Social Science - Sociology Assignment 3

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Safety_In_Field_Transcript.docx

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Hello social work students! I’m Dr. Donna McElveen and the Director of Field Education for the Master of Social Work Program at Walden University. Field Education is a crucial part of your educational experience and one that puts you in practice in a social work setting, meeting with clients, and other constituents.

We want you to have a great and rewarding experience, as well as one that is safe. The following presentation is a vital part of your preparation for you field placement. Please listen to it and save it for future reference. A copy is located on our Field Education Website at http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/sosw

Slide 2

There are a number of objectives I want to cover in this training. All are important to your safety in your field placement. They include:

· Your responsibility, and the agency’s responsibility for safety in the context of the internship,

· Identifying safety risks and providing some tips for being safe in various environments,

· Ways to assess the safety of the environment, whether that is in the client’s home, within the agency, or in the community,

· and, developing a safety plan for those settings.

Preparation for a crisis is essential. The more we are mindful and prepare the less we react. Reaction can lead to poor judgement calls and increase risk.

My hope is that this webinar makes you mindful of the importance of safety. I would hope safety would be one of the initial conversations you have with your field supervisor when you begin your internship.

Slide 3

· I should begin by saying that one of the reasons for this session is because as social workers you will work frequently with clients who have histories of violence, aggression, mental illness, and or substance/abuse. Not to mention, many who live in poverty live in neighborhoods that are unsafe or isolated from services and resources. It is important to mention that all neighborhoods, even those with resources and that do not have high crime rates, have risks. So, safety is to be considered in all contexts.

· The universal approach to safety is to approach every situation with awareness for potential safety issues; approach every client with awareness of safety, no matter the ethnicity, gender, or age.

Slide 4

So, what is your responsibility as a student? YOU are ultimately responsible for your own personal safety. Always listen to your instincts about situations, as they are a guide to danger. If you ever feel unsafe, remove yourself from the situation, follow all agency protocols, and contact your field supervisor immediately. After you are out of harms way, contact your faculty liaison about the situation.

To minimize safety risks, you will want to learn to assess the environment for safety risks and have a safety plan in place for all situations.

Slide 5

While you are ultimately responsible to listen to your instincts, remove yourself from potentially threating situations, and alert others of the situation, the agency has a responsibility to you as well.

Our program requires that all field supervisors attend a training on Safety in Field. They are reminded that they should provide you a safety orientation that gives you information on the agency’s protocols and policies. If you do not receive this information, please ask they provide it before you begin seeing clients.

We ask them to remember that you are new to the environment and the profession and may need extra support and reinforcement for situations that may seem “normal” to them but very unfamiliar to you. Never be afraid to ask questions if you are concerned about entering a particular setting. Those who work in the agency, community, and with the client population have probably felt similar concerns and can help you.

Some agencies require that you make home visits to see clients. Home visits can have unpredictable situations, so our policy is you can participate in home visits by yourself, as long as the first two home visits are with your supervisor or another appointed staff member of the agency. After those two visits, if they feel you are ready, you are allowed to make home visits alone. If they feel you need more support, they can make the decision to require someone to attend with you until you are ready to complete them alone. All students must have a home visit waiver form on file with our field office. This form is a part of your application process in the skills lab module.

Slide 6

· So how do you assess risk in order to develop a safety plan?

· It is important to assess risk when meeting with clients in their homes, in the agency, or in the community. Determine what the setting is and identify risks associated with seeing the client in that setting. There are different risks in each setting type. For example, in a home environment, you may need to consider the neighborhood, other individuals in the home, etc. In an office setting you may need to consider the safety of restricted areas, parking, and the general office setting.

· Before meeting clients, it is good to gather historical information about any past incidents of violence, use of substances, mental illness, or negative interactions with the agency. Read supporting documentation that may indicate risk.

· It is also a good idea to discuss any potential risks with your field supervisor. They are in a position to help you manage the risk within the protocols of the agency. For example, there may be particular ways that you respond to incidents and report those within the agency. Or, there may be things they look out for to determine if a police presence is needed, or if you should make other safety decisions.

· Assessing for safety is to provide you information that will help you develop a plan for safety before you enter the environment. Again, planning ahead will increase the chance of you responding instead of reacting to the situation.

Slide 7

When planning for safety for a home visit, it is important to consider the best time of day to make the visit. Would it be more safe to visit in the daytime? Would you want to visit when the client was alone without the presence of other family members?

Another thing to consider is the environment where the visit will be held. Is it a safe neighborhood? Are you familiar with the neighborhood? Is the location isolated? Being familiar with the community environment will help you decide if you feel safe going alone.

During your assessment of the client’s situation you may have uncovered other risks factors that indicate it may be more safe for you to be accompanied. For example, if there is a history of violence with this client, you would NOT visit the home alone.

Your supervisor will probably be aware of the client’s history and recognize the need for an escort. If you are asked to go to a home visit alone and you do not feel safe, you don’t have to go. However, you will want to let your supervisor know of your concern, so that other arrangements can be made to meet the client’s needs.

Slide 8

Again, I want to reiterate, you should NEVER go alone to a home where there is a history of violence. Some other general safety planning tips include:

· Letting your supervisor know when you leave, where you are going, and when you expect to return. Some agencies have sign-in/sign-out logs to keep track of home and community visits.

· Make sure that your vehicle is full of gas, has appropriate documentation, emergency roadside information, etc. In some rural areas, a safety risks often overlooked preparation for inclement weather, and car breakdowns in remote settings.

· Before you leave the office, place your purse/valuables in the truck of the car. This will prevent you from being distracted when you arrive or from you indicating you have valuables in the trunk of your car.

· Make sure that your cell phone is charged and you have entered emergency numbers in your phone.

· Dress comfortably and appropriately for the community. You will want to look confident and professional but not overly adorned with jewelry, and other accessories.

Slide 9

When you arrive to the home or community setting for your meeting with the client. Take a moment to observe the environment.

· Consider the safest place to park. Some agencies have protocols on this that may include parking on the street, under lights, etc.

· Observe what is going on around the home. Are there people hanging out? Do you see suspicious activity?

· Listen for disturbances such as, yelling, screaming, fighting.

· Determine if you feel safe to approach the home. If you don’t leave the area, contact your supervisor and make another plan for meeting the client.

Slide 10

· When you approach the home, introduce yourself clearly. Make sure and let the individual know who you are and why you are there.

· Assess the person/persons you are speaking to. Do they have a calm demeanor? Do they appear intoxicated, disoriented, paranoid, or on high alert?

· Determine if you feel safe to enter. If not, politely let them know that it doesn’t seem to be a good time to meet, so you make other arrangements. Leave the area then contact your supervisor to discuss the situation and make alternative plans. Remember, safety first!

· If you feel safe to enter, make sure to take note of all of the entrances/exits in the home and sit or stand near an exit. Ask is anyone else is in the home at the time. Scan the home for drug paraphernalia, weapons, pets, or other things that may pose a threat to safety.

· Remain calm and confident during the meeting and remain alert, present, and aware of your environment.

Slide 11

While home and community visits have some obvious risks, often we overlook risks within the agency setting. The agency environment has risks associated with its setting, the services provided, and the client population it serves.

As an intern, it will be important for you to learn the safety policies and procedures for that setting, some are mandated by law and some are agency specific. In your first meeting with your supervisor, ask any questions you have about those polices. If your agency has not provided a safety orientation or training, ask for one. This protects you and the clients you serve.

Many organizations or settings have secure areas where people need codes or IDs to enter. Make sure you are aware of where those are and who is allowed in those areas.

Be aware of the parking near or around the agency. Find out where the safest place to park may be. Use your instincts to determine if you feel safe entering or exiting the building alone.

Find out if they have a security team on the premises. Is there someone to walk you to your car at night? Someone to call if you have a safety situation in the building?

Be familiar with the emergency exits in the building. Learn your way around in case of fire, natural disaster, terroristic threat.

Slide 12

Safety planning in the office also includes understanding the risks associated with the population your agency serves. Does your agency provide anger management services? If so, then you may have clients who have aggression and a history of violence. If you are interning in a nursing home, you may have residents who have dementia or mental illness and become agitated or violent. If you work in a youth shelter, you may work with teens who use illegal substances and have violent behavior or aggression.

Familiarize yourself with the risks associated with the population you serve. Search the literature about best practices with clients and risks associated with intervening with them.

Talk to you supervisor about how the agency minimizes the risks in the setting. Ask to attend any trainings offered that will help you de-escalate situations or minimize risk.

Slide 13

If your primary setting for meeting clients is in the office setting, there are a few considerations about the environment of the meeting place.

· Consider where the desk is positioned, or where you sit in the room. Are you able to safely exit if a client becomes violent or agitated?

· Does the agency use emergency codes or panic buttons? Some agencies have these to allow you to alert security about potential safety situations.

· Are there items in the office that could be used as a weapon?

· Are you colleagues aware when you have a closed door meeting? It is always a good idea to let your colleagues know when you will be meeting with a client. Some agencies have schedule boards to manage this.

Safety requires planning. Whether you are planning your visit with a client at the home, or engaging clients daily in the agency, a good safety plan considers the risk and the safest response.

Slide 14

I hope you have learned some helpful tips about safety. I also hope that the training has made you more mindful of your need to assess all situations and plan for safety in all settings.

Here are some general safety tips that may be helpful:

· Always be aware of your environment and the people in the environment

· Carry yourself in a confident manner

· Be purposeful in your actions. Remember, planning helps us respond instead of react.

· Be friendly, but be careful about self-disclosure. Some agencies have strict policies on this because of situations of stalking, harassing, etc. Today, with technology, it is very easy for people to learn a lot about you with just a little information.

As social workers we are trained to assess and plan, but we often forget to do that for ourselves. Please remember to assess risk and plan for safety. Consider safety at all times!

Slide 15

Here are few resources that you may find helpful as you prepare to be safe in your field setting.

I hope you have found this informative and helpful as you move toward your field setting.

Have a wonderful skills lab experience!

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Social Work and Safety

Social workers frequently work with clients who have histories of violence, aggression, mental illness, and/or substance abuse.

Social workers have to be aware of safety regardless of environment.

There are universal precautions to take in your approach to safety.

I should begin by saying that one of the reasons for this session is because as social workers you will work frequently with clients who have histories of violence, aggression, mental illness, and or substance/abuse. Not to mention, many who live in poverty live in neighborhoods that are unsafe or isolated from services and resources. It is important to mention that all neighborhoods, even those with resources and that do not have high crime rates, have risks. So, safety is to be considered in all contexts.

The universal approach to safety is to approach every situation with awareness for potential safety issues; approach every client with awareness of safety, no matter the ethnicity, gender, or age.

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Safety in Field : Student Responsibilities

Safety First!

What’s my plan?

My instincts are saying. . .

Any incidents that you feel were a threat to your personal safety MUST be reported to your Field Supervisor and your Faculty Liaison.

To minimize safety risks, you will want to learn to assess the environment for safety risks and have a safety plan in place for all situations.

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Safety in Field

Agency Responsibilities:

Provide you with information ab out their safety protocols and policies

Recognize your role as an intern and provide you support in potentially risky situations

If you are required to do home visits, a staff member from the agency must accompany you on the first two visits.

All students must sign a home visit waiver form for home visits

This form is part of your field application process.

Our program requires that all field supervisors attend a training on Safety in Field. They are reminded that they should provide you a safety orientation that gives you information on the agency’s protocols and policies. If you do not receive this information, please ask they provide it before you begin seeing clients.

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Safety Assessment

So how do you assess risk in order to develop a safety plan?

It is important to assess risk when meeting with clients in their homes, in the agency, or in the community. Determine what the setting is and identify risks associated with seeing the client in that setting. There are different risks in each setting type. For example, in a home environment, you may need to consider the neighborhood, other individuals in the home, etc. In an office setting you may need to consider the safety of restricted areas, parking, and the general office setting.

Before meeting clients, it is good to gather historical information about any past incidents of violence, use of substances, mental illness, or negative interactions with the agency. Read supporting documentation that may indicate risk.

It is also a good idea to discuss any potential risks with your field supervisor. They are in a position to help you manage the risk within the protocols of the agency. For example, there may be particular ways that you respond to incidents and report those within the agency. Or, there may be things they look out for to determine if a police presence is needed, or if you should make other safety decisions.

Assessing for safety is to provide you information that will help you develop a plan for safety before you enter the environment. Again, planning ahead will increase the chance of you responding instead of reacting to the situation.

Environment

Home

Office/Agency

Client History

History of violence, mental illness, or negative interactions with agency

Read agency documentation on the client’s situation and other supporting documentation

Colleague Input

Get input from Field Supervisor about the potential risks.

Talk with colleagues to get additional information to assess risk.

Community

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Planning for Safety Home Visits/Community

Your supervisor will probably be aware of the client’s history and recognize the need for an escort. If you are asked to go to a home visit alone and you do not feel safe, you don’t have to go. However, you will want to let your supervisor know of your concern, so that other arrangements can be made to meet the client’s needs.

When is the best time?

Consider the street, neighborhood, or area.

Should you go alone?

High crime, isolated location, unfamiliar setting?

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Safety Planning for Home/Community Visits

Never go alone if there is a history of violence.

Always let your supervisor know where you are going and how long you will be gone.

Have your vehicle prepared (gas, roadside assistance information, etc.)

Place your purse/valuables in the trunk prior to leaving the office.

Make sure your cell phone is charged and you have important emergency numbers.

Dress comfortably and appropriately.

Again, I want to reiterate, you should NEVER go alone to a home where there is a history of violence. Some other general safety planning tips include:

Letting your supervisor know when you leave, where you are going, and when you expect to return. Some agencies have sign-in/sign-out logs to keep track of home and community visits.

Make sure that your vehicle is full of gas, has appropriate documentation, emergency roadside information, etc. In some rural areas, a safety risks often overlooked preparation for inclement weather, and car breakdowns in remote settings.

Before you leave the office, place your purse/valuables in the truck of the car. This will prevent you from being distracted when you arrive or from you indicating you have valuables in the trunk of your car.

Make sure that your cell phone is charged and you have entered emergency numbers in your phone.

Dress comfortably and appropriately for the community. You will want to look confident and professional but not overly adorned with jewelry, and other accessories.

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Safety Planning for Home/Community Visits

After you arrive to the home:

Consider the safest place to park.

Observe the environment around the home

Listen for disturbances, yelling, screaming, fighting.

Determine if you feel safe to approach the home, or if you need to leave and contact your supervisor.

When you arrive to the home or community setting for your meeting with the client. Take a moment to observe the environment.

Consider the safest place to park. Some agencies have protocols on this that may include parking on the street, under lights, etc.

Observe what is going on around the home. Are there people hanging out? Do you see suspicious activity?

Listen for disturbances such as, yelling, screaming, fighting.

Determine if you feel safe to approach the home. If you don’t leave the area, contact your supervisor and make another plan for meeting the client.

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Safety Planning for Home/Community Visits

Approaching the Home

Introduce yourself clearly

Assess the person/persons with whom you are speaking

Demeanor?

Intoxicated?

Disoriented?

On high alert?

Determine if you feel safe to enter

Note the location of the doors in the home and sit near an exit.

Ask who is present in the home

Scan for weapons, drug paraphernalia, pets, etc.

Observe for any signs of danger.

When you approach the home, introduce yourself clearly. Make sure and let the individual know who you are and why you are there.

Assess the person/persons you are speaking to. Do they have a calm demeanor? Do they appear intoxicated, disoriented, paranoid, or on high alert?

Determine if you feel safe to enter. If not, politely let them know that it doesn’t seem to be a good time to meet, so you make other arrangements. Leave the area then contact your supervisor to discuss the situation and make alternative plans. Remember, safety first!

If you feel safe to enter, make sure to take note of all of the entrances/exits in the home and sit or stand near an exit. Ask is anyone else is in the home at the time. Scan the home for drug paraphernalia, weapons, pets, or other things that may pose a threat to safety.

Remain calm and confident during the meeting and remain alert, present, and aware of your environment.

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Safety Planning for the Office

Know the agency’s policies regarding safety.

Are there security codes/IDs for restricted areas?

Where is the safest place to park?

Does the agency have security officers?

Where are the emergency exits?

Being new to the agency environment, it is important to become familiar with policies, the agency environment, and overall setting.

Many organizations or settings have secure areas where people need codes or IDs to enter. Make sure you are aware of where those are and who is allowed in those areas.

Be aware of the parking near or around the agency. Find out where the safest place to park may be. Use your instincts to determine if you feel safe entering or exiting the building alone.

Find out if they have a security team on the premises. Is there someone to walk you to your car at night? Someone to call if you have a safety situation in the building?

Be familiar with the emergency exits in the building. Learn your way around in case of fire, natural disaster, terroristic threat.

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Safety Planning for the Office

Familiarize yourself with the risks associated with the client population.

Medical settings – agitated patients

Treatment centers- aggression, violence, etc.

Schools- weapons at school, bullying, aggression

Learn agency protocols in place for minimizing risk with the client population.

One of the first things to consider when assessing risk in this setting is the context of services and the client population

Familiarize yourself with the risks associated with the population you serve. Search the literature about best practices with clients and risks associated with intervening with them.

Talk to you supervisor about how the agency minimizes the risks in the setting. Ask to attend any trainings offered that will help you de-escalate situations or minimize risk.

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Safety Planning in the Office

How is the desk positioned? Are you able to easily exit the room if the client is agitated?

Are there panic codes or buttons?

Is the office free of items that can be used as weapons?

Are you colleagues aware when you are in a closed door setting?

An important part of safety planning in the office is being aware of the interview setting

If your primary setting for meeting clients is in the office setting, there are a few considerations about the environment of the meeting place.

Consider where the desk is positioned, or where you sit in the room. Are you able to safely exit if a client becomes violent or agitated?

Does the agency use emergency codes or panic buttons? Some agencies have these to allow you to alert security about potential safety situations.

Are there items in the office that could be used as a weapon?

Are you colleagues aware when you have a closed door meeting? It is always a good idea to let your colleagues know when you will be meeting with a client. Some agencies have schedule boards to manage this.

Safety requires planning. Whether you are planning your visit with a client at the home, or engaging clients daily in the agency, a good safety plan considers the risk and the safest response.

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General Safety Tips

Be aware of your environment and the people present in the environment.

Carry yourself in a confident manner.

Be purposeful in your actions.

Be friendly, but be careful about self-disclosure.

Consider safety at ALL times!

I hope you have learned some helpful tips about safety. I also hope that the training has made you more mindful of your need to assess all situations and plan for safety in all settings.

Here are some general safety tips that may be helpful:

Always be aware of your environment and the people in the environment

Carry yourself in a confident manner

Be purposeful in your actions. Remember, planning helps us respond instead of react.

Be friendly, but be careful about self-disclosure. Some agencies have strict policies on this because of situations of stalking, harassing, etc. Today, with technology, it is very easy for people to learn a lot about you with just a little information.

As social workers we are trained to assess and plan, but we often forget to do that for ourselves. Please remember to assess risk and plan for safety. Consider safety at all times!

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Resources

National Association of Social Workers (NASW). (2013). Guidelines for social worker safety in the workplace. Retrieved from: https://www.socialworkers.org/practice/naswstandards/safetystandards2013.pdf

National Association of Social Workers, New York Chapter. (2014). Safety tips for home visits from a veteran NYC social worker. Retrieved from: http://www.naswnyc.org/?489

Saturno, S. (n.d.). Violent crime and social worker safety. Social Work Today, Web Exclusive. Retrieved from: http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/exc_032511.shtml

Walden MSW Field Education Website

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/fieldexperience/sosw

Here are few resources that you may find helpful as you prepare to be safe in your field setting.

I hope you have found this informative and helpful as you move toward your field setting.

Have a wonderful skills lab experience!

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FIELD EDUCATION

Safety in Field

MSW Skills Lab I

Dr. Donna McElveen, LISW

Director of Field Education

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Learning Objectives

Explain student and agency responsibility for safety in the placement

Explain general safety risks for social workers

Discuss the use of a safety assessment

Discuss the importance of a safety plan

Identify potential safety risks

Review strategies for addressing safety risks

There are a number of objectives I want to cover in this training. All are important to your safety in your field placement. They include:

Your responsibility, and the agency’s responsibility for safety in the context of the internship,

Identifying safety risks and providing some tips for being safe in various environments,

Ways to assess the safety of the environment, whether that is in the client’s home, within the agency, or in the community,

and, developing a safety plan for those settings.

Preparation for a crisis is essential. The more we are mindful and prepare the less we react. Reaction can lead to poor judgement calls and increase risk.

Social Science - Sociology Assignment 3

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