns immediately |
The following document can be found in the Local Resources section:
- Managing Risk when Undertaking Visits Policy and Procedure.
You should always seek the support of your line manager when:
- The best way to manage risk is unclear; or
- The level of risk cannot be reduced.
A lone worker device allocation arrangement has been agreed for some Adult Care Teams. This will ensure all staff identified as lone workers have access to Pulse devices.
For guidance on booking and using a lone working device, please refer to the following guidance in the Local Resources section:
- Lone Working Guidance and Device Booking System Practitioner Guide and Procedure.
In People Services, there are two ways of recording risks to staff:
- Service specific case management systems; and
- The Caution Advised System [CAS].
The decision to record a risk onto a case record must be taken by a senior practitioner, team manager or equivalent.
The ‘Practitioner Guide to Recording and Sharing Information about Risks to Staff’ should be followed in both cases. It can be found in the Local Resources section.
Last Updated: January 3, 2023
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