In the last article, we discussed how IFPS practitioners can keep themselves safe while in the field. In this post, we would like to focus on what supervisors can do to assist their workers in staying safe in the field.

There are three types of things supervisors can do to help their IFPS practitioners stay safe when working with families in their neighborhoods and homes:

1. Training and preparation
2. Preparation for specific family situations
3. Availability in emergencies

Training and Preparation

• Prevention is the first line of defense. Take steps to ensure the safety of all practitioners before they are needed.
• Conduct in-house training to be sure that practitioners understand the importance of keeping themselves safe and have strategies for doing so (e.g., plan an emergency escape route).
• Offer ongoing training on verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Identify high-crime neighborhoods.
• Make sure you are approachable to so that practitioners feel comfortable talking about how they feel in the field.
• Encourage practitioners to report back to you immediately if they feel they or their clients are at risk.
• Keep a session log to document the practitioner’s whereabouts.
• Know the types of cars that your practitioners drive.

Preparation for Specific Family Situations

• Complete a risk assessment for each client family.
• Plan in advance with the practitioner what safety measures are needed with each family or when going into a specific neighborhood.
• Ask practitioners to check in by phone at pre-arranged times when they are in potentially risky situations.
• Establish procedures if a practitioner does not call in at expected times.
• Assist in the field when needed. Offer—don’t wait to be asked.
• Implement a buddy system, as needed.

Availability in Emergencies

• Be available to offer support during emergencies by phone or in person.
• Keep your phone with you at all times.
• Ask another team member to be on call if you know you won’t be available.
• Offer strategies to defuse the situation.
• Provide effective and clear communication in emergencies.
• Don’t hesitate to call the police when necessary.

Supervisors around the nation, we would like to hear from you. Please share your experiences and your safety tips for keeping your practitioners safe. We will all benefit from your suggestions.

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Posted by  Moneefah Jackson

IFPS is a strengths-based program that focuses on keeping families together while teaching them problem resolution skills so that they can reduce the conflict in their lives and increase their overall safety.

Safety of all family members is the primary focus of IFPS. In order to help families, IFPS practitioners must also protect their own safety. Since IFPS services are provides in families’ homes and neighborhoods, IFPS practitioners sometimes find themselves in situations where their own safety is at risk.

Here are some situations IFPS practitioners have faced followed by suggestions for ways for staying safe. How do they compare to your own experiences?

• Have you ever had a child stand poised to hit you, spit at you, or bite you?
• Have you ever had to walk through a stairway or stand in an elevator with the décor of urine puddles or broken glass?
• While driving, have you ever had to drive up on the sidewalk to get away from a police chase?
• When walking to the client’s home, have you ever had to run back to your car as you feared a gang was coming after you? (But later you realize that they were just competing with each other to get to you first so as to sell you their drugs.)
• Have you ever encountered a 7-year-old child running outside to catch up to you after your session was over to hand you a drug vial (just to prove that his mother was actively using), leaving you now to drive off with drug paraphernalia in your car?

What can we do to stay safe in these and other risky situations?

Here are some ideas about ways we, as IFPS practitioners, can keep ourselves safe in the field while providing the most effective services to our IFPS families.

In potentially dangerous neighborhoods:

• Wear appropriate attire. Wear clothes that don’t stand out but still are professional. Avoid wearing provocative clothing.
• Wear covered shoes.
• Avoid wearing jewelry that will bring unnecessary attention to you.
• Carry a minimum of belongings with you.
• Be careful where you park. Generally, park as close to your destination as possible.

Wherever you are:

• Always be alert and on guard.
• If you are entering a building with an elevator, always check the elevator before getting inside. Send the elevator to the basement and wait for it to come back to you.
• If you are assigned to work in a high rise or apartment building, always check your surroundings when you walk through the public areas.
• Never enter a home unless you are invited in.
• When you enter a client’s home, assess the surrounding areas to plan an escape route.
• Keep your cell phone fully charged and close at hand.
• Program emergency contact numbers into your cell phone.
• Keep your gas tank full.
• Check your car prior to getting into it.
• Carry a spare car key and keep it close to you.
• Avoid parking in front of your clients’ home.
• Carry a small flash light.
• Always have your agency’s identification with you.

When people are angry:

• Use active listening and other diffusion techniques.
• Stay calm.
• Maintain a respectful and empathetic demeanor.
• Set limits and clearly state expectations with clients.
• Remember to always trust your gut feelings.
• Do not forget to reach out to your supervisor for help.

There are a host of other safety ideas that will not be enumerated at this time. Why? Because we would like to hear from you! So please share with us your experiences and your safety tips so that we all can benefit from keeping ourselves safe in the field.

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Posted by Moneefah Jackson