Health Medical Homework Help

Respond to the blog post of three colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

• Make a suggestion to your colleague’s post.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

DB 1—

Megan—

A description of your personal safety plan for your field education experience

As a social worker we are in a field where clients may not always be open to our assistance. Clients, in the human services field, may become angry and upset when working in these settings, and could pose a danger to the social work intern. However, many dangerous situations can be avoided if an intern requests assistance (Birkenmaier & Berg-Weger, 2017). This is part of my safety plan, making sure I am aware of my situations and ask for help when needed. Placing myself and my desk closest to the exit will also ensure my safety when with clients as it gives me a way out of any difficult situations where they may become volatile. Making sure I am well versed in de-escalation techniques is also part of my plan to keep myself safe.

An explanation of how your personal safety plan might differ from your agency safety plan during your field education experience

My safety plan and the agency safety plan are very similar, policies are in place to ensure that the safety of everyone is considered, especially the clinicians/interns. One specific example of a policy in place for safety is being able to call the front desk and ask for a glass of water when we have an angry client in our office. Once this code is put into play a team of assistance will come to my office to assist in de-escalation/safety. We are also required to place ourselves closest to the door, making sure the desk is in between myself and the client, for an easy exit and safety. We also have to take trainings, yearly, for de-escalation in crisis situations.

Reference

Birkenmaier, J., & Berg-Weger, M. (2017). Practicum Companion for Social Work, The: Integrating Class and Field Work (Merrill Social Work and Human Services) (4th ed.). Pearson.

DB 2—

LaTonja—

Personal Safety Plan

My personal safety plan is to leave the office before dark and have an awareness of all entrances and exits of the building. As a new intern who is unfamiliar with my agency’s location, I will decline night sessions so that I do not get lost in an unfamiliar location. Furthermore, as a young woman, I do not feel comfortable being in the office after dark and having to walk in an empty parking lot. Lastly, an awareness of all entry points of the agency will aid me in the event that I need to make a quick exit. In the event that there is a hostile client, active shooter, fire, or natural disaster, having a mental map of the office will best serve me during an emergency.

Personal Safety Plan VS. Agency’s Safety Plan

My agency’s safety plan consists of a silent alarm at the front office. Once notified of an emergency, the front staff will press the silent alarm to alert the local authorities. This differs from my safety plan due to my personal consideration of entry points of the office, awareness of surroundings, and safety during individual sessions. While the nature of our work is not considered risky like working in child protective services or a mandated substance abuse program, there is still a possibility that we can encounter aggressive clients. Nevertheless, as a rising social, I plan to use this opportunity to discuss various safety protocols for various scenarios with my field instructor.

DB 3—

Rasheeda—

When working in any arena where you are dealing with abuse there is not only concern for the safety of the client but also staff. My field is at a domestic violence shelter & safety literally starts from the outside in. And because of the nature of the services those providing the services can become part of the stalking by the perpetrator.

“Prevention can occur at three levels, preventative education for social workers, individual prevention strategies, and organizational policies that enhance safety (Regehr, Glancy 2011)”. The shelter itself does not look like a shelter; it is disguised as a company. Everyone has to be buzz into the building & another set of doors to get to the offices. All the exits are shown for the office areas. Although the shelter is upstairs it requires a key fob to enter via stairwell & the elevator. Clients are asked to not disclose the location. This is also mandatory when they are placed in hotels under an alias. Clients have to sign in & out, adhere to a curfew, & follow all the house rules.

When looking at my personal safety I ensure that there are no unfamiliar vehicles in the parking lot. If clients come to the office to complete paperwork, I make sure that they have left the parking lot before leaving the building. Because I have worked with many agencies in community I do not share where I am doing my field or the location. The reason is to protect the women & families in the shelter. But to also protect any client who is seeking services & have open DFCS cases. My safety plan is about really maintaining a level of anonymity. My safety plan does not differ from that of the agency there is a level of discretion & accountability that is needed to ensure that those who give & seek services are safe.

Regehr, C., & Glancy, G. D. (2011). When social workers are stalked: Risks, strategies, and legal protections. Clinical Social Work Journal, 39(3), 232-242. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.1007/s…