Handcrafted Policy - Recent changes [en]

Sickness and Absence

Rebekah Hook — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:26:36 GMT

Sick Pay Provisions

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	* '''During Probation:''' Only Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be provided. In special cases, your manager may use discretion.		* '''During Probation:''' Only Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will be provided. In special cases, your manager may use discretion.
	* '''After Probation:''' You are eligible for normal pay for up to 4 weeks of absence per year, provided you supply a Fit Note for absences longer than seven days.		* '''After Probation:''' You are eligible for normal pay for up to 4 weeks of absence per year, provided you supply a Fit Note for absences longer than seven days.
	* '''Extended Absence:''' If ~~your absence extends~~ beyond 4 weeks, ~~your pay~~ will be ~~reduced~~ to ~~50% for up to 8 additional weeks. After this period, only~~ SSP ~~will be available, provided you continue to provide medical certification~~.		* '''Extended Absence:''' If long-term sickness continues beyond 4 weeks, you will be entitled to SSP as outlined in the [[Leave & Absence Policy#Sick Pay Provisions\|Leave & Absence Policy]].<span id="absence-reviews"></span>

	<span id="absence-reviews"></span>
	== Absence Reviews ==		== Absence Reviews ==

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:52:24 GMT

Domestic violence or abuse: Domestic abuse including Coercive contorl

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	* Physical abuse		* Physical abuse
	* Domestic ~~violence or~~ abuse		* Domestic abuse
	* Sexual abuse		* Sexual abuse
	* Psychological or emotional abuse		* Psychological or emotional abuse
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	Appropriate training on specific topics, such as domestic ~~violence~~, will be tailored to the needs of different trainee groups and delivered in a variety of formats, including workshops, one-to-one sessions, and signposting to online resources.
			Appropriate training on specific topics, such as domestic abuse, will be tailored to the needs of different trainee groups and delivered in a variety of formats, including workshops, one-to-one sessions, and signposting to online resources.


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	* Signs of under or overuse of medication and/or medical problems unattended		* Signs of under or overuse of medication and/or medical problems unattended

	=== Domestic ~~violence or~~ abuse ===		=== Domestic abuse and coercive control ===

	==== What this could include: ====		==== What this could include: ====

Safeguarding Children Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:50:18 GMT

Domestic abuse: and coercive control

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	* Ask for help, but may not be explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear.		* Ask for help, but may not be explicit about the problem due to embarrassment or fear.

	=== Domestic abuse ===		=== Domestic abuse and coercive control ===
	'''Definition:'''		'''Definition:'''

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:09:20 GMT

Signs to look out for:: paragraph added on unborn child and cross referenced to children policy

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	* Decreasing levels of independence i.e. not leaving the house without partner; difficulty in support workers arranging to visit the trainee on their own		* Decreasing levels of independence i.e. not leaving the house without partner; difficulty in support workers arranging to visit the trainee on their own
	* See lists of signs of different types of abuse		* See lists of signs of different types of abuse
			Where an adult experiencing domestic abuse has dependent children, or is pregnant, staff must also consider the safeguarding needs of those children, including any unborn child, under the [[Safeguarding Children Policy]].

	=== Sexual abuse ===		=== Sexual abuse ===

Safeguarding Children Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:06:55 GMT

Definitions: explicit inclusion of the unborn child

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	* Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care		* Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
	* Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.		* Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
			Handcrafted recognises that safeguarding responsibilities can extend to unborn children where a risk of harm is identified antenatally, for example through concerns about a parent's substance use, mental health, or exposure to domestic abuse during pregnancy. Where such a risk is identified, staff should follow the same reporting and escalation procedures set out in this policy, and raise the concern with the HSO/HDSO at the earliest opportunity.

	=== Assurance ===		=== Assurance ===
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	'''Witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse'''		'''Witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse'''

	Domestic abuse always has an impact on children. Being exposed to domestic abuse in childhood is child abuse.		Domestic abuse always has an impact on children. Under Section 3 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, a child who sees, hears, or experiences the effects of domestic abuse, and who is related to the person being abused or the abuser, is a victim of domestic abuse in their own right, not merely someone indirectly affected by it. Being exposed to domestic abuse in childhood is child abuse.

	Children may experience domestic abuse directly, but they can also experience it indirectly by:		Children may experience domestic abuse directly, but they can also experience it indirectly by:
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	* being hurt from being caught up in or trying to stop the abuse		* being hurt from being caught up in or trying to stop the abuse
	* not getting the care and support they need from their parents or carers as a result of the abuse (Holt, Buckley and Whelan, 2008).		* not getting the care and support they need from their parents or carers as a result of the abuse (Holt, Buckley and Whelan, 2008).
			Where domestic abuse is identified or suspected, safeguarding assessments must explicitly consider the safety of any unborn children, as well as children already born.

	'''Signs to look out for:'''		'''Signs to look out for:'''

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 10:00:57 GMT

LADO reporting procedures: updated with clearer statement on the reporting thresholds

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	# Cooperate with other agencies who are involved in the case. You should set clear expectations with them about what level of support Handcrafted can and cannot offer to trainees involved in the incident. You should take on board the advice of representatives of other agencies and discuss this with the HSO if you have queries about it.		# Cooperate with other agencies who are involved in the case. You should set clear expectations with them about what level of support Handcrafted can and cannot offer to trainees involved in the incident. You should take on board the advice of representatives of other agencies and discuss this with the HSO if you have queries about it.

	=== ~~LADO reporting procedures~~ ===		=== Referring concerns about staff to the local authority ===
	The HSO/HDSO, safeguarding deputy or senior manager should review all concerns and determine whether they meet the harm or risk of harm threshold~~, constituting an allegation.~~ If the threshold is met, a referral to the ~~Local Authority Designated Officer~~ (~~LADO~~) ~~must be made~~ within one working day. Where uncertainty exists about whether the threshold is met, advice should be sought from the ~~LADO~~. In urgent cases involving immediate risk to ~~a child~~, Police (999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergencies) ~~and/or the Emergency Duty Team~~ should be contacted first, with the ~~LADO~~ informed as soon as possible thereafter.		The HSO/HDSO, safeguarding deputy or senior manager should review all concerns about a member of staff and determine whether they meet the threshold for referral to the relevant local authority's Safeguarding Adults Board, constituting an allegation. An allegation meets this threshold if a person who works with adults at risk has:

			* behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, an adult at risk (the harm threshold);
			* possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, an adult at risk (the criminal threshold);
			* behaved towards an adult at risk in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to adults at risk;
			* behaved, or may have behaved, in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with adults at risk (the suitability threshold); or

			If the threshold is met, a referral must be made to the relevant Safeguarding Adults Board (see Appendix 13/15 for contact details) within one working day. Where uncertainty exists about whether the threshold is met, advice should be sought from the relevant board. In urgent cases involving immediate risk to an adult, Police (999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergencies) should be contacted first, with the Safeguarding Adults Board informed as soon as possible thereafter.

	=== Ofsted reporting for registered supported accommodation ===		=== Ofsted reporting for registered supported accommodation ===

Safeguarding Children Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:54:18 GMT

Reporting concerns and allegations: LADO reporting of allegations thresholds clarified

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	=== Definitions ===		=== Definitions ===
	According to "Working Together to Safeguard Children ~~2018~~", the safeguarding duties apply to all children up to the age of 18 years whether living with their families, in state care, or living independently.		According to "Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026", the safeguarding duties apply to all children up to the age of 18 years whether living with their families, in state care, or living independently.

	According to "Working Together to Safeguard Children ~~2018~~":		According to "Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026":

	Safeguarding means:		Safeguarding means:
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	A concern reported to the HSO/HDSO will be marked as a '''low-level concern''' if it is decided that the member of staff acted in a way that was not consistent with the staff handbook, but it is not necessary to escalate the situation by reporting it externally. A note will be made of the concern and the member of staff who was implicated, and any action taken. This will be kept securely in accordance with the Handcrafted Data Privacy Notice.		A concern reported to the HSO/HDSO will be marked as a '''low-level concern''' if it is decided that the member of staff acted in a way that was not consistent with the staff handbook, but it is not necessary to escalate the situation by reporting it externally. A note will be made of the concern and the member of staff who was implicated, and any action taken. This will be kept securely in accordance with the Handcrafted Data Privacy Notice.

	A concern will be marked as an '''allegation''' if it ~~is deemed necessary to escalate~~ the ~~situation by reporting the concern externally~~, or if the concern was reported externally in the first instance. An allegation must be reported to the local authority safeguarding board. Handcrafted is committed to actively cooperating with any investigations that arise from such a report.		A concern will be marked as an '''allegation''' if it meets the LADO referral threshold set out in Appendix 11, or if the concern was reported externally in the first instance. An allegation must be reported to the local authority safeguarding board. Handcrafted is committed to actively cooperating with any investigations that arise from such a report.

	If a staff member is found to have acted in a way that is inconsistent with the staff handbook, then disciplinary action will be taken against them as stipulated in their contract.		If a staff member is found to have acted in a way that is inconsistent with the staff handbook, then disciplinary action will be taken against them as stipulated in their contract.
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	=== LADO reporting procedures ===		=== LADO reporting procedures ===
	The HSO/HDSO, safeguarding deputy or senior manager should review all concerns and determine whether they meet the harm or risk of harm threshold~~, constituting an allegation~~. If the threshold is met, a referral to the ~~Local Authority Designated Officer (~~LADO) must be made within one working day. Where uncertainty exists about whether the threshold is met, advice should be sought from the LADO. In urgent cases involving immediate risk to a child, Police (999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergencies) and/or the Emergency Duty Team should be contacted first, with the LADO informed as soon as possible thereafter.		The HSO/HDSO, safeguarding deputy or senior manager should review all concerns and determine whether they meet the threshold for referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), constituting an allegation. An allegation meets this threshold if a person who works with children has:

			* behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child (the harm threshold);
			* possibly committed a criminal offence against, or related to, a child (the criminal threshold);
			* behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children;
			* behaved, or may have behaved, in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children (the suitability threshold); or
			* behaved in a manner that discriminates against a child on the basis of one or more protected characteristics.

			If the threshold is met, a referral to the LADO must be made within one working day. Where uncertainty exists about whether the threshold is met, advice should be sought from the LADO. In urgent cases involving immediate risk to a child, Police (999 for emergencies, 101 for non-emergencies) and/or the Emergency Duty Team should be contacted first, with the LADO informed as soon as possible thereafter.

	=== Ofsted reporting for registered supported accommodation ===		=== Ofsted reporting for registered supported accommodation ===
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	** Children and Families Act 2014		** Children and Families Act 2014
	** Children and Social Work Act 2017		** Children and Social Work Act 2017
	** Working together to safeguard children (~~2018~~)		** Working together to safeguard children (2026)
	** What to do if you are worried a child is being abused: advice for practitioners (Department for Education, 2015)		** What to do if you are worried a child is being abused: advice for practitioners (Department for Education, 2015)
	** Protection of Children Act 1999		** Protection of Children Act 1999

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:45:45 GMT

Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs): updated trustee names

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	=== Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) ===		=== Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) ===
	~~Name~~: ~~Eileen Brady~~		Names: Frances Njovana, Karen Bianchi

	~~Email: eileenbrady63@gmail.com~~

	The Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) will liaise with the HSO and provide them with advice and guidance on safeguarding matters. This may include advising the HSO on individual cases. However, in accordance with the organisation's Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The NOTSOs should also provide the HSO with advice and guidance on the organisation's strategic approach to safeguarding, helping the HSO to ensure that Handcrafted fulfils all the commitments stated at the start of this policy [1.2.1]. The NOTSOs will be members of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group. At least one NOTSO will attend each meeting of the group, to ensure quoracy.		The Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) will liaise with the HSO and provide them with advice and guidance on safeguarding matters. This may include advising the HSO on individual cases. However, in accordance with the organisation's Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The NOTSOs should also provide the HSO with advice and guidance on the organisation's strategic approach to safeguarding, helping the HSO to ensure that Handcrafted fulfils all the commitments stated at the start of this policy [1.2.1]. The NOTSOs will be members of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group. At least one NOTSO will attend each meeting of the group, to ensure quoracy.

Safeguarding Children Policy

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:44:35 GMT

Handcrafted Chair of Trustees: updated trustee names

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	=== Handcrafted Chair of Trustees ===		=== Handcrafted Chair of Trustees ===
	Name: ~~Dr Paul Morley~~		Name: Charlotte Clarke

	The Handcrafted Chair of Trustees will work with the rest of the Trustees to ensure that Handcrafted abides at all times with this policy, in conjunction with the organisation's other policies. They will take overall responsibility for ensuring that all safeguarding concerns, cases and decisions are recorded and the HSO carries out their role, as detailed in this policy.		The Handcrafted Chair of Trustees will work with the rest of the Trustees to ensure that Handcrafted abides at all times with this policy, in conjunction with the organisation's other policies. They will take overall responsibility for ensuring that all safeguarding concerns, cases and decisions are recorded and the HSO carries out their role, as detailed in this policy.

	=== Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) ===		=== Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) ===
	~~Name~~: ~~Eileen Brady~~		Names: Frances Njovana, Karen Bianchi

	~~Email: eileenbrady63@gmail.com~~

	The Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) will liaise with the HSO and provide them with advice and guidance on safeguarding matters. This may include advising the HSO on individual cases. However, in accordance with the Handcrafted's Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The NOTSOs should also provide the HSO with advice and guidance on the Handcrafted's strategic approach to safeguarding, helping the HSO to ensure that Handcrafted fulfils all the commitments stated at the start of this policy. The NOTSOs will be members of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group. At least one NOTSO will attend each meeting of the group, to ensure quoracy.		The Nominated Trustees with Safeguarding Oversight (NOTSOs) will liaise with the HSO and provide them with advice and guidance on safeguarding matters. This may include advising the HSO on individual cases. However, in accordance with the Handcrafted's Confidentiality Policy and Guidance, the HSO will not share identifying details with them of trainees who are affected by safeguarding cases. The NOTSOs should also provide the HSO with advice and guidance on the Handcrafted's strategic approach to safeguarding, helping the HSO to ensure that Handcrafted fulfils all the commitments stated at the start of this policy. The NOTSOs will be members of the Handcrafted Safeguarding Steering Group. At least one NOTSO will attend each meeting of the group, to ensure quoracy.

Work Processes and Practices

Rebekah Hook — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:26:04 GMT

Driving at Work

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 == Driving at Work ==
+See [[Driving Policy]].
 == Manual Handling ==

Driving Policy

Rebekah Hook — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:24:32 GMT

driving policy added

New page

==== Policy ====
At Handcrafted, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees who drive personal vehicles for work-related purposes. We recognise that staff members are often required to drive during their working day, whether that is travelling between hubs, support visits and activities, giving lifts to trainees, or transporting organisational equipment.

This policy outlines the responsibilities and requirements for employees who drive as part of their roles, to ensure safety and compliance with the law.

Staff members who are going to be driving for work purposes are briefed at induction on the safe use of their vehicle and made aware of the requirements and responsibilities outlined in this policy.

==== Requirements & Responsibilities ====
Before an employee starts driving for work-related purposes, we ask to see a valid driver’s license appropriate for the vehicle being driven. Staff members who drive for work purposes must be covered by business insurance.

Employees are responsible for regularly inspecting and maintaining their vehicles to ensure they are appropriately insured, taxed and in roadworthy condition. They are responsible for organising their own repairs and servicing when necessary.

Employees are responsible for any fines or penalties resulting from traffic violations incurred while driving for work.

All driving-related accidents must be reported as required by law, and line managers must be informed of any accidents that occur during the work day.

Drivers must follow safe driving practices:

* Obey all traffic laws, speed limits, and regulations.
* Do not operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or any impairing substances.
* Do not drive when excessively tired.
* Use seat belts at all times.
* Avoid using mobile phones or other distractions while driving. Handcrafted has a zero-tolerance policy for texting or emailing while driving and only hands-free talking while driving is permitted (see Electronic Devices and Passwords Policy).

Drivers must follow the Lone Working Policy when giving lifts:

* Staff members must not give lifts by themselves to a person identified as higher risk.
* When doing multiple pickups or dropoffs, staff should do them in an order that means they will not end up travelling alone with a higher-risk person.
* They should avoid taking a person in their car who is not known to Handcrafted (i.e. if we have no referrers risk assessment for them or have not had the opportunity to assess and record any risks.)

==== Engage-Specific Requirements ====
Staff members who drive children are required to have breakdown cover and to have their vehicle checked annually by the Operations Manager, in addition to the above requirements and responsibilities. We keep records of their vehicle documentation.

Template:Policies List

Rebekah Hook — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 14:24:06 GMT

driving policy added

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	* [[Cyber Policy]]		* [[Cyber Policy]]
	* [[Data Privacy Notice]]		* [[Data Privacy Notice]]
			* [[Driving Policy]]
	* [[Equal Opportunities Policy]]		* [[Equal Opportunities Policy]]
	* [[Finance Policy]]		* [[Finance Policy]]

On-Call Quick Guide

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:35:30 GMT

"policy in development"

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	This is a brief guide for quick reference while you're on call. It summarises the key points from on-call training. Use it as a refresher if you've done the training and want a reminder, or as a first orientation if you're new to being on call. A more detailed policy ~~sits~~ behind this guide; please ~~refer to that for full guidance, and~~ speak to your line manager or Dan Northover when in doubt about what to do.		This is a brief guide for quick reference while you're on call. It summarises the key points from on-call training. Use it as a refresher if you've done the training and want a reminder, or as a first orientation if you're new to being on call. A more detailed policy is being developed to sit behind this guide; please speak to your line manager or Dan Northover when in doubt about what to do.

	== The on-call rotas ==		== The on-call rotas ==

On-Call Quick Guide

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:33:11 GMT

New guide uploaded

New page

This is a brief guide for quick reference while you're on call. It summarises the key points from on-call training. Use it as a refresher if you've done the training and want a reminder, or as a first orientation if you're new to being on call. A more detailed policy sits behind this guide; please refer to that for full guidance, and speak to your line manager or Dan Northover when in doubt about what to do.

== The on-call rotas ==

We currently run two rotas. The '''Hummingbird rota''' is covered by the Hummingbird team leads, given the complexity of the scenarios involved; if you're not on that team, you're very unlikely to be asked to cover it. The '''Engage rota''' covers Tyne & Wear, Durham, and Middlesbrough together. This means more ground to cover when you're on call for Engage, but you'll be on call less often as a result.

== Before you go on call ==

Before covering a shift, make sure you have:

* '''Key safe information''' for every property you may get a call from.
* '''Camera access tested in advance:''' don't find out a login fails at 2am.
* '''The EDT number''' for every area you're covering that night.
* '''Manager contact details''', and a clear sense of when you'd need to escalate to them.
* '''Emergency contractor information''', gas and electricity guidance, and a registered supermarket app or delivery service.
* '''Laptop and Airtable access''' for every resident in your area; your phone alone won't always be enough.
* '''Your preferred on-call number confirmed in advance''', and know how to get the line transferred to it correctly.
* '''A signposting guide''' for your area, saved somewhere you can actually find it at short notice.

If you're missing any of this, speak to a manager in advance so you're properly set up before you're on call. It's also worth knowing the basics of troubleshooting common issues in the properties you cover, as this can save an unnecessary call-out. Talk to your team about the quirks of your properties and what's worked before.

== Step 1: First contact and assessing risk ==

'''Pause and respond, rather than panic and react.''' Before deciding anything, think through:

* What's the actual risk?
* What information do I need to understand the situation properly?
* Can this be resolved safely without attending? (This is always our preference, while still being ready to attend if genuinely needed.)
* Am I responding to pressure, or to genuine urgency? Pressure might come from you, particularly if you're new to being on call, or from a determined young person. Agreeing to everything asked of you isn't the same as keeping someone safe.

Aim to respond to first contact within 30 minutes. It's fine to tell a young person you're going to look into things and call them back shortly, rather than deciding under pressure with them on the line.

== Step 2: Check the safety plan, curfew and visitors ==

Review the safety plan to understand any known risks: violence, aggression, substance use, or community issues. Every young person has their own '''individual curfew''', agreed with them; not a blanket 11pm default. Check what someone's actual curfew is rather than assuming. We don't track every young person's return; that isn't feasible. For a small number of young people with a specific, known risk, a safety plan may set a fixed return time; check for this.

The safety plan will also list '''safe contacts''' approved to visit, and may include '''restrictions on providing food''' or other items. If you're not sure where to find a young person's information, ask a manager in advance.

== Step 3: Decide the response ==

Consider the full range of options before attending in person:

* Remote advice, reassurance, or problem-solving over the phone.
* Signposting to the right service.
* A planned check-in (this doesn't have to be you, as long as the handover is clear).
* An in-person visit. This is the exception, not the default, and only once you've confirmed it's safe and the on-call manager knows you're lone working.

If you do need to attend somewhere unfamiliar, do a quick location risk assessment: think about parking, lighting, and consider carrying a personal alarm between the car and the property.

'''Contact EDT for advice or to report a concern whenever you're unsure. You will never get into trouble for calling EDT.''' It's always better to call than to sit at home wondering if you should have. For a live emergency, it's always '''999 first''', before anything else.

== Signposting ==

Build up familiarity over time with services like Shout, Cooth, and the Mix: text or phone support young people can access day or night. You don't need this memorised straight away; use the signposting document while you build confidence. Where you do signpost, follow up afterwards to check contact was made and what advice was given. Many services also offer safety planning over the phone or online, which can be more helpful than what we're able to offer over a call ourselves.

== Calling EDT ==

Local authorities vary in how they want concerns reported: some by form, some by phone. EDT will typically ask for the young person's name, address, the nature of your concern, relevant background, and what's already been done. Ask for the name of the person you spoke to, and record it along with the advice given in an Airtable note.

'''If police or ambulance are meant to be involved, always confirm their attendance yourself, directly. Never take someone else's word for it.''' Don't enter a property until you know for certain the right people are already there.

== When to call a manager ==

Not every situation needs manager contact. Use your professional judgement, and lean more on EDT as your confidence grows. Contact a manager for:

* High-risk situations or major safeguarding concerns.
* Significant uncertainty about safety, yours or the young person's.
* Serious incidents, such as domestic abuse or a serious assault.

For '''very severe circumstances''' (a fire, an attempted suicide, a death), bypass any other manager and go straight to '''Dan'''.

For an ongoing emergency, always contact EDT and the police first; don't let looping in a manager slow that down. When you do call a manager, it helps to come with a plan already in mind: ''"I'm considering doing X, because Y and Z; can you confirm I've covered everything?"'' Managers are there to support your decision-making, not to replace your judgement. If you can't reach your manager and need an urgent response, escalate to Dan.

== Recording and handover ==

* Record notes in a timely way, ideally the same night; your on-call pay covers this, not just the call itself. Complete notes before the day team starts at 8:30am.
* Tag the relevant colleagues and managers directly in your notes; don't assume a note alone means people will see it.
* Use the on-call box on Airtable to track out-of-hours responses.
* Follow up with the social worker or young person's adviser, and copy in managers.
* Any messages to a young person should always come from your '''work number''', even if they've contacted your personal number.
* Make sure the handover to whoever's picking things up next is genuinely clear about anything still unresolved.

== Looking after yourself ==

If a call or visit has been distressing, ask for a debrief; this is a normal part of the process, not an extra ask. Don't hold things alone, and don't go to bed worried about a decision you've made, as we'd always rather hear from you. A lone working app is in development, which will let you log when you're heading to a property and escalate automatically if you don't check back in. In the meantime, WhatsApp is fine for non-urgent updates, but ring rather than text if you need an urgent response, especially after 10pm.

== Five things to hold onto ==

# '''Attendance is the exception.''' You are not expected to attend every time.
# '''Be safe first, always.'''
# '''Signpost to the right service''', genuinely, not to pass the buck.
# '''999, then EDT, then manager:''' Dan if there's no response.
# '''Follow up and record, every time''', even when nothing happened.

== Key reminders ==

* Set a reminder for both ends of your shift (4:30pm and 8:30am).
* Confirm your on-call number well in advance.
* If you're not on call, turn your phone off and let the WhatsApp Business bounce-back do its job.
* Complete lone working training before requesting a place on the rota.

Template:Quick Guides and Essentials

Seymour Jacklin — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:32:29 GMT

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	* [[Health and Safety Essentials]]		* [[Health and Safety Essentials]]
	* [[Lone Working Essentials]]		* [[Lone Working Essentials]]
			* [[On-Call Quick Guide]]
	* [[Record Keeping Quick Guide]]		* [[Record Keeping Quick Guide]]
	* [[Risk Assessment Quick Guide]]		* [[Risk Assessment Quick Guide]]