Social Work Settings Analysis

What alarmed me in this week’s chapter “Safety in Social Work Settings” was the 50 to 88 percent of social workers who have experienced workplace violence. This high percentage number made me think about my overall safety at future employment sites as a social worker. To be honest, I have not overthought about social workers being injured on the job until I read this chapter. “ Almost half of all nonfatal injuries in the United States from work-related assaults and violent acts occurred in health care and social services”(). In thinking about the different roles, social workers have in the community, hospitals, schools it makes sense that some of these environments would potentially become harmful and dangerous. As the text points out

I thought this section was helpful, and it provided me with several points about how to deal with someone is struggling with resistant or becomes angry. The examples the chapter provided reminded me that as social workers we would most likely come into contact with people that are angry either in the community or a social setting. If a social worker can keep calm, talk to the client in simple, direct sentences, slow down the pace, and offer positive choices, as well as maintaining healthy physical boundaries the chances of an aggressive altercation can be reduced. Also, I think in doing this may also establish some rapport with the client which can be substantial towards the helping relationship. Also, this technique reminds me of something we use to help de-escalate situations at work called C.P.I (Crisis Prevention Training), and for the most part, it's pretty successful with our

In that situation, we would ask the person to leave, and if we felt our safety was compromised, we would contact the police. Also, we have to mindful of how the kids handle craft supplies, such as scissors pens and pencils, or other items that can become a weapon. For the most part, I think Youth Outlook does an excellent job in providing us a safe environment. They do give us guidelines of what do in an emergency situation at each site, and someone is in charge of being responsible at each location. When our shifts are over for the evening, the staff and volunteers will walk to the parking lot together to ensure we all are safe getting in our cars. When it comes to safety at the agency, I would like to see more training for the volunteers, staff, and interns on de-escalation techniques, mental health first aid, non-violent self-defense, CPR, and safety technology devices, and anger management