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| Guardian24’s lone working app allows users to raise a panic alarm should their safety be compromised |
Northern Ireland based charity Addiction NI have chosen to protect their staff who work alone by equipping them with Guardian24’s lone working personal safety smartphone application. The application provides the users with the ability to log in and out of daily tasks and gives them the ability to raise a panic alarm should their safety be compromised.
Addiction NI is an alcohol and drug treatment charity providing tailor-made treatment programmes for people with drug or alcohol problems, delivered in community settings. They also give confidential support for people affected by someone else’s drinking or drug use.
Addiction NI provides outreach services where treatment programmes are being delivered in clients’ homes. These appointments are often carried out by an individual worker and therefore they are open to the risks associated with lone working. Alan Coleman, Project Manager at Addiction NI said: “Staff often work alone and can operate several miles from their office base. In addition to the risk of physical and verbal abuse presented by clients who may be intoxicated, there is also the risk presented by others who may be in the home when staff calls.”
With the increase in lone working visits, Addiction NI decided they needed extra support to safeguard their workers at all times. Guardian24 was chosen as the lone worker safety protection used via Blackberry smartphones. Using the lone worker mobile application provides the workers with an easy to use personal security service without the cost of purchasing additional devices. With the ability to log in and out of daily tasks and by having the ability to raise a panic alarm should an issue occur where safety of the lone worker is compromised, Addiction NI are meeting their duty of care to their employees.
"Our managerial staff makes full use of the Guardian24 reports such as the monitoring reports allowing managers the ability to immediately pinpoint staff’s location in the event of an alarm being raised" |
Addiction NI have found that implementing Guardian24 has provided reassurance and peace of mind to their staff by allowing them to carry out their jobs with the knowledge that they have extra protection should they find themselves in a volatile environment where they are exposed to risk and their safety is compromised. Alan Coleman continues: “The Guardian24 service has greatly enhanced our Lone Working Policy and Procedures. The system is easy to operate and provides staff with the reassurance that if a situation arose in which they felt they were at risk, they have immediate access to a panic alarm to summon help.”
A further reassurance for Addiction NI’s staff is that if their session with a client exceeds the estimated duration of the activity that they logged, Guardian24 will instigate an escalating response to check on their safety. Alan adds: “Our managerial staff makes full use of the Guardian24 reports such as the monitoring reports allowing managers the ability to immediately pinpoint staff’s location in the event of an alarm being raised.”
Guardian24’s Marketing Manager, Leona Mills said, “Addiction NI joins our ever growing list of charities who use our invaluable service to protect their lone workers. With over 33,000 users throughout the UK and Ireland, our award winning technology continues to protect the vulnerable lone workers in this sector.”
