Measures to minimise risks
ICare staff will:
- Ensure that ICare have up to date personal contact details, notifying ICare of any changes.
- Carry out their work duties within the timescales set out on their weekly time sheets.
- Carry a mobile phone so that they can summon help quickly.
- Ensure that their phones include an emergency number which is attended when they are working.
- Log an emergency number in their phone under the name ‘ICE’.
- Ensure their mobile phone is charged and has adequate credit.
- Report unsafe environments to their Supervisor / Office.
- Take steps to avoid isolated and poorly lit areas.
- Take steps to avoid dark, unlit, isolated routes to work if on foot.
- Park their car in a well lit public place, where possible.
- Not use lifts or exits that are poorly lit.
- Ensure that any vehicle used for their work is adequately maintained and has enough fuel to carry out their work duties.
- Contact the Police directly or inform their Supervisor who will contact the Police for them if they feel under immediate threat of their physical safety.
Keep any valuable items/documents from view in their vehicles.
Further Control Measures
ICare will:
- Ensure that all care and support staff are given a handbook containing information on personal safety.
- Ensure that all care and support staff are given a copy of the Lone Working Risk Assessment and have read, understood and signed this document.
- Provide advice and guidance, within the training, about personal security procedures.
- Ensure that Field Care Supervisors are satisfied that care and support staff are safe to work alone and that they are clear about how to act in ways that will maximise their own safety and about what to do in an emergency.
- Ensure that all care and support staff know who their Field Care Supervisor is and have their phone number logged in their mobile phone.
- Investigate and review all incidents which involve the use or threat of aggression or violence.
- Complete a Risk Assessment if care is to be provided in a high crime area or to a client with a known history of aggression or violence associated with them.
- Ensure that Field Care Supervisors periodically visit and observe those working alone.
Maintain regular contact, through the supervisors, with the lone worker by carrying out supervision and phone contact.