Worker safety
Sample policy | Dealing with violence or threatening behaviour: procedure | Worker safety at Court
All organisations require policies about worker safety. Here is a sample policy that address some of the relevant issues in working with people experiencing domestic violence.
Sample policy
All necessary care will be taken in order to provide and maintain a safe environment for staff and clients, whilst interacting with each other in the client’s home, community and the office. Our emphasis is on prevention where possible.
For the purpose of this policy, violence includes verbal and emotional threats and physical attack to an individuals person or property by another individual or group. This may include verbal abuse in person or over the phone and threats of a sexual nature.
Back to top
Dealing with violence or threatening behaviour: procedure
Staff are expected to ensure that they are aware of and up to date with their knowledge of current issues, and individual service plans for each client they are supporting.
The actual steps in any violent or potentially violent situation will depend on the circumstances.
The following is intended as a guide. It is expected staff will use their own discretion when dealing with the situation, taking into account their knowledge and information on the client along with rights and responsibilities.
Staff are expected to err on the side of caution ensuring they remove themselves and any others at risk, when dealing with a violent or potentially violent situation.
Violence or potential violence toward a staff member
The staff member will try and recognise the potential triggers to crisis situations and pre-empt situations of violence arising.
Remain calm
The staff member should try and adopt a calm manner to try not to escalate the situation and be aware of communication skills which can be used to de-escalate the person's anger
- Don't contradict
- Be assertive
- Avoid getting physically stuck between people
- Do not act like an authority
- Be aware of indicators of violence, eg rapid breathing, verbal threats, etc
After any incident ensure that debriefing occurs as soon as possible to discuss issues with the co-ordinator and other colleagues. | Remove yourself from the situation
The staff member should remove themselves from the situation immediately to ensure that they are not putting themselves at risk, or being the trigger for the violent outburst.
Reporting incident to a coordinator
The staff member is to ensure they contact the coordinator immediately once they have removed themselves and await instruction forfurther support and instructions from the Coordinator.
The Coordinator is responsible to ensure a Crisis Intervention Plan is put into action and a strategy is developed, based on the information gathered, to try and eliminate the risk of the violence repeating. The Coordinator is responsible to inform all staff supporting the client of the incident and Crisis Intervention Plan that is in place.
Incident report writing
Staff are required to fill out an Incident Report Form for any situation where violence or potential violence occurs. Completed forms are to be handed to the coordinator for follow up and incorporation with the Crisis Intervention Plan. The incident reports and Crisis Intervention Plans are filed in the clients personal files.
Incidents occurring at Court should immediately be reported to the Clerk of the Court and an Incident report Form completed. |
Back to top
Worker safety at Court
Safety is the most important aspect of intervention in domestic violence matters, and worker safety is as important as the safety of women and children. Taking safety seriously can prevent workers and their clients from being placed in dangerous situations.
Here are some practical tips:
- Never wear an identifying name badge or provide information about your full name.
- Be careful who you give contact details or worker contact cards to. Ask women to keep your contact details private.
- Never provide home contact details, phone numbers or addresses.
- Never park your car near court or in a position where it may be identified by defendants. If possible, use a work car.
- Enter and leave the Court complex via police access if available.
- Keep the women's room a safe place. Don't leave the door open, don't allow strangers (other than police officers or solicitors representing women), defendants or their solicitors to enter the room.
- Liaise with co-workers and court staff about who should be in the room.
- Know where your colleagues are at all times.
- Establish good communication with court staff and police so they can easily be alerted to any difficulties. The Sheriff’s officer can be asked to make regular contact with you throughout the morning.
- Never speak to a defendant alone. Refrain from having contact altogether if possible.
- Ensure your personal details remain private. Consider having a silent enrolment on the electoral roll and a silent telephone number.
- Report any suspicious behaviour to the police or Sheriff’s officer, particularly if the defendant is waiting around once Court is over.
- Look out for any unusual behaviour directed towards your colleagues. Be vigilant and never undervalue the need to actively ensure worker safety.
- Trust your instincts about your own safety.
- Have formal worker safety guidelines written into agency policy.
|
Back to top
|