About this resource
Outreach and home visits are valuable but carry risks for workers. This checklist covers planning, check-in and check-out systems, arriving, staying aware during the visit, leaving if you feel unsafe and debriefing afterwards, alongside your organisation's safety procedures.
Purpose
To support consistent safety practices for workers in the community.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Community services and case workers. Also relevant for social workers, disability support workers, youth workers.
Client or participant group: Community services workers conducting home and outreach visits.
Practice setting: Home visits, outreach and community-based work.
Suggested uses
- Every outreach visit
- Worker orientation
- Supervision
- Safety audits
Instructions for practitioners
- Follow your organisation's work health and safety procedures.
- Always use the check-in system.
- Trust your instincts and leave if you feel unsafe.
- Report incidents and near misses.
Accessibility considerations
Editable HTML source available for adaptation to local procedures.
Scope and limitations
A practice checklist. It does not replace your organisation's safety procedures.
Research basis
Case management practice standards describe assessment, planning, coordination, review and planned exits with the person at the centre.
- Case Management Society of Australia and New Zealand. (2013). National standards of practice for case management (3rd ed.). https://www.cmsa.org.au/
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
