Lone Working Policy

Walsall Community Active Projects CIC

Company number 17051741

Lone Working Policy

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1. Statement of Intent

Walsall Community Active Projects CIC has a duty of care to staff and volunteers who work alone. Lone working can include one-to-one mentoring, home visits, outreach work, opening or closing premises alone, and working in the office or community without a colleague nearby.

This policy sets out how we keep lone workers safe and how staff and volunteers should keep themselves safe.

2. Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to:

• All paid staff who may work alone at any time
• All volunteers, sessional workers and contractors
• Trustees who undertake activities on our behalf

3. Definitions of Lone Working

Lone working can mean:

• Working in our premises with no other staff present
• Delivering one-to-one mentoring or wellbeing sessions
• Carrying out home visits
• Outreach work in parks, estates and community spaces
• Travelling between sites alone, especially at unsocial hours
• Working from home with limited contact

4. Key Risks

Lone workers may face risks including:

• Verbal or physical aggression
• Accidents and medical emergencies with no one nearby to help
• Allegations of inappropriate behaviour
• Stress and isolation
• Difficulties dealing with safeguarding situations
• Travel-related risks

5. Risk Assessment

A risk assessment will be carried out for all activities involving lone working. Risk assessments will identify:

• The nature of the work
• The people involved and any known risks
• The location and time of day
• Control measures to reduce risk
• Arrangements for contact, check-in and emergency response

6. Standard Safe Working Arrangements

All lone workers will:

• Carry a charged mobile phone and have key contact numbers saved
• Tell a named colleague where they are going and when they expect to return
• Check in with that colleague at agreed times
• Use a 'buddy' or call-back system for higher-risk visits
• Avoid driving long distances when tired
• Have access to information about the person they are meeting where appropriate

7. One-to-One Sessions

For mentoring, wellbeing and other one-to-one work, we will:

• Hold sessions in safe, public or supervised spaces where possible
• Avoid meetings in private homes unless risk assessed and approved
• Ensure the participant's parent or carer is informed for under-18s
• Use observation windows or open doors in rooms where this is practical
• Maintain clear professional boundaries at all times

8. Home Visits

Home visits will only take place where:

• They are necessary to deliver the service
• A risk assessment has been completed
• A senior staff member has approved the visit
• The visit is logged in advance, with expected start and finish times
• A check-in arrangement is in place

Staff and volunteers should never enter a home if they feel unsafe. They should leave the situation calmly and report it as soon as possible.

9. Outreach Work

When working in parks, estates and other community spaces, lone workers will:

• Work in pairs wherever possible
• Stay in well-lit, visible areas where possible
• Carry minimum valuables
• Be aware of exits and routes away
• End sessions if they feel unsafe and report concerns to their manager

10. Dealing with Aggression or Threats

If a lone worker faces aggression or threats:

• Stay calm and avoid confrontation
• Leave the situation as soon as it is safe to do so
• Call the police on 999 if there is immediate danger
• Tell their manager or named contact as soon as possible
• Complete an incident report
• Access support and debriefing afterwards

11. Travel Safety

Lone workers travelling for work will:

• Plan journeys in advance
• Keep vehicles roadworthy and insured for business use where required
• Avoid using personal vehicles to transport participants except where agreed and risk assessed
• Take breaks on long journeys
• Avoid using mobile phones while driving

12. Wellbeing and Support

We recognise that lone working can be isolating and at times difficult. We will:

• Provide regular supervision
• Offer debriefing after challenging situations
• Signpost staff and volunteers to confidential support
• Encourage open conversations about wellbeing

13. Reporting and Review

All lone working incidents and near-misses must be reported and logged. Patterns will be reviewed by the management team and used to update risk assessments and this policy.

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Policy Review

This policy was adopted on 14 February 2026 and will be reviewed annually, with the next scheduled review in February 2027. It will also be reviewed earlier if there are significant changes in legislation, guidance, or our activities.

All staff, volunteers and trustees will be made aware of any updates and asked to confirm they have read and understood the revised version.

Signed on behalf of the Board