Personal Safety

One of my favourite topics is personal safety and I am known to many in the social work field to take this VERY seriously.

I believe that social workers are at particular risk of being verbally or physically assaulted due to the work we often do with dangerous and/or unstable client populations.  This could include corrections, the mentally ill, high risk teens, and those experiencing addictions issues.  These types of clients may not always have control of their actions so it is important that you think proactively so that neither you nor your client gets in trouble!

So in the most logical of terms what does this mean?  I touched upon a few of these points in previous posts.  They include:

• Before meeting with a client, especially a new one try to gain as much information as possible.  Do they suffer from any issues that may affect your personal safety or are they known to be violent?  If so, meet them at the office, with another worker or with the police.
• Always tell you supervisor and co-workers where you are if you are meeting a client outside of the office.  Give them an estimated time when you will be back and bring a fully charged cell phone with you.
• If you suspect that a client is stalking you by hanging around outside the office where you work, inform your supervisor immediately and make a plan of going to your vehicle with a co-worker at the end of the day.  Another tip would be not parking in a highly visible area so the client does not learn what vehicle you drive.  Always make a plan to arrive at work at the same time as another co-worker as well.  Also contact the police if you truly believe this client could pose serious physical harm to yourself.
• Never give clients personal information such as your phone number, your address or what neighbourhood you live in, where your family members or close friends live, or any places you frequent regularly.
• When clients ask personal questions deflect back to the situation and why you are meeting with them.  If you do not feel comfortable saying if you have children or are married then DO NOT DO SO.  It is perfectly alright to draw that line.
• When meeting with highly violent clients be conscious of wearing any objects that you could be choked with such as loose jewellery or scarves.  Try and keep a safe physical distance between yourself and the client as much as possible.
• Always sit near an exit point and ensure the client is not blocking access to any of these points.
• If you do not feel comfortable meeting with a client alone then you have the right to refuse.  Wait until another worker or police officer can attend with you.  ALWAYS listen to your instincts.
• Take personal safety courses and self defence courses to ensure that you are prepared for the worst situations.
• If you get attacked, remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible, seek medical assistance (if necessary) and inform your supervisor immediately.  Take pictures if you have any noticeable marks and contact the police.  You might also want to meet with a counsellor if you feel like you need the psychological support.

There are social work jobs that are inherently more dangerous to our personal safety than others.  Verbal abuse seems to be a common theme however no matter what social work area you work in.  Honestly ask yourself how much risk you can live with and adapt your work environment to meet your needs.  It could mean changing jobs or even changing careers if the potential risk to your physical and mental safety becomes too much.  Because sometimes you can't put a price on peace of mind.