I always walk into the house with my briefcase in front of me and wear stout boots because small dogs bite ankles. If the owners won’t put the dog away, remain standing in case you need to fend it off. Be aware of the furniture in the room, like the sofa or coffee table, so you can place it between you and the dog. David Ryan, chair of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors In my experience, the darling little handbag dogs are the ones to watch out for. I would say “I’m terribly sorry, I’ve got an allergy” or “I’m worried about dogs because I had a terrible experience when I was a child”. That way the problem is you, not the dog. Jill Manthorpe
I try to move closer to a window. CareSpace user You could say: “It’s hot in here” and ask to open a window. Or you could try “I need a break to phone the office”, then go outside. If you’re just meeting to find out how they are, ask to meet in a social setting so they have to pop outside to smoke. Jill Manthorpe Suggest a fire safety check. Smoking materials are the single largest cause of domestic fires and domestic fire deaths in the UK and the fire brigade will happily come round to the house. They may install a smoke detector, advise on cooking and heating arrangements and warn against smoking indoors. Martin Dockrell, head of policy for Action on Smoking and Health
Nothing you can do about it, you just have to grow a sense of humour. CareSpace user You could say: “Sorry I’m a bit early. I’m going out to put money in the meter. Why don’t you get dressed and put the kettle on?” Jill Manthorpe, director of the Social Care Workforce Research Unit, King’s College London If you don’t need to be there at that time, re-arrange or tell them you’ll wait while they put some clothes on. If the person is charming and wearing a substantial bathrobe rather than a towel the size of a face cloth, you could ignore it. Sue White, professor of social work, Lancaster University
Don’t sit down, or perch on the end of the chair. CareSpace user Usually I’ll try to sit on my nice, washing machine-friendly coat rather than make an issue of it. And I keep a change of clothes in my desk drawers at work. I learned that the hard way after sitting on a wet patch. CareSpace user A change of clothing is great but if you use a bicycle it can be difficult. Tissues are useful for any spillages. Jill Manthorpe Make sure you know where to find public toilets of an acceptable standard, and ensure you have some body spray handy for when you leave the house. If you are worried about insects, use insect repellent spray. If you are worried about rats or mice, wear bicycle clips to stop them running up your trouser leg. Jane Foggin, senior social work lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Greenwich University in London has designed a computer simulation which allows social work students to act out home visits on laptops and university computers. The prototype (pictured), developed by students and staff, is based on some of the issues that arose in the Baby Peter case in Haringey. It features three main characters: Elli, who lives with her two young children; Luke, a man in the house who is not the children’s father; and Brendan, a social worker.In the simulation, which takes place in a virtual learning environment called Maritime Island, students play the part of Brendan. There have been reports of shouting and the sound of children crying in the house, and Brendan visits to make a section 47 child protection enquiry. When he arrives, there is a large, angry dog in the house and Luke is there, drunk. There is smashed glass on the floor and one of Elli’s children, a baby, is crying. The decisions the students make during the simulation lead them to two possible endings: either Luke gets angry and throws Brendan out of the house; or Luke leaves and Elli reveals to Brendan that her other child, a little girl, is locked in a cupboard upstairs.“It can be done as a group exercise,” says Jane Reeves, director of the Centre for Research with Fragile Families at Greenwich University. “So you can pause the game at points and discuss the options.”The university is holding a workshop on the development of the simulation on 22 June.“We would like to create scenarios in different places on Maritime Island, such as a hospital or a children’s centre,” says Reeves. “This is not about gimmicks; it’s about getting people to reflect on what they have seen and what they would do.”
What other risks do social workers face on home visits?More
25 May 2012
24 May 2012
23 May 2012
22 May 2012
