Checklist · Community & Home Care
Lone Worker Check-In Procedure Checklist for Carers
Check-in and check-out procedure for carers and support workers visiting clients alone. Covers the check-in schedule, overdue escalation, duress alarms, a dynamic risk check on arrival and leaving an unsafe situation.
34 checklist items · Last reviewed
Checklist Items
| Item | Pass / Yes | Fail / No |
|---|---|---|
| WORKER & SHIFT DETAILS | ||
| Date | ||
| Worker Name and Mobile Number | ||
| Vehicle Registration | ||
| Visits Today (client reference, address, scheduled start and finish) | ||
| Check-In Contact (coordinator / on-call) and Phone | ||
| Back-up Contact and Phone | ||
| BEFORE THE SHIFT | ||
| Worker has read the home visit safety assessment for each client | Pass | Fail |
| Visit conditions known (e.g. pets secured, no visits after dark) | Pass | Fail |
| Phone charged; car charger or power bank carried | Pass | Fail |
| Check-in method working (app, call or SMS) | Pass | Fail |
| Duress alarm or app duress button carried and tested (if issued) | Pass | Fail |
| Agreed code word or phrase for “I need help” known by worker and contact | Pass | Fail |
| CHECK-IN SCHEDULE | ||
| Check in on arrival and check out on leaving each visit (method) | ||
| Grace period before a visit is treated as overdue (e.g. 15 minutes) | ||
| Visit Log (client, time in, time out) | ||
| Changes reported straight away (running late, visit extended, extra stop) | Pass | Fail |
| ON ARRIVAL: DYNAMIC RISK CHECK | ||
| Parked safely, facing out, with a clear path back to the car | Pass | Fail |
| Nothing unexpected at the door (unknown people, raised voices, intoxication, loose dogs) | Pass | Fail |
| Exit identified once inside; worker keeps a clear way out | Pass | Fail |
| Keys and phone kept on the worker, not left in a bag or another room | Pass | Fail |
| Anything changed since the last visit that affects safety | Yes | No |
| LEAVING AN UNSAFE SITUATION | ||
| Worker knows they may leave at any time if they feel unsafe, without penalty | Pass | Fail |
| Leave first, then call the contact once in a safe place | Pass | Fail |
| Call 000 if anyone is in immediate danger | Pass | Fail |
| Incident reported and the visit rescheduled with extra controls | Pass | Fail |
| OVERDUE ESCALATION (CONTACT PERSON) | ||
| Step 1: call and text the worker | Pass | Fail |
| Step 2: call the client’s home or the next client | Pass | Fail |
| Step 3: escalate to supervisor / on-call manager | Pass | Fail |
| Step 4: call 000 with last known location, vehicle details and description | Pass | Fail |
| Time escalation started and outcome | ||
| END OF SHIFT | ||
| Time worker confirmed safe at end of shift | ||
| Hazards, incidents or near misses to report | ||
| Worker Signature | ||
| Check-In Contact Signature | ||
How to use this checklist
When to use it
Use it for any shift where a carer visits clients alone, including evening, weekend and overnight work. Set it up once as your procedure, then log each shift. The model WHS Regulations require PCBUs to manage the risks of remote or isolated work, including by providing a system of work with effective communication with the worker.
Who completes it
The worker completes the pre-shift checks, the arrival check and the visit log. The coordinator or on-call contact monitors check-ins and runs the escalation steps. Both need to know the grace period and the code word before the shift starts.
If an item fails
If a pre-shift item fails (a flat phone, a duress alarm that doesn’t work), fix it before the first visit or tell the coordinator. If the arrival check feels wrong, leave and call in: no visit is worth the risk. A missed check-in starts the escalation steps straight away, and every escalation, even a false alarm, should be logged and reviewed.
If you roster carers, an app can run this procedure for you. Teiro, a care rostering app with GPS check-in and overdue alerts, is our sister product built for that.
Reference: Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: Managing the Work Environment and Facilities. Check with your state regulator for the version that applies to you.