Practice Guidance - Day centre staff
8.1 See also Guidance for re-allocating a day centre place.
8.2 If a person is unexpectedly absent, the key worker or manager, depending on the setting, will:
- Telephone the person
- Telephone any other contact numbers e.g. relatives and family
- Telephone any other agency involved in the person’s care e.g. District Nurse, GP. CPN etc.
- Contact the domiciliary care agency if there is one
8.3 Day centres who have access to ERIC should check the personal record to see if there has been any emergency intervention since they last attended.
8.4 It is important for day centre staff to check if there are any risk assessments available for the person and to make a judgement based on known facts about their behaviour as to the most appropriate course of action. Staff should check with a family member and any other agencies who are involved to see if they are aware of why the person did not respond to the call.
8.5 If the person lives alone, then it is particularly important to resolve this on the same day. If there is no information, following the checks, that confirms, without any doubt, that the individual is out then it must be assumed that they are in the premises and unwell. The manager/key worker may wish to discuss the situation with the appropriate fieldwork team manager. The manager/key worker should then contact the police to discuss the situation and meet them if required. The service manager should be made aware of the situation.
8.6 If drivers and escorts cannot get a response when they call for a person, they should check by calling through the letterbox and looking through the letterbox and windows. They should also check the gardens. For drivers and escorts employed by the county council, if there is concern about a person and a key safe is available then they can access the property to check that the person is unwell within the property. For drivers and escorts not employed by the council it would be expected that they would contact the relevant day centre as soon as possible so that they can begin to make the checks.
8.7 If a person is seen collapsed or in such a condition that warrants extreme concern to their well-being they should alert the emergency services at once and report to the day centre for advice. They should then wait until assistance arrives.
8.8 Details of any incidents and the outcomes should be recorded on the running notes at the day centre and any other involved professionals informed.
8.9 Habitual non-attendees should be informed both verbally and in writing that not only are they jeopardising their day centre place, they may be subject to a police break-in and liable for the cost of any repairs that could arise.
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