Risk Assessment and Lone Working

 

Numerous occupations involve lone working and in general it may be defined as when people work by themselves without other workers present. Thus in the event of an emergency there is no one to give immediate assistance or to summon help.

Staff should not be placed or place themselves at increased risk when working alone and a safe system of work should be considered, identified, implemented and managed. Individuals need to engage in a thought process that ensures they engage in assuring personal safely

In general Non Medical Helpers and Student Support workers will never be asked to work alone with a student in a way that is not in accordance with the University's Policy and in a prearranged location. All NMH support is taking place on campus in designated rooms but not in student residencies. There may be occasions when a student has requested support outside office hours or in an individual room (such as in the Library study rooms) where Wellbeing Support staff are not readily available. If you meet a student in a Library study room please inform Library staff and Disability Services that you will be working in the rooms with a student, especially if it is outside usual working hours. Both support workers and NMH staff should make Disability Services aware of any arrangements for working alone in rooms with students in advance. Wellbeing Support staff using designated consultation rooms at Univeristy House and the Raphal buildings have also been issued with personal safety alarms to be used for student appointments, and for any pre arranged support provided outside office hours.

NMH and Student Support Workers should never enter a student's on campus accommodation. If they do need to meet a student at their accommodation they should wait outside the main entrance of the reisdences.

 

This Health and Safety "Working Alone" Guidance is available for reference.

Every individual staff, student, visitor or contractor must take care of their own health and safety; take due consideration for the health and safety of others; not interfere with or misuse facilities that are there in the interests of health and safety; and comply with the University’s policies and standards, and the relevant arrangements for the area or activity

Safeguarding

If you feel threatened or unsafe in any way when working with a particular student then you must contact Student Support immediately; do not continue to work with the student.

Similarly, if you are concerned about a student's welfare or behaviour please contact Student Support.

 

 

If you are working as a mentor please complete the Safeguarding e-learning module below and once you have completed the quiz, you will be able to print a certificate to demonstrate your achievements.

Log onto http://www.scie.org.uk/myscie/accnew

Register with the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) by using your Warwick email address.

Once you are logged on, you can access free e-learning and CPD opportunities.

 

You have almost finished Section 2 of the training. Please complete the quiz to check your understanding and ensure that we have a record of you completing this element of the training. Thank you.