Procedure details
Team or roles covered
Person or system receiving check-ins Named supervisor, roster of monitors, or a monitored safety app
Hours of operation Include after-hours arrangements if lone work happens outside them
Date and review date
Check-in schedule by risk level
Risk levels come from the lone worker risk assessment. When in doubt, use the higher frequency.
| Risk level | Example work | Check-in frequency | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | Home visits to clients with aggression flags; remote work with no coverage | Every 30 minutes, plus on arrival and departure at each location | Monitored app or device with timed check-in |
| Medium | Solo client-facing shifts; driving between sites | Every 1–2 hours | App check-in or call/SMS to supervisor |
| Low | Solo administrative work outside business hours | Start and end of shift | SMS or app |
Escalation ladder - missed check-in
The clock starts the minute a check-in is due and not received. Steps run in order but any step can jump straight to 999 if there is an indication of danger.
| Time | Action | Who |
|---|---|---|
| T+0 min | Attempt contact: call, then SMS, then app message | Supervisor or monitor |
| T+10 min | Call the worker's emergency contacts and last known client or site | Supervisor |
| T+20 min | Dispatch a welfare check to the last known location (colleague, site security, or monitoring provider) | Supervisor or monitoring centre |
| T+30 min | Call 999 and report a missing worker with their last known location, vehicle and description | Supervisor |
| Any time | Any indication of danger: call 999 immediately, then continue the ladder | Anyone |
Accepted check-in methods
- Timed check-in or safety timer in a monitored safety app (auto-escalates on expiry)
- Monitored duress device with scheduled welfare checks
- Phone call to the nominated supervisor
- SMS to the nominated number, acknowledged by reply
- In-person sighting recorded by a colleague
Responsibilities
The worker checks in on schedule and updates their expected itinerary before starting work. The receiving supervisor or monitor acknowledges every check-in, actions the escalation ladder without delay, and logs every missed check-in and its outcome, including false alarms. False alarms are reviewed for pattern, not punished; a worker who stops checking in because it caused friction is the failure mode this procedure exists to prevent.