13 Essential Home Visit Safety Tips

Posted: 21 Jan, 2025.

Conducting a home visit, especially when working alone, can be intimidating and high-risk. This is especially true for workers in roles such as community nurseshousing officers, social workers and field service engineers, who often face increased threats of violence and aggression while navigating unfamiliar environments and managing potential safety risks.

To help you stay safe and feel more confident when visiting someone else’s property, we’ve put together some practical tips for ensuring your safety.

1. Plan your visit beforehand

Preparation is essential for ensuring your safety during home visits. Start by researching the area you’re visiting, including looking up the address on a map, planning your route, and considering alternative routes in case of road closures or delays. Familiarising yourself with the surroundings ahead of time means you can act quickly if you need to leave in a hurry.

If possible, it’s also a good idea to find out about the person you are visiting. Check any records for previous incidents or behavioural issues flagged by colleagues. If you have any concerns, speaking to those who have visited them previously can provide valuable insights for managing the visit safely.

2. Take conflict management training

Taking conflict management or de-escalation training can give you the skills to handle difficult or confrontational situations safely. By learning to identify early signs of aggression or distress, you can proactively look to avoid conflict. This training will also teach you techniques to remain calm and composed, giving you the knowledge to defuse tension before it escalates.

3. Park strategically for a quick exit

When travelling by car, prioritise parking in a location that allows for a quick and safe exit. Always aim to park as close to the property as possible, ideally in a well-lit, busy area to deter potential threats. Avoid parking in driveways or tight spaces where your vehicle could become blocked in, restricting your ability to leave in an emergency.

Whenever possible, reverse into a space to make driving away faster and easier. Choose a spot with good visibility and multiple exit routes, avoiding parking near high walls, alleyways, or areas where someone could hide. When you leave your vehicle, ensure it’s locked and keep your keys easily accessible in case you need to leave quickly.

4. Make sure someone knows where you are and when you’ll be back

Always inform a colleague or supervisor of your schedule, including:

  • where you’re going,
  • who you’re visiting, and
  • when you expect to return.

If your plans change, update them as soon as possible to keep them in the loop. This ensures someone is aware of your location and can act quickly if you fail to check in or return as planned.

Personal safety technology can automate location monitoring and raise an alarm during failed check-ins.

5. Ensure your contact details are logged and accessible

Make sure your contact details and key information, such as your mobile number, car registration, and a recent photograph, are logged and accessible to your employer, manager or someone responsible for your safety. This information can be crucial for the police, so having it readily available will allow them to act quickly in an emergency.

6. Wear appropriate clothing

When dressing for a home visit, choose clothing that allows you to move freely and react quickly if needed. Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothes that won’t limit your mobility or make it harder for you to escape or respond in the event of an incident.

Avoid high heels, sandals or large bags that could slow you down or make it difficult to move quickly. Instead, stick to sturdy, flat shoes that you can walk in comfortably and move easily in if necessary. Keep jewellery minimal and discreet, or avoid wearing it all together, to avoid attracting unwanted attention that could make you more vulnerable.

7. Study your environment and do a dynamic assessment

Arriving early gives you the opportunity to observe your surroundings from the safety of your vehicle. Use this time to assess potential exit routes and look for any immediate threats, such as aggressive dogs, suspicious individuals, or physical obstacles. Evaluate how easily you could leave the area in an emergency.

Once you enter the property, continue your dynamic risk assessment. Pay attention to the layout of the space, the location of exits, and potential dangers within the home, such as sharp objects or trip hazards. Constantly reassess your environment and be ready to adjust your actions if the situation shifts.

8. Avoid sharing personal information

Maintain professional boundaries by refraining from sharing personal information such as details about your home address, phone number, or social media profiles.

While it might feel natural to build rapport with service users, sharing personal details can compromise your safety and privacy, especially if a visit takes an unexpected turn. Keep conversations focused on the purpose of the visit and avoid giving any additional details that could put you at risk.

9. Trust your instincts

When you arrive at someone’s home, have a brief conversation on the doorstep to gauge the mental state and mood of the customer before you enter. Pay close attention to any verbal or non-verbal cues that might indicate agitation, distress, or aggression.

Stay alert to any changes in their tone or body language that might indicate a potential threat or discomfort. If at any point you sense that something is off or your safety could be compromised by entering, don’t hesitate to make an excuse and leave.

You can always reschedule the visit or ask for a colleague to accompany you if needed. It’s always better to prioritise your safety over completing a visit.

10. Position yourself safely during the visit

Once inside the property, stay aware of your surroundings. Sit near an exit, ensuring a clear path to the door so that you don’t allow yourself to become trapped. Sit in a hard-backed chair if you can, as this makes it easier to get up quickly if you need to.

Choose a safe place for the meeting and be mindful of any locked doors or rooms that could limit your escape route in an emergency. 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.

11. Carry a personal safety app or device

Carrying a personal safety device, such as Peoplesafe’s MySOS or having access to a lone worker app allows you to get professional help at the touch of a button 24/7 without alerting the other party. When activated, trained Controllers can view your exact GPS location, listen in, communicate with you, and send emergency services directly to your location if required.

For added security, you can set up secret duress code words or phrases, like “blue folder,” to discreetly signal a problem to the Controller without raising suspicion.

If you regularly work in areas with low or unreliable signals, Roamsafe can be used to ensure constant connectivity. This eSIM solution enables the Peoplesafe app to connect to the UK’s four largest networks, providing the same coverage as a device with a roaming SIM card, ensuring you stay connected and able to access help at all times.

12. Set a meeting timer and leave a voice message

Using Peoplesafe’s devices or apps you can set an activity timer to monitor the duration of your appointment. If you fail to cancel the timer or confirm your safety, the system will automatically trigger an alarm to the Peoplesafe control centre, ensuring quick assistance when needed.

You can also record voice messages with key details about your visit and your precise location, such as floor and flat numbers. This ensures emergency services have all the context they need to quickly locate you, helping them respond more efficiently in an emergency.

13. Record the details of any incident or unsafe situation

Lastly, if you encounter any incident or situation that feels unsafe or uncomfortable, even if no harm was done, it’s important to document the details.

Record key information such as the time, date, and nature of the situation, as well as any behaviours or signs that could help others understand the incident. This information can serve as a valuable warning for future visits, ensuring that others are aware of potential risks before they enter the property (as mentioned in tip #1).

If you need to return to a property where you felt uneasy, consider bringing a colleague or supervisor with you. Having another person with you provides an extra layer of security, helps to deter any potential incidents and ensures you have immediate in-person support if the situation escalates.

Download our guide for more practical tips and advice for staying safe when visiting clients.

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