At their best, they promote safe social work practice, reduce the chances of a violent or dangerous encounter, and facilitate a quick recovery for the victim and the agency as a whole when things do go wrong. We hope this information will help you consider how safe your agency feels and give you ideas for making it even safer. Safety First Safe agencies talk about and act on safety concerns. All staff members should know how to recognize signs of an impending violent outburst and what they should do about it. During this rehearsal, people practice techniques and responses and learn what needs to be done not only before and during a violent episode, but afterwards, to support the victim and everyone else.
Safety begins before people enter the building.
Focus special attention on the waiting room. Make sure it is pleasant and comfortable, and keep waiting time to a minimum. Carefully monitor temperature, crowding, and noise. Many agencies use silent alarms in this and other areas where clients may be, so that others can be alerted when trouble starts. Organize the agency to promote safety.