policies & procedures

Lone Working Policy

At Planet Warriors Kids Club, the safety and welfare of the team and the children in our care is paramount. It is best practice for at least two members of staff to be on duty at any one time, but situations may arise where this is not possible. When it is necessary for only one member of staff to be on duty, we will follow the procedures set out in this policy.

Preparation and planning

The Manager must approve all instances of lone working in advance and such instances will be recorded on the staff rota.

A full risk assessment for lone working must be carried out before lone working is approved. 

Our insurers have confirmed that our club is covered in situations when only one member of staff is on duty. 

The majority of the time there will be another person on site who can be summoned in case of emergencies, this will be the CEO, Administrator or cleaner.

In addition, an ‘on call’ person whom the member of staff can summon in an emergency will be nominated for each session. The ‘on call’ person must be able to be on site within 10 minutes (how far away do you live?)

Suitable staff

Staff members who are suitable for lone working will be approved in advance. Staff members approved for lone working must have all the relevant qualifications, training and skills. For example:

• current 12 hour paediatric first aid certificate

• child protection training

• food handling and hygiene certificate

• competent use of English

• the necessary skills and experience to supervise the children alone 

• does not have any medical condition that might affect their suitability to work alone.

• is familiar with the emergency evacuation procedure – and how this can be adapted to lone working situations.

Working practices

When a member of staff is working alone, they must keep all children “within sight or hearing at all times” as required by EYFS 2023. This includes whilst children are eating. Therefore all essential resources must be readily to hand and not kept in a separate part of the building. For example:

• child records.

• emergency contact details.

• first aid kit.

• club mobile phone.

• any forms that may be required during a session, eg accident and incident logs, logging a concern form, collection by unknown person, visitor log, etc.

• spills box / cleaning products / sick bowl.

If intimate care is given, a record will be made using an Incident log and parents will be asked to sign this on collection of their child.

Related policies

See also: Safeguarding policy, Emergency evacuation policy, Intimate care policy, Illness and accidents policy, Risk assessment policy.

Written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2023): Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements: Child protection [3.4-3.6], Suitable people [3.9], Staff qualifications, training, support and skills [3.20 – 3.26], Staff:child ratios [3.28-3.31, 3.41], Risk assessment [3.65]