In your workplace

Q. Must my employer follow specific guidelines to ensure my safety while I work as a lone community nurse, visiting patients in their own homes?

A. Yes. Almost a decade ago the NHS launched its strategy document, A Professional Approach to Managing Security in the NHS. Each healthcare organisation was required to have in place an accredited Local Security Management Specialist (LSMS)responsible for ensuring that the appropriate policies, systems, procedures and physical security measures for the protection of lone workers were developed locally.

This should have been provided when you joined with a reminder to re-read it regularly. The policy should outline the responsibility of your line manager and yourself as a lone worker to follow these policies and procedures for your own safety.