Off-Site Visit Safety: Tips for Human Services Providers

Exploring potential safety concerns before they arise is critical in human services—not only to protect professionals but also to support client success and ensure smooth, effective service delivery. Off-site visits, especially those that take place in clients' homes or unfamiliar settings, can pose unique risks.  

These visits are an integral part of the work, allowing professionals to engage with clients in their natural environments, assess needs more effectively, and provide essential services. However, the unpredictability of these settings can make it challenging to maintain both physical and psychological safety, increasing the risk of workplace violence in an already unstable environment.  

We're sharing practical advice and strategies to help you prepare for these visits. Whether you're new to home or off-site visits or a seasoned professional, these tips will help you create a safer, more effective environment for everyone. Think of this as a framework that not only safeguards your well-being but also helps maintain the trust and comfort of your clients. It’s a delicate balance—protecting yourself while fostering the supportive, caring relationships that are at the core of the services you provide.

Why Is Off-Site Visit Safety Important? 

When working outside the controlled environment of an office, there are many variables to consider. These include potential safety hazards, unpredictable client behaviors, and environmental factors like traffic, pets, or even weather conditions. It's important to recognize that safety doesn't start when you walk through a door—it begins before you even leave your office. 

By considering potential risks ahead of time, professionals can be better prepared to navigate them, ensuring that visits go smoothly, and clients receive the support they need in a safe and secure manner. 

How to Set the Foundation for Successful Visits 

Do your homework, and plan for a team approach to any initial visits/intakes.

We recommend a team approach of two staff for any off-site initial visits or intakes. In addition to all the usual paperwork, the team members make sure that they’re aware of all safety considerations, including their client’s disposition, history, the meeting location, and any immediate concerns in the neighborhood. 
  
The best predictor of future violence is past violence, so it’s important to include a history of violence question on all intake forms. During assessments, identify the events and stressors that have contributed to past violence. These Precipitating Factors can help staff identify patterns of behavior (that may or may not be part of the client’s awareness)—this helps staff to be fully engaged in the moment while still being vigilant.

Set clear expectations and identify any mandated reporting requirements in advance.

Before any off-site visit, make sure you have discussed mandated reporting requirements and visit expectations in advance. Filing a report of abuse or neglect with a state agency should not be the first time a client learns that you are a mandated reporter. Also, take time to discuss separate policies regarding weapons or intoxication.

Establish an agenda and prepare to follow it during the appointment. 

A pre-determined agenda provides focus, lessens professional anxieties, and demonstrates that you take your client seriously enough to thoughtfully prepare to meet with them. Of course you need to be flexible about addressing acute concerns, but an agenda establishes a helpful framework for the off-site visit.

Consciously choose what you reveal about yourself.

Don’t give out personal information to clients. Thoughtfully choose what sort of bumper stickers or other potential identifiers you put on your vehicle or belongings.

Ask ahead about pets. 

When you’re pre-planning a home visit, it’s a good idea to ask if there are pets and then determine what steps should be taken regarding your health and safety. Do you have allergies? Is the pet friendly? Can the pet be secured?

Practical Preparations to Ensure Off-Site Visit Safety  

Keep in touch through established call-in procedures.

Set up a call-in procedure with your office if one is not already in place. Make sure people know where you’re going and how long you’ll be there. Some programs require a staff member to contact their supervisor at the end of the day to let them know they’ve completed their work safely—if the supervisor doesn’t get the call, they follow up immediately with an identified emergency contact.  

Check your vehicle before you enter it.

Always make sure you’re the only person gaining entry—investigate your vehicle from outside before you get in, even during the daytime.

Keep all valuables out of sight.

Valuables can identify you, your family, where you live, and other important aspects of your personal privacy. Secure items that might get lost, go missing, or could potentially be used as weapons. If you need to stow valuables in your trunk, do it before you travel to the appointment so that you’re not advertising what you do not want somebody else to target.

Plan what you’ll carry and make sure you’re toting as little as possible.

In an emergency, you may have to leave a location quickly, and you may end up leaving belongings behind—so let this expectation inform what you choose to bring to an appointment. To ensure that keys, phones, or personal safety devices are never left behind, carry them on your person at all times.

Know exactly where you’re going and scout your route if you’ve never been there before. 

If you haven’t been to the appointment location before, take time to drive around the area before the appointment. This helps you learn alternative routes, identify areas of possible risk, and boosts your confidence that you’ll know how to maneuver through the area in the event you need to leave for safety reasons.

Be mindful of your social media presence.

You decide and control what people know about you—monitor your privacy settings on online platforms. Avoid sharing things that could reveal information about you, your family, or where you live, for example. You can’t control how somebody else might use this information if you do reveal it. 

Stay Safe During Off-Site Visit Arrivals 

When you arrive at the appointment site, do a mental assessment of the following: 

• Are there people around? Does their presence impact your visit? Particularly when it comes to home visits, be mindful of other people who may be on the premises for confidentiality and safety reasons. 
• Look for anything that might compromise safety—such as weapons or drug paraphernalia.  
• Be aware of the signs of intoxication. If somebody appears to be impaired by drugs and alcohol, leave.  
• Establish the duration of the appointment as soon as you arrive. Make it clear that you have a schedule to keep and that you are expected elsewhere later. Establish expectations and boundaries up front in case you need to leave for any reason. 
• Listen to your internal warning signals. Trust your instincts—and leave if you don’t feel safe. 

Although we’ve covered preparation, vigilance, and readiness measures, it’s crucial to emphasize that sometimes despite our best efforts, unexpected situations can arise. That’s where your training and confidence come into play. 

What to do if a Crisis Arises During an Off-Site Visit 

If something goes wrong—stay calm and trust your training.  

If you are seeing escalated or aggressive behavior, or if something goes awry during an off-site visit, and all other safe and effective interventions have been tried, call for assistance.

If you need to leave, make sure you take your keys and have a way to call for help.

"Workspace” can include any place that you are with a client, such as a home, car, or in transport. If you must leave your car due to safety concerns, take the keys with you. Call for help by dialing 911 or using your personal device. 
  
If you’re on foot late at night, in a poorly lit area, or feel unsafe for any reason, get somebody on the line either by phone or on your personal safety device and have them talk with you while you’re walking to your destination. And remember to check your car again before entering it! 

Prevent Workplace Violence: Put Your Off-Site Visit Safety Skills into Practice 

Human services work can be impactful and rewarding, so set yourself up for success. These tips aren’t meant to be exhaustive or inclusive, but they do identify the key stages to successfully preparing for and completing an off-site appointment. Community work can be very valuable, impactful, and rewarding. Preparation helps make it so. 
  
Safety in the community starts well before you leave for your appointment. CPI training covers a range of behaviors and offers both personal safety and processing components. But even more importantly, it starts with redirection—tools like the Crisis Development Model℠, or the Decision-Making Matrix℠—keep both physical and psychological safety at the forefront. Understanding which type of approach you should take based on where the client in crisis falls on the development model can make all the difference in successful de-escalation. 

Like personal safety devices, CPI training always keeps the Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security℠ of both you and your clients top of mind.

When it comes to off-site visit safety, utilize crisis intervention and de-escalation training, your instincts, and any equipment at your disposal. A bit of strategic planning can help you set the stage for an optimal outcome, and act with confidence and skill if things go wrong. Every professional should approach off-site visits with a positive frame of mind, ample preparation, and confidence in their training and skills. 

By practicing these strategies and honing your skills, you’ll not only protect yourself and your clients but also create an environment where successful, impactful work can thrive.

Original blog published in September 2018. Updated February 2025.

About the Author

T. D. Loftus is a former Senior Level CPI Certified Instructor. With a Master of Science degree from Northeastern University in Counseling Psychology and a BA in Psychology from Boston College, he's held credentials as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and a compliance officer in a community mental health agency.