Lone Working Policy

Covering online therapy and training delivery, and in-person commissioned work

Whole Thread Therapy is a sole-practitioner service. As such, all clinical and training work is carried out without colleagues or line managers present — whether online from a home base or in person at schools, community venues, and commissioned settings. This policy sets out the risk assessment approach and safeguarding measures in place to manage that context safely, for both the practitioner and the people she works with.

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Scope

This policy applies to two distinct working contexts, each carrying different risk profiles:

General principles

Whole Thread Therapy takes the following approach to lone working risk across all contexts:

• A named contact (held privately) is aware of the practitioner's working schedule and is available to act as a check-in point
• Clinical supervision is held regularly with an accredited supervisor, providing a professional point of contact for reflection and risk escalation
• Risk is assessed in advance for each new working context, and kept under review as circumstances change
• The practitioner holds professional indemnity and public liability insurance as both a therapist and a training provider; the insurer has been informed of both online and in-person delivery contexts

Online working: risk management

Before each session

• Client or participant location is confirmed at the start of every session, as set out in the therapy agreement — this enables emergency services to be contacted if a client's safety is at risk during a session
• Emergency contact details for every active client are held on file prior to first session
• For new clients, a safety plan is agreed before or in the first session

During sessions

• If a client becomes distressed in a way that suggests immediate risk to themselves or others, the practitioner will follow the safeguarding procedures set out in the Safeguarding Policy, including contacting emergency services if required
• If a session is interrupted by a technical failure during a moment of client distress, the practitioner will attempt to re-establish contact by phone immediately, and will follow the agreed safety plan if contact cannot be made
• Sessions are not recorded without explicit written consent from all parties

Working hours and out-of-hours contact

Whole Thread Therapy does not offer out-of-hours crisis support. Clients are provided with crisis resources (Samaritans 116 123, SHOUT text 85258, emergency services 999) and are informed that therapy is not a crisis service. Out-of-hours contact is not available, and clients are advised of this clearly in their therapy agreement.

In-person and travel: risk management

Before each visit

• The named check-in contact is informed of the destination, expected arrival time, and expected return or finish time before any in-person delivery
• The commissioning organisation is contacted in advance to confirm venue arrangements, the presence of a named host or point of contact on site, and any site-specific security or access procedures
• Where delivery takes place in a school, the school's own designated safeguarding lead (DSL) is identified and their contact details held for the duration of the visit
• Any new venue is risk-assessed informally prior to delivery — this includes considering whether the space is appropriate, whether there are others present on site, and whether lone meetings with individuals will occur and whether this is appropriate in the specific context

During in-person delivery

• The practitioner does not meet individual adults or young people in enclosed, unobservable spaces without a clear professional rationale and the knowledge of the commissioning organisation
• For school-based delivery, the practitioner adheres to the school's own lone working and safeguarding procedures in addition to this policy — these are requested and reviewed before each new school engagement
• If the practitioner feels unsafe at any point during in-person delivery, she reserves the right to pause or end the session and remove herself from the situation, contacting the named check-in contact and, if necessary, emergency services

After each visit

• The practitioner checks in with the named contact upon leaving the venue or returning home, confirming safe departure
• If the check-in contact does not hear from the practitioner within an agreed window after an in-person visit, they will attempt to make contact; if unsuccessful, they will contact the venue and, if necessary, emergency services

Supervision and professional oversight

Regular clinical supervision with an accredited supervisor provides an ongoing safeguard for lone working risk, particularly in relation to complex clinical presentations, safeguarding concerns, and the emotional demands of sole practice. Lone working concerns or incidents are raised in supervision as a standing agenda item.

Incidents and review

Any lone working incident — including situations where the practitioner felt unsafe, any use of emergency services, or any breach of this policy — is recorded and discussed in supervision. The policy is reviewed following any such incident and at minimum annually.

This policy was last reviewed June 2026. Whole Thread Therapy, Bamber Bridge, Lancashire. NCPS Registered, NCS24-03096. Professionally insured as a therapist and training provider.