1. WORKER SAFETY

2. Why is worker safety important?

3. Environmental awareness
Office safety
Outdoor safety and travel
Making visits

4. The Path to Safety • Check prior involvement
• Collect information on intake
• Check prior involvement
• Apply knowledge and principles
• Documentation
• Follow-up

5. Most families are not a threat
Defusing techniques:
Most families are not a threat
Safety Plans and Action Plans promote awareness and help reduce fear so we can focus on helping families

6. Kept it from escalating; try to stay calm and listen attentively;
Defusing techniques:
If things escalate:
Kept it from escalating; try to stay calm and listen attentively;
Avoid sudden movements;
Avoid confrontation;
Maintain eye contact and personal space;

7. Keep situation in your control; Use calm tone of voice when speaking;
Defusing techniques:
If things escalate:
Keep situation in your control;
Use calm tone of voice when speaking;
Do not argue with the person;
Discretely signal someone that you need help (try not to let angry client see this).

8. Before You Leave the Office
Tell someone where you are going and when you will return
Obtain specific directions
• Find out history
• Know about any previous concerns
• Try to conduct home visits in pairs, if possible
• Bring your cell phone.

9. Making visits Parking and approaching residences Entering residences
Residence awareness
Exiting residences

10. Making Visits • Park down the street • Back your car in
• Drive by the residence
• Park down the street
• Back your car in
• Listen for anger voices
• Knocking at door – Stand to the side
• Introduce yourself
• Note location of doors in home
• Ask “Who else is in the house?”
• Don’t overstay

11. Making Visits Always wait to be invited to sit
Be aware of all possible exits in the house
Ask to turn the TV off, as “I” have trouble hearing.
Keep a clear path to the door.

12. Making Visits
Avoid positioning self so that you become trapped if needed to make a quick exit.
If situation escalates, LEAVE.
Always carry car keys in same place where they are readily accessible.

13. • Religious or political symbols • Jewelry • Long hair
Clothing
• Shoes & Purses
• Ties & Scarves
• Religious or political symbols
• Jewelry
• Long hair

14. Outdoor safety and travel
• Driving conditions and weather
• Knowledge of neighborhoods and safety
• Car safety

15. • Leave valuables locked • Drive defensively
Driving Hazards
• Keep fuel tank full
• Leave valuables locked
• Drive defensively

16. Animal Hazards Check for prior involvement or info on intake
Watch for clues
Be vigilant
Do not pet pets

17. DEALING WITH DOGS:

18. Communicable Diseases and Health Hazards
• Know agency safety procedures • Hand washing is critical • Know when to protect yourself • Lice • Airborne & Fluid surface contamination

19. Drug and Chemical Hazards
• Know agency procedures • Recognizing hazards • Know when to get help or leave • Reporting issues

20. Weapons
• Assume that every home has a weapon • Assume that every client could access a weapon • Watch for signs of escalation • Know when to leave or request help. * Look for weapons when you are in someone else’s space • Guns are often in bedroom, knives in kitchen • Never reach for a weapon

21. Office safety
• Arrange your office so that no one sits between you and the door • Maintain physical distance • Ask yourself “Does my office have a calming effect?” • Pictures and personal items • Know your agency policy about visits

22. Self Awareness
• Boundaries / Limit setting behaviors • Communication • Feelings • Intuition • Problem solving skills • Conflict Management

23. Boundaries
• What is acceptable behavior? • How to set limits • Maintaining limits

24. Boundaries
Boundaries set the tone for a professional relationship Know your triggers “What would a reasonable person do? Do you bend your rules? Talk with your supervisor about limits

25. Check
• Is it OK for a client to yell at me? • Is it OK for me to yell at a client? • Is it OK for a client to threaten me? • Is it OK for me to threaten a client? • Is it OK for a client to lie to me? • Is it OK for me to lie to a client?

26. Communication • Verbal • Nonverbal • Paraverbal
• Awareness of ALL communication
• Verbal
• Nonverbal
• Paraverbal

27. Messengers of Intuition
• Nagging feelings • Persistent thoughts • Sarcasm • Wonder • Anxiety • Curiosity • Hunches • Gut feelings • Doubt • Hesitation • Suspicion • Apprehension

28. • Power • Phases of crisis • Appropriate interventions • Exceptions
Client Awareness
• Power • Phases of crisis • Appropriate interventions • Exceptions

29. Power
• Do not be defensive • Do not defend yourself or anyone else • Do not make the client show you that they must be respected • Avoid putting clients in positions that embarrass them. • Help them “Save face”