10 Essential Home Visit Safety Tips
Stepping into someone else’s property can be intimidating at times, especially if you are alone. Many roles filled by lone workers require staff to carry out home visits by themselves – for example, community nurses, housing officers, carers, social workers and those doing repairs.
We have assembled some tips on how to make home visits safer for lone workers.
1. Plan your visit beforehand
Be prepared. If you are going somewhere new, check out the location prior to your visit so that you are familiar with the area. This helps you get to safety quicker if need be. If possible, it’s also a good idea to find out more about the person you are visiting. Therefore, you’ll be more prepared and aware of potential issues before you arrive.
2. Park your vehicle as nearby as possible
If travelling by car, park somewhere that enables you to make a fast exit. Choose a well-lit area, away from driveways or anywhere that you could be blocked in. Also, make sure you reverse in so it’s easier to manoeuvre out.
3. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you’ll be back
The whereabouts of employees on home visits should be accounted for at all times. This is so that someone is expecting them and will be aware if they fail to arrive back from an appointment on time.
4. Contact details should be stored and easily accessible
Ideally, staff contact details, such as their mobile phone number, car registration and an up-to-date photo should be held on a central system that is accessible to those responsible for employees.
5. Wear appropriate clothing
Dress sensibly, wearing clothing that doesn’t hinder your ability to get away in a hurry. Avoid high-heel footwear and carrying large bags. Jewelry could attract unwanted attention so it’s best to keep this hidden, or better still avoid wearing it altogether.
6. Study your environment and do a dynamic assessment
Arrive early and observe your surroundings from the safety of your vehicle. Note the exits, observe who is present and look for any possible dangers, such as dogs. Assess how easily you’d be able to leave in an emergency.
7. Trust your instincts
When you arrive at someone’s home, have a brief conversation on the doorstep to gauge the mental state of the occupant before you enter. Remain on guard and listen for any signs of trouble. If you sense something is wrong and you feel your safety is compromised by entering the property, make an excuse and leave. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
8. Choose a safe place and position yourself between the door and the other party
Keep a clear path to the door so that you don’t allow yourself to become trapped in. Sit in a hard-backed chair if you can, as this makes it easier to get up quickly. Choose a safe place for the meeting. Kitchens typically have many items that can be used as weapons, such as utensils and knives so it may be safer to meet in a sitting room or another safe alternative.
9. Carry a personal safety device or phone application
Carrying personal safety devices such as Peoplesafe’s MicroGuard device or having access to a lone worker personal safety app allows you to press a button and get help subtly, without alerting the other party. When activated, trained Controllers can view your location; listen in, communicate with you and send for the Emergency services if they feel urgent assistance is required. Secret duress code words or phrases can be chosen beforehand to indicate a problem when overheard – for example, ‘blue folder.’
10. Set a meeting timer and leave a voice message with your exact location
Using Peoplesafe’s devices or apps allows alarms to be set using a timer. If an appointment overruns this will trigger an alert if not manually cancelled. You can record voice messages with exact details on your location down to the floor and flat number, which helps the Police track you down faster.
