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Lone Working for Community Nurses – Safety, Awareness & Best Practice

Target Audience:

Community nurses, healthcare support workers, and other staff required to work alone in patients’ homes or community settings.

 

Course Aim:

To equip community nurses with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work safely and effectively when working alone in the community.

 

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand the legal and organisational responsibilities regarding lone working.
  2. Recognise potential hazards and risks when working alone in various community settings.
  3. Apply risk assessment and dynamic risk assessment techniques in real time.
  4. Use effective communication, reporting, and escalation procedures.
  5. Implement personal safety measures, including use of technology and de-escalation skills.
  6. Respond appropriately to emergencies or incidents while lone working.

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Lone Working for Community Nurses – Safety, Awareness & Best Practice

Accredited by:CPD

  • No dates

 

Course Outline:

Introduction & Course Overview (10 min)

  • Welcome and introductions
  • Course objectives & relevance to community nursing
  • Participants’ experiences & concerns about lone working

 

1. Understanding Lone Working (20 min)

  • Definition of lone working in healthcare
  • Types of lone working scenarios in community nursing
  • Legislation & guidance:
    • Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
    • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
    • NHS and local policy requirements
  • Employer & employee responsibilities

 

2. Risk Awareness & Hazard Identification (25 min)

  • Common risks for community nurses:
    • Environmental hazards (slips, trips, poor lighting)
    • Aggression or violence from patients, relatives, or public
    • Medical emergencies
    • Road and travel risks
  • Group activity: Hazard spotting in case scenarios

 

3. Risk Assessment & Dynamic Risk Assessment (30 min)

  • Formal risk assessments before visits
  • Dynamic risk assessment during visits
  • Red flags & signs to leave or seek help
  • Case study: Applying a dynamic risk assessment step-by-step

 

4. Personal Safety Measures (35 min)

  • Travel safety tips & vehicle checks
  • Arrival protocols & safe entry/exit strategies
  • Positioning in the home for safety
  • Communication plans and lone worker devices/apps
  • Maintaining professional boundaries
  • Role-play: De-escalation techniques in challenging situations

 

5. Communication, Escalation & Reporting (20 min)

  • Informing base/team before, during, and after visits
  • “Check-in” systems & GPS tracking
  • Escalation when feeling unsafe
  • Reporting incidents and near misses
  • Documentation requirements

 

6. Emergency Procedures (20 min)

  • When to withdraw from a situation
  • Calling emergency services (police, ambulance)
  • Medical emergencies when alone
  • Post-incident actions & support
  • Scenario-based discussion