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St Mary the Virgin, Brading Lone Working Policy 2025

Introduction

The Diocese of Portsmouth and St Mary the Virgin Brading are committed to the health, safety and wellbeing of all its clergy and volunteers who, in the course of their work and ministry, may have to work alone.

This policy relates to all church personnel who work out in the community and/or in other people’s homes, or who work alone in churches or other establishments and are physically isolated from colleagues or family, without access to immediate assistance.

Principles

Lone workers face increased risks because they do not have the immediate support of colleagues, or others, if an incident occurs, and particularly if they are in someone’s home, or are working in an isolated or rural location.

It is recognised that lone working is an everyday and essential practice for clergy and church workers, and it is therefore important that the additional risks that arise from this are fully understood, in order that they can go about their daily work in relative safety. This policy should therefore be read in conjunction with the good practice guidance given in the Diocesan Safeguarding Handbook ‘In Safe Hands’, which also sets out the appropriate boundaries for preventing misunderstandings and reducing risks.

All workers and volunteers should avoid working alone if it is not necessary, and work with others where possible, however, if this is not feasible, they should be aware of the importance of personal safety, and take all reasonable precautions to safeguard themselves from harm, as they would in any other circumstances.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is responsible for ensuring that all lone working activities within the church are formally identified, and appropriate risk assessments are undertaken in order to identify and reduce the risks which lone working presents. In drawing up and recording an assessment of risk, issues such as the place of meeting, security, the risk of violence and the nature of the task or activity should be considered alongside any other factors appropriate to the circumstances, such as the lone worker’s health and fitness, age and gender.

All lone workers should receive relevant information about the identified risks within their role, in order that they are equipped to recognise these, and are enabled to take responsibility for their own safety and security.

All risks identified to workers arising from lone working must be recorded, in accordance with requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

St Mary the Virgin Brading has adequate insurance in place to cover all lone working activities which have been formally identified by a risk assessment.

Where there is any reasonable doubt about the safety of a lone worker, consideration will be given by the PCC to undertake other arrangements to complete the task or activity, such as ensuring individuals work in pairs.

Working Alone in Church or at another Building

Within this document, lone working refers to situations where individuals, in the course of their duties, work alone or are physically isolated from colleagues and without access to immediate assistance.

The PCC of St Mary the Virgin Brading will:

• Undertake a risk assessment on building safety to determine if the church/building needs extra security. For example, spy holes, door chains or outside lighting can all help to safely identify callers.
• Consider how lone workers will raise the alarm if necessary, and ensure they have a means of communicating with others in the event a problem arises.
• Agree a protocol for visitors to the building; and decide whether or not to allow visitors in when only one person is there.
• Ensure proper training is given where necessary.

No worker should ever plan to be alone on church premises with children or young people. However, if they should find themselves in this situation, it is important that another adult is made aware immediately. The worker should also assess the risks involved in sending the child or young person home, against the risks and vulnerability of being alone with them.

Personal Safety

Whilst the PCC has a responsibility to ensure their lone workers’ health, safety and welfare, there are also a number of things individuals can do to take reasonable care of themselves.

• Lone workers should never put themselves at risk. If a situation arises that they are unfamiliar with, or in which they feel unsafe, they should withdraw and seek further advice or assistance.
• Staff and volunteers should conduct their own risk assessment on the occasions when they are working alone, which will help them to decide how safe a situation is and what action should be taken to avoid danger.
• Lone workers should be aware of themselves, their behaviour and the signals they may be giving, and to think about their body language, tone of voice and the choice of words they use with others that could be taken as confrontational.
• Staff and volunteers who work alone also need to be aware of changes in the behaviour of the person they are with, especially if they seem to become more angry or threatening.
• If an incident occurs – even if it is considered a minor incident – the worker should make their Group Leader (or incumbent) and or Safeguarding Representative know as soon as possible in order that the appropriate risk assessment and follow-up action can be taken.
• Staff and volunteers should take every reasonable precaution to ensure that they do not disclose their personal details, such as address and telephone number or their social networking profile, without good reason.

Home Visits

Home visits can be potentially risky situations, and therefore the PCC is responsible for ensuring that appropriate risk management measures are in place before a home visit is undertaken, which may include ensuring that staff and volunteers work in pairs on a first visit. Lone workers should also be aware of their responsibilities in ensuring their personal safety when visiting people in their own homes.

• Lone workers should always ensure that someone else, i.e. either their Group Leader and/or colleague/family member, is aware of their movements. This means providing them with the address of where they will be visiting, details of the person they are visiting, telephone numbers if known and expected arrival and departure times.
• All staff and volunteers who work in the community, and undertake home visits should ensure that they have access to a mobile phone at all times, which is in good working order.
• All homes visits should be recorded, as clear and detailed record keeping may prevent problems in the future.
• No staff or volunteers should ever undertake a visit to a child or young person in their home unless another adult is present.
• Lone workers should be alert to any signs of potential danger during a home visit, and be prepared to leave immediately if they have any concerns. Confrontation should always be avoided, and lone workers should never assume that violence won’t happen, as while there are many home visits made safely every day, personal safety is paramount. Any incidents should be reported to the Group Leader and/or the Parish Safeguarding Representative as soon as possible.
• Staff and volunteers who undertake home visits should ask the person they are visiting if they can secure any pets they may have which may present a safety risk.
• Where possible, home visits should be conducted in the morning or early afternoon, rather than the evening or late afternoon, in order that lone workers can avoid travelling in the dark, particularly in areas that they don’t know, or may feel uncomfortable in. If this is not feasible, consideration should be given to working in pairs.

Records

Clergy and church workers should keep a regular record of pastoral encounters, including details such as date, time, subject and actions to be taken. It is important to keep factual records, and separate these from any opinions expressed.

All records should be held in a secure, locked cabinet in the parish and retained in line with the guidance provided in the Diocesan Safeguarding Handbook.

Review

The Lone Working Policy will be reviewed and revised annually in response to new legislation, policies or guidance, or specific demand and feedback.

Risk Assessments

Risk	Who is at risk	Measures in place
Physical/Verbal abuse or threatening behaviour in the office	All volunteers	Phone to hand. Hall sometimes in use to call for help. Lone worker procedures included in induction and training. Report any incidents of violence, aggressive behaviour or feeling vulnerable.
Physical/Verbal abuse or threatening behaviour in people’s homes	Clergy, Readers, LPAs, Visitors.	Check room layout to limit the risk of being trapped by potentially violent person. First home visits to be done in pairs. Workers must carry a mobile phone and provide details to another of home visit. Incidents of concern must be recorded. Dogs in the house should be reported. Visits to be carried out in daylight if possible. Lone worker procedures included in induction and training. Report any incidents of violence, aggressive behaviour or feeling vulnerable. Request visit in pairs if uncomfortable.
Allegations of abuse or harm against workers	Clergy, LPAs, Readers, Visitors, Office volunteers.	Safer Recruitment process followed for all pastoral/home visitors. Lone worker procedures included in induction and training. Good practice guidance provided and followed in relation to touch, gifts, confidentiality, etc. The Gifts policy includes gifts from parishioners.
Accident/Falls	Maintenance Team, cleaners, office workers, those locking up the church, individuals setting up for events /services.	On site, means of raising the alarm or summoning assistance. Provision of first aid equipment. Provision of proper equipment i.e. ladders, protective clothing, and training. Risk assessment of church. Adequate lighting.
Fire	Maintenance Team, cleaners, office workers, those locking up the church, individuals setting up for events /services. Hall hirers.	Ongoing maintenance of fire alarm system and fire extinguishers. Risk assessment of church. Adequate lighting. Induction includes training on fire drill – lone workers do not attempt to locate or extinguish fires (get out, stay out, call the fire brigade out).
Mugging / stealing	Person banking the money, Office workers.	Always carry money hidden (not in plain sight). Use different people at different times each week (not a single routine). Recommend taking a second person if anxious. Put money in the safe as soon as possible (not stored in the office). Money of more than £3,000 must be transported by more than one person in accordance with Insurance policy.
Medical episodes	All Lone workers	Always carry mobile phone or means of raising the alarm. Always carry necessary medication. Let other workers know of any risks or known conditions.