The National Health Service Security Management Service’s (NHS SMS) lone worker system was announced as a winner of The National Personal Safety Awards 2010 (a schem run by The Suzy Lamplugh Trust) at a ceremony held last Saturday evening.
The National Personal Safety Awards recognise those individuals and organisations who have helped people stay safe from violence and aggression and duly demonstrated Best Practice in the field.
The NHS SMS won out in the Safer Workplace category, having been deemed by the judges as the employer which has “done the most to improve personal safety awareness among staff”.
It topped a prestigious shortlist of nominees including the British Heart Foundation and Crest Nicholson plc.
Pictured (right) at the awards ceremony are (from left to right): Craig Swallow (md, Connexion 2), Sue Frith (deputy head of the NHS Security Management Service), Anita Pannu (lone worker contracts manager at the NHS SMS), Karen McManus (head of commercial and lead negotiator for commercial services with the NHS Business Services Authority), Ian Bryson MBA MCIPS (corporate commercial contracts manager, NHSBSA Commercial Directorate) and Richard Hampton, head of the NHS Security Management Service.
Personal security for NHS lone workers
Back in 2009, the Department of Health announced that 30,000 NHS lone workers would receive personal security alarms. Staff are able to use these devices to monitor and record incidents whenever and wherever they feel their safety is threatened.
As well as developing the system, the NHS SMS oversaw the training of the first system users who subsequently welcomed its introduction.
Sue Frith, the deputy head of security management at the NHS SMS, commented: “We’re delighted to receive such a well-respected award. Our lone worker system provides NHS staff with a service that they can use to signal discreetly for assistance should they feel vulnerable or at risk when working alone.”
The solution helps protect NHS staff and allows action to be taken against those who have abused or assaulted them. This helps deliver healthy and safe working conditions and an environment free from harassment, bullying or violence, all of which is very much in line with the NHS’ Constitution.
“The comprehensive training package makes sure NHS staff are fully equipped to make good use of the system,” added Frith.
Excellent feedback from the end users
Positive feedback has been given by a growing number of system users:
Lone working is defined as any situation or location in which someone works without a colleague nearby, or when someone is working out of sight or earshot of another colleague. This could be outside of a hospital or similar environment or internally, where staff care for patients or service users on their own.
Other descriptions commonly used include community or outreach workers.
Lone working may be a constituent part of a person’s usual job, or it could occur on an infrequent basis as and when circumstances dictate.
It’s not unique to any particular groups of staff, working environment or time of day, but can be prevalent in the security sector.
Responsibility rests with the individual health bodies
Health bodies have a responsibility to protect their staff from incidents of violence, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse. The lone worker system developed by the NHS SMS means that evidence (including audio recordings obtained through these devices) may be used in criminal and civil proceedings and/or to take local sanctions against alleged offenders.
Nominated health bodies are responsible for the use of the devices and any recordings. They will of course continue to take any necessary steps to safeguard patient confidentiality, and recordings will only be retained where incidents have occurred.
Further information on the NHS SMS can be found by accessing the web link on the right hand panel of this page
