Safety in Field

42 Chapter 4: Personal Safety

attempts at violence toward social workers, it is of the utmost importance that students

learn how to avoid such danger and deal with it should it actually occur.

In addition to the physical dangers associated with certain circumstances and rypes of practice, exposure tojob-related danger can lead rc negatbe outcotnes for social work-

ers such as anxiety, iow morale, burnout, family stress, cynicism, and high job turnover

rates. As a social work practicum student, you must be cognizant of the dangers you face

so that you do not experience physical or emotionai assaults. You need to exercise certain

precautions So as to reduce risks to your safefy. Moreover, you must know what steps to

take when you encounter a dangerous siruation rather tlan assume that you are not in

danger or that you can handle siruations without training and consideration of specific

guidelines and recommendations.

ffiACKGRML}ruM AND CSftXTEXT

Although social work practice occurs in the context of potential dangeq it is possible to

prevenr violent incidents from occurring, as well as to reduce the threat and potential

of harm. Knowing the sources of possible harm will help greatly, as will understanding

how to react when threats occur or when they are imminent. This section summarizes

the various sources of harm, induding high-rsk settings, certain social work pracaces and

intervendons that can present danger, and potentially dangerous clients.

Certain high-risk settings present more risk to social workers than others.

Examples of such settings include child protection agencies, corrections programs,

forensic units of psychiatric hospitals, shelters for the homeless population, and resi-

dential faciiities for youth who may be aggressive and impulsive. These settings are

potentially dangerous because some of those served may have tendencies to-

ward the use of violence. However, remember that any Practice setting can

be threatening because ciient-worker interactions often involve emotionally

charged situations and concerns. Even clients with no previous history of vi-

olence or high-risk behaviors can, under certain circumstances, pose a threat

to social workers. Certain social work t)tactices and intetventioas have a greater likelihood

of placing the social worker at risk than others. Examples of such activities

include the initial investigation of child abuse allegations, the involuntary re-

moval of a child from a parent's home, Protection of a victim of domestic

After watching this video about the work to make safety training

mandatory for social workers in Massachusetts. reflect on the challenges to institutional- izing such safety training. www.youtube.com /watch?v=bmldqOsSyFY

violence, outreach to youth invoived in gang activiry home visits with clients on proba-

tion or paroie, intervention with drug- and alcohol-involved clients, ffansporting dients

who do not wish to be moved, behavioral management of persons with certain forms

of brain rnjury and the monitoring of clients in correctional settings. In these siruafions,

social work actions can be perceived by clients as threatening or coercive' This may result

in heightened emotion or defensiveness on the part of clients and an inclination to use

violence. Social workers who work with potefltially dangerous clients face the difficult chal-

lenge of remaining humane, open, and accePting of clients while also being alert to the

porriUitiry of danger or attack. It is important not to view every client as a potential

rhrear, but it is also very crucial to recognize a client who might be a threat' Although