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Safety policy
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The WPCC recognises that sometimes parent representatives are required to work by themselves in the community without close or direct supervision, sometimes in isolated work areas or out of office hours.
The WPCC has a duty of care to advise and assess risk for representatives when they work by themselves in these circumstances. However, representatives have responsibilities to take reasonable care of themselves and other people affected by their work.
To get some useful tips on personal safety, the WPCC recommends useful guidance sheets produced by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust - [click here] to view.
Scope of the policy
This policy applies to all situations involving lone working arising in connection with the duties and activities of WPCC representatives.
‘Lone workers’ include:
Those working at their main place of work where:
- Only one person is working on the premises
- People work separately from each other, e.g. in different locations
- People working outside normal office hours
Those working away from their fixed base where:
- One person is visiting another agency’s premises or meeting venue
- One person is making a home visit to an individual
- One person is working from their own home
Aims of the Policy
The aim of the policy is to:
- Increase awareness of safety issues relating to lone working
- Ensure that the risk of lone working is assessed in a systematic and ongoing way, and that safe systems and methods of work are put in place to reduce the risk so far is reasonably practicable
- Ensure that appropriate support and training is available to all parents that equips them to recognise risk and provides practical advice on safety when working alone
- Encourage full reporting and recording of all adverse incidents relating to lone working
Responsibilities
The WPCC is responsible for:
- Ensuring that all parent representatives are aware of the policy
- Taking all possible steps to ensure that lone representatives are at no greater risk than other representatives
- Identify situations where people work alone and decide whether systems can be adopted to avoid representatives carrying out tasks on their own
- Putting procedures and safe systems of work into practice which are designed to eliminate or reduce the risks associated with working alone
- Ensuring that representative parent groups and individuals identified as being at risk are given appropriate information, instruction and training, including training at induction, updating and refreshing this training as necessary
- Ensuring that appropriate support is given to staff involved in any incident
- Encourage representatives to have access to a mobile phone and other personal safety equipment, where this is felt to be desirable
Representatives are responsible for:
- Taking reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their actions
- Following guidance and procedures designed for safe working
- Reporting all incidents that may affect the health and safety of themselves or others and asking for guidance as appropriate
- Reporting any dangers or potential dangers they identify or any concerns they might have in respect of working alone
Guidance for Risk Assessments of Lone Working
- Is the person medically fit and suitable to work alone?
- Are there adequate channels of communication in an emergency?
- Does the workplace or task present a special risk to the lone worker?
- Is there a risk of violence?
- Are women especially at risk if they work alone?
- Is any known risk attached to a client(s)?
- Has an alternative to a home visit been considered?
- Has safe travelling between appointments been arranged?
- Have reporting and recording arrangements been made where appropriate?
- Can the whereabouts of the lone worker be traced?
Good Practice for Personal Safety
- During their working hours, all lone representatives will leave written details of where they are going and their estimated time of arrival back at base or home with a colleague; these details will be recorded in the Lone Worker Log which will be stored in the office
- All lone representatives will telephone a colleague before and immediately after the visit
- If, in the course of a trip away, plans change significantly, this should be communicated back to that colleague
- Parent representatives should avoid being left on their own with a client, or leaving a colleague in this situation
- One person does not make a lone home visit to an individual
Children and Vulnerable Adults
- In general, parent representatives should never work alone with a child or vulnerable adult
- Parent representatives should never transport a child or a vulnerable adult on their own
Monitoring safety issues
- Parent representatives must report incidents such as accidents and near misses, including all incidents where they feel threatened; this includes incidents of verbal abuse
- Parent Representatives will be encouraged to share whether they feel there are any safety concerns that aren't being addressed
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