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Learning outcomes

By completing this module, you will be able to:

1. Identify safety risks in social work settings.
2. Develop at least one reasonable strategy to increase professional safety

Foundational principles and standards

Social work is a profession that involves safety risks. It’s important to note that safety concerns exist in many aspects of social work and that those concerns are addressed appropriately by agencies and social workers.

Over 44% of social workers responded affirmatively when asked if they experience safety concerns in their workplace (NASW Center for Workforce Studies, 2004). As stated in Social Work Safety: Ultimate Self-Care (Reardon, 2016), “A report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (2015) revealed that nearly three-quarters of the workplace assaults that occurred each year between 2011 and 2013 took place in a health care or social services setting. The vast majority of these assaults were nonfatal but resulted in serious injury and time away from the job.”

Safety is related to various factors.  One is the field we work in, such as support and advocacy programs for those who experience domestic abuse and/or sexual violence and/or societal oppression. Another is the setting, including jails and prisons, child welfare agencies, mental health agencies, and schools.  A third is the client population, particularly clients who may pose a safety risk when the nature of an illness or presenting issues increases aggressive behavior. It’s important to understand that safety must be considered at all times because even situations that are deemed low-risk can quickly change.

The National Association of Social Work and other agencies have encouraged the passage of policies, such as the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act which was introduced and passed in the United States House of Representatives in 2019. It has not yet been approved by the Senate. This act would set up a grant program to develop and enhance workplace safety measures and provide training for health care professionals and social workers.  Even if this policy passes, safety will continue to be a concern in our profession. Thus, social workers must consider the nature of safety and determine appropriate steps to decrease risk when possible.

The National Association of Social Work released its Guidelines for Social Work Safety in 2013.  These guidelines provide the opportunity for social workers to assess the workplace, develop strategies to address safety concerns, and propose agency policies and practices which provide structure for safe working conditions.

When beginning at your agency, it’s important to read through the staff/agency manual and determine if safety policies and practices are in place. Based on the Guidelines for Social Work Safety, areas that should be discussed include:

1. Security measures that are used to ensure that staff information (home address, phone) is kept private and not accessible by the general public;
2. Security measures that are used to ensure that computers, cell phones, and other devices do not report geographical locations (GPS) to the public;
3. Steps taken to ensure that appointments outside of the office (home visits, court, etc) are managed so that there is oversight regarding the location of the social worker involved;
4. Policies regarding the transportation of clients by staff;
5. Office structure, such as lighting, the location of first aid kits, access to stairwells, entrances to the agency (and if those are kept locked), and internal alert systems;
6. Universal precautions used to decrease the likelihood of blood-born pathogens and communicable diseases being transmitted between people, including CDC guidelines on pandemics such as COVID-19;
7. Client assessment tools used to determine the risk of a client’s behavior escalating;
8. Report mechanisms if the social worker experiences unsafe conditions and policies to respond to those instances.

Activity 

During your first weeks at the agency, review the staff/agency manual to determine if the above components are included. Ask your supervisor to discuss safety concerns, including:

1. If or how often safety issues have taken place at the agency and the nature of those concerns;
2. Common strategies staff use to assess and address safety concerns;
3. Ideas for developing your skills in de-escalating aggression in difficult situations, assessing safety, and increasing awareness of the surrounding environment.
4. Specific steps you should take if you are concerned about your safety.

Resources

National Association of Social Work. (2013).  Guidelines for social work safety. Alexandria, VA: National Association of Social Work.

Reardon, C. (2016). Social worker safety: Ultimate safe care. Social Work Today, 16 (5), 14.