Lone working is defined by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) as people who work by themselves without close or direct supervision. Working alone is completely legal and is usually safe to do so. We recommend that a risk assessment is carried out beforehand and that no unnecessary risks are taken.

The Four Principles are:

1. Accept risk when benefits outweigh the cost.
2. Accept no unnecessary risk.
3. Anticipate and manage risk by planning.
4. Make risk decisions in the right time at the right level.

The main risks associated with lone working include:

• Violence, threats or abuse from clients including stalking
• Strong negative transferential material being evoked
• Working with dissociated clients
• Accumulated stress and mental health
• Strong counter-transferential material being evoked
• Medical suitability to work alone including contracting COVID 19
• Enhanced vulnerability from having a disability
• Isolation from colleagues
• The workplace itself, for example if it’s in a rural or isolated area

A lone working risk assessment is a process of identifying and assessing risks associated with a job role carried out by a lone worker. The purpose of the assessment is to identify what needs to be done to control health and safety risks for yourself. It is important to consider the worst, to trust yourself and to be alert.

We would like to make the following recommendations if you feel at all unsure about an initial (or subsequent) meeting:

• Inform a trusted colleague/friend of where you are (the actual address)
• Arrange to contact a trusted colleague/friend immediately after the session and agree on what action to take if they don’t hear from you
• Try to arrange the initial assessment when there are others in the building or at home and you are not alone
• Consider having a phone consultation/zoom first to ascertain the reasons for seeking therapy and undertake a preliminary risk assessment
• If you are to be alone at TBC consider doing the first session downstairs so that you are near the exit
• If working from home, consider doing the first assessment at a different venue so that the client will not have your address
• If you have undertaken an assessment in which you have felt unsafe, reach out straight away to your training supervisor, training therapist and/or colleague
• Consider carrying a personal alarm with you
• Be aware of and use de-escalation strategies if needed and statements which will enable you to leave the room
• Always ensure that you are nearest to the exit door of the room
• Have an ICE contact in your phone and keep your phone with you at all times

It is important to be aware that on-going work can sometimes be triggering for clients and that thinking about risk is not just for preliminary work. In conjunction with your supervisors, it is useful to think about risk as a dynamic process. You should have an active CPD programme, regular supervision and be part of a home group who meets on a regular basis once registered.

October 2022