Lone Worker Safety Guidance
Doulas often work alone. This guide raises awareness of safety issues related doula work, aims to ensure the safety of lone workers on doula business as much as reasonably possible and practical, and offers best practice guidance. This guide applies to all Doula UK members, including doula trainers, mentors, and other volunteers.
1. Definition
Lone working refers to any situation where individuals work away from the physical presence of others and without close or direct supervision. Examples include:
Doulas working alone virtually (including online) or in a client's home.
Doulas travelling to/from clients’ homes and hospitals on their own.
Doulas visiting domestic and commercial premises without a colleague.
2. Objectives
The objectives of Doula UK's Lone Worker and Personal Safety guidelines are to:
Help doulas identify lone working situations and enable them to assess risks.
Support doulas in identifying a safe system of work and suitable precautionary measures (e.g. recording and relaying their whereabouts and work start and end, agreeing a system for a trusted person to locate them when deviating from the expected movement pattern, keeping information confidential to avoid jeopardising safety, etc.).
4. Personal Responsibilities
Doulas are responsible for their own safety and well-being and should prioritize this in their practice. Responsibilities in their work may include:
Avoiding lone working and vulnerable situations until a relationship with clients has developed (e.g., after the interview stage).
Having emergency procedures in place to obtain assistance when needed.
Ensuring someone else is aware of their whereabouts, including start and finish times of lone working.
Taking reasonable steps to ensure their own safety and informing colleagues/mentors of any incidents or safety concerns.
Routinely carry out a risk assessment related to their own practices to mitigate risks of lone working.
If in doubt about a lone working situation, leave immediately, wait for others to accompany you, or delay your visit or online support session. Never let others, regardless of their position or seniority, put you in a situation where you feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
5. General Guidance
Lone working doulas are recommended to:
Carry mobile phones when out on visits.
Keep diaries up to date with appointment details and ensure their whereabouts are known.
Inform a trusted person of their movements for the day and expected return time.
Maintain contact with a trusted person, particularly during home visits out of hours.
Text or email their trusted person upon arriving at a birth and upon returning home.
In the case of immediate personal danger, the first port of call should be emergency services and/or the police.
Travel Safety
To reduce travel-related risks, it is recommended that doulas:
Ensure someone knows their whereabouts and expected return time and/or live share location with a trusted person if possible.
Use known travel routes and avoid isolated areas when possible.
Carry out work during daylight hours whenever possible and carry a torch for travel after dusk.
Prepare for travel at night with essential equipment in case of breakdowns (e.g., warm clothes, blankets, snacks).
Carry minimal valuable personal belongings.
Stay alert and seek help if safety concerns arise.
Consider personal safety when driving, especially if awake for long periods.
Walk with someone else and be as visible as possible if traveling on foot.
Sit near the driver when using public transport to raise any safety concerns.
Keep car doors locked when inside, park in well-lit areas, and have car keys ready when returning to the car.
If feeling threatened, drive to a police station or garage forecourt to seek help.
Always follow common sense and trust gut feelings.
Home Visits
For home visits, it is recommended that doulas:
Arrange initial visits in neutral, public places.
Be assertive about personal safety issues upon arrival (e.g., requesting dogs be kept in another room).
Leave immediately if a dangerous situation develops and contact emergency services if necessary.
Consider child protection implications and discuss any incidents with a mentor, colleague, or the Doula Support Network for support and guidance (Doula UK Safeguarding Policy may include relevant information in this instance).
Virtual Support and Online Safety
Create a contract/agreement for new families with clear information on the support provided, regardless of whether it is free or paid.
Confirm the identity and authenticity of clients through phone or video calls.
Provide certification and a Doula UK profile page to build trust.
Speak to a doula colleague, mentor, or the Doula Support Network if an enquiry seems suspicious.
Do not give out private addresses or personal details to clients.
Carefully check profiles before accepting friends or followers on social media.
6. Reporting and Recording
Lone working doulas should discuss or report any situation that could threaten their personal safety to seek support and signposting. It is vital to report incidents to Doula UK by email (admin@doula.org.uk) for awareness and future risk reduction. Doula UK will follow up, refer doulas to mentors or the Doula Support Network as relevant, and review reports to help doulas thoroughly assess risks and minimize lone working dangers. Anonymized information about possible risks (e.g. online birth scams) may be shared widely with the Doula UK community if everyone’s safety may be at risk.
7. Reflection Questions
Reflect on your personal safety as a doula:
What do you do to ensure your personal safety?
Have you felt unsafe in a situation? How did you respond?
Where do you interview clients?
Do you invite potential clients into your home?
Would you attend an interview from an email invitation?
Do you have mobile phone signal in lone working situations?
Who do you inform upon arrival to and from births?
Do you have a shared calendar, so someone knows your whereabouts?
Do you have roadside recovery?
How do you get home after long hours at a birth?
What are your plans for traveling alone in bad weather?
Who within Doula UK would you report an incident to?
How would you support and signpost a doula seeking help with personal safety and lone working?
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice regularly. The policy was last reviewed May 2025 - Next Review due May 2026
