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Violence Against Social Workers

NCJ Number
154526
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 10 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1995) Pages: 123-130
Author(s)
B Littlechild
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines issues of violence against social work staff in England and Wales.
Abstract
The author outlines a number of issues regarding the ways in which structures and attitudes within social work agencies can affect staff's feelings and actions related to possible violence against social workers. He argues that the development of a culture of support that increases openness, caring responses, reporting, and planning within staff groups and agencies is essential for improving staff safety. A review of previous work identifies some key areas in achieving a supportive agency culture. The central agency policy should encourage staff to report all incidents of violence, including verbal abuse, threats, and sexual and racist violence. Policies should ensure that such reports are properly collated by one person with this responsibility; the results of such collation should be regularly reviewed for discussion with all staff who might be affected. Policies should also encourage the development of local written guidelines that all members of staff will readily understand and be able to use. Local police could provide clear procedures regarding who should be available to provide backup and in what manner, for example, interviewing in a certain room with a viewing window or with a telephone. If an incident occurs, the central and local policies could ensure that the issues for the victim, the perpetrator, and the staff group are dealt with fully and in a satisfactory manner. 26 references