Lone Working

Any available local lone working policy and processes will set out the specific steps that you are required to take by the Local Authority:

1. To ensure your own safety;
2. To protect other Local Authority colleagues; and
3. To respond to any risk that may occur.

You should always refer to it alongside this guidance.

It is your responsibility to take a proactive approach to risk assessment and your own personal safety. This involves:

1. Identify any existing risk assessments or warnings on the system; and
2. Anticipate any likely risks; and
3. Explore ways to manage likely risk; and
4. Decide the best way to manage the risk; before
5. Carrying out the function, task or process to which you have been allocated.

It is the responsibility of the person with CQC Registered Manager status to ensure that:

1. An assessment of risks to a Care Dorset worker is carried out; and
2. The appropriate risk assessment template is used to record risk; and
3. 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:

1. The Registered Manager must ensure this is available to workers; and
2. Individual workers must use it as instructed.

Risk assessment is name given to the combined processes of:

1. Identifying risk;
2. Identifying the likely impact of the risk (positive and negative); and
3. 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.

You should always seek the support of your line manager when:

1. The best way to manage risk is unclear; or
2. The level of risk cannot be reduced.

Lone working risk should be recorded in line with local requirements and processes.

The following information should always be clear:

1. The risks that have been identified;
2. The plan to manage risk; and
3. The rational for the decisions made.

Where there is an on-going risk to other practitioners you must take steps to ensure that an appropriate warning marker system is used to alert them to the risk.

The need for an on-going warning marker should be reviewed:

1. Whenever a care and support, or other statutory function is being carried out; or
2. There is evidence that level of risk has changed; or
3. The risk management strategies are not effective; or
4. The risk management strategies are no longer required.