How technology is helping us keep team members safe
Today is World Day for Health and Safety at Work, a UN-backed global initiative designed to raise awareness of good practice and protect people in carrying out their roles – whatever they are!
For many of our team members at Ways to Wellness, visits to their clients, in their homes and in other community settings, are an important part of the job, helping build trust and improve accessibility to healthcare support for those most affected by inequalities. Home visits provide a personal and accessible way to support clients with challenges such as limited mobility, childcare responsibilities, or financial barriers to travel.
Steffen Laukard, Team Lead for our Persistent Physical Symptoms pilot, which uses social prescribing to support clients with chronic pain and other conditions for which there is no medical solution, explained: “By inviting us into their home, clients can form a relationship with their specialist link worker and, we can understand what life looks like for them — something that's much harder to do over the phone.”
But while home visits can deepen relationships and improve outcomes, they also bring unique risks that aren't necessarily present in a clinical setting or GP surgery.
“Sometimes we’re in unfamiliar high-rise buildings and don’t know exactly where we’re going. Other times, we're leaving late in the evening, often in the dark,” Steffen added.
“While Ways to Wellness will assess any known risks with clients before meeting them, we can’t always control the environment.”
From WhatsApp to wearable safety
Until recently, our team relied on a WhatsApp check-in system: link workers would message in a WhatsApp group before entering a client’s home and again after leaving. Another link worker would take on the responsibility to check up on them if they didn’t respond in the right timeframe. However, as Steffen explained: “There was too much room for human error. One evening I came home and realised I hadn’t checked in with a colleague after their home visit; everything was okay, but it made me realise the potential for risk.”
Recognising the need for a more reliable solution, Steffen raised the issue with his manager — and that conversation led to a significant upgrade in safety.
Introducing SOS ID Badges
We’ve now rolled out lone worker SOS ID badges — a personal alarm so people can quickly call for help in an emergency. These wearable devices include a 24/7 monitoring service, with real-time support and a quick response if they need it.
Each badge allows link workers to:
Digitally ‘check in’ before entering a home and ‘check out’ when they leave.
Trigger an automatic alert if they don’t check out on time.
Speak directly to a responder through the built-in microphone and speaker.
Be tracked via a Global Positioning System (GPS) for quick location assistance in an emergency.
Gain additional peace of mind by requesting someone stay on the line while they walk to their car when in the dark.
This system helps our team members based out in the community to know they’re fully supported at every stage of a client visit — without placing additional pressure on their colleagues.
“Getting these badges shows that Ways to Wellness takes staff safety seriously,” said Steffen. “We could have stopped doing home visits altogether due to the potential for risk, but instead, we’ve found a way to keep delivering personal and holistic care, while keeping our team safe and comfortable.”
This World Day for Health and Safety at Work, we’re celebrating how technology is helping us provide a tailored and personal service for our clients, while protecting our colleagues.
Find out more about how we work at waystowellness.org.uk/how-we-work.
