A ‘Lone Worker’ is any person whose work involves either brief or a large portion of their time in situations where there is no close, frequent or regular involvement with other workers or supervision.

Active carries out Risk Assessments for all new Clients. A key part of this is working out what support the Client requires and how we can provide in ways that are safe for both the Client and the Support Worker. The agreed support is detailed in the Person Centred Support Plan (PCSP).

Please contact the office if at any point you feel that the arrangements are not adequate and need reassessing.

• A risk assessment is undertaken which takes into account the access to the Client’s house including lighting and the local conditions. The risk assessment establishes whether additional arrangements are required to safeguard Support Workers working alone and their Clients.
• Additional arrangements could include such measures as ‘double up calls’
• You have access to back up through emergency on call phone outside of office hours.
• You can be issued with a personal alarm and torch on request.
• This Staff Handbook offers advice on how to stay safe when driving, on public transport, walking and what to do if attacked.
• Supervisors are trained to operate and implement safe systems of work.
• If you feel threatened whilst supporting the Client in their own home you need to leave, and report what has happened to the office as soon as possible
• Talk to your Supervisor if you are uncomfortable with the safety aspects of any of your work.

Staying Safe

If you feel uncomfortable or unsafe with any aspect of your work, please discuss the matter with your line manager, so action can be taken to make it better.

If the worst happens

Think what you would do if someone attacked you. Could you fight back, or would you avoid resisting and wait to escape? Only you can decide whether to fight back, but preparing yourself for all possibilities could provide a split-second advantage.

• If someone threatens you, shout and scream for help and set off your personal attack alarm if you have one. This may unnerve the attacker and frighten them off.
• You have every right to defend yourself, with reasonable force with items that you have with you like an umbrella, hairspray or keys can be used against the attacker. The law however doesn’t allow carrying   anything that can be described as an offensive weapon.

If you have been attacked

• Call the police straightaway. They need your help to catch the attacker. You can help the police by:
• Taking the name or address of any witness
• Trying to remember exactly what the attacker looked like
• If a car was involved, try to note the colour, model and registration number.
• You do not need to go to the police station to report an assault – you can be interviewed in your own home if you wish. These crimes are dealt with sympathetically, regardless of sex. Police stations have   specially trained officers who will help and support you, and many areas have comfortable victim suites,   separate from the police station, where you can be interviewed privately.
• Although your immediate reaction will be to wash, try not to if you can possibly help it. It will destroy vital medical evidence that will help prove the case against the person who raped or assaulted you.