So, I'm talking about home visits because we do them every day as social workers. They are a huge part of the statutory and voluntary work that we do. If you are a newly qualified social worker in children's services, you will be undertaking home visits under either Section 17 or Section 47 of the Children Act. My summer series of masterclasses is starting in June, and the first masterclass is all about home visits. By attending, you will leave the masterclass feeling more confident and competent in terms of your actions, observations, and recordings in and around home visits.

So, I am going to start with two disclaimers or two things that I think are really important to talk about when we're thinking about home visits. The first of those things is that as a new social worker, if you are feeling scared, overwhelmed, anxious, nervous, or frightened when you think about doing a home visit or before a home visit, those feelings are entirely normal. And I don't think we should ever minimize what a big undertaking it is when you are completing a home visit as a social worker. You are stepping into somebody's home, their world, their life, their history. And you are doing that often as a stranger, as someone who might not necessarily have been invited. You might be doing that in a situation where there is animosity, conflict, and challenge. That is huge. And I'm talking about that before going into anything else about home visits because I don't want you as a new social worker to minimize the feelings that you have around that. Because if we minimize those feelings, we minimize the significance of a home visit in the first place. And if you're knocking on somebody's door feeling stupid about the way you feel, thinking that nobody else feels this way, that you're the only person in the office who seems to be nervous or anxious about this, you're going to go into that visit with that nervous and anxious energy. It's better to accept and acknowledge your feelings of being scared, anxious, and overwhelmed because that's okay. You're about to do something that is really overwhelming, and that will change the way you enter into that home visit and the way you practice.

The second thing that is really important to mention is that I am talking from a position of supporting and creating resources for newly qualified social workers based on my experience as a social worker. The feelings of fear, anxiety, and overwhelm are undoubtedly experienced by people on the other side of the door tenfold. So when I'm talking about those feelings for new social workers, I am in no way comparing that to the feelings that people have when they have a social worker in their life for whatever reason. People with lived experience, experts by experience, and there will be some of you watching or listening who have been on both sides of the door and have that unique perspective. But it's important to say that when I'm talking about any social work tasks, it's vital that we hold in mind the experience of the people we're actually working with and trying to help and support.

Now, let's move on to the five steps to planning home visits. I did a poll on Instagram recently about the biggest challenges when it comes to home visits, and the majority of responses were about planning for home visits. So I'm going to go through five steps that are helpful to think about. Some of these might be things you already do within your team, but some of you might just need a reminder or a refresher. Additionally, when you feel overwhelmed around home visits, it can be hard to think logically about the order of things to consider before going on a home visit. So maybe this is something you can come back to whenever those feelings come up.

So, the first thing that is important to think about is your assessment skills prior to going out on a home visit. Even if there are unknowns, even if it's somewhere that you haven't been before, how can you use your assessment skills before you've gone out? What information is available to you in terms of your safety? Is there information on the system? Hate the phrase "the system," but is there information available to you about previous risks that you need to be aware of? Things like whether there are certain family members where different risks might be identified around that person's behavior. Because we don't want to label a person as a risk, but it might be choices that they've made or behavior that they've shown. So, think about what you can do. Again, often before, maybe if you are on duty week and you have assessments coming in, we might get a referral through, and the information we got straight away might make us panic. We think we have to rush out on a home visit. Even taking five minutes to sit and read through the information that you do have will help you start to build a little bit of an assessment before that home visit. And it's five minutes that you would probably just spend flapping about anyway, or I would know as a new social worker. So, you might as well just take that time to do a little bit of reading, even take some little notes, make sure that you've got certain pieces of information correct before you then go on that home visit.

The second thing to think about when you are planning home visits is timing. And I can already hear the voices saying, "I never have enough time anyway," and I get that. But the thing with time is not to get into the whole philosophical thing of time is just a concept. But if you book in back-to-back home visits, and if you're booking in however many visits within your day, if that's not humanly possible, it's not humanly possible. Even if you can fit it all into your calendar, if you can't get from one place to the next within the time, you're always going to be working late. You might as well be realistic about your time, about your journey to the visit, your journey from the visit, and onward, so that you can make sure you're not turning up late. Because that hugely impacts you. If you turn up late, to me, you're bound to be flustered and even more anxious and nervous. If you turn up late, it shows a huge amount of disrespect to the person that you were going to visit, even if it's something that wasn't even... if it's circumstances out of your control impacted you being late. But also, then it impacts your relationship with that person. It gets things off on the wrong foot. If that person on the other side of the door is worried, anxious, scared about a social worker visiting and they are sitting, watching the clock because you said you'd be there at a certain time, then that whole run-up to you arriving, it's going to be filled with that anxiety. And that's going to impact how effective and supportive your home visit can be in the first place.

So, when you think about all those things and how they can compound into the rest of your work, your reassessment, your future working relationship with somebody, really think about whether it's just worth booking in the actual time that it takes you to travel from A to B. And I, again, I'm talking from experience because I would try and cram so many things in a day, it wouldn't give me any more time,

Again, I'm speaking from experience because I used to try to cram so many things into a day that it didn't leave me with any extra time. This often set me back in more ways than one. Therefore, it's important to consider your time and safety. If you're in an unfamiliar place and using public transport, you'll need to find a parking spot. Giving yourself enough time to locate one is really helpful. Additionally, being able to share your whereabouts and schedule with someone, including when you're expected to return, is crucial for your safety. Therefore, it's essential to be realistic about your time commitments, even if you haven't scheduled them in an online calendar. If no one can contact you or hasn't heard from you, it becomes much more difficult for your team to retrace your steps and determine where you were supposed to be at a particular time. The calendar might indicate one thing, but your actual location is different. So, it's always worth considering these factors, understanding that I recognize the limitations and demands on your time.

The third aspect to consider when planning, which complements what I just mentioned about allowing yourself enough time, is accessibility. This entails thinking about the location you're heading to, whether it's a house, a flat, or a specific area. Consider the entry points and access requirements. For example, certain flats may have specific codes or entry procedures. Taking the time to think about these details, especially for planned visits, and asking relevant questions beforehand can save you the trouble of traveling to a place only to discover an access issue. It's disheartening when you can't even enter a building or knock on a door due to lack of access. Therefore, being mindful of accessibility factors prior to your visit is essential.

Fourth thing to think about is your belongings: what are you bringing with you? And that might sound silly, but it probably isn't. Sometimes, we bring everything in one bag with us wherever we go, and I certainly did this. I've been a social worker where I've driven, and I've been a social worker where I've used public transport. Just think carefully about what you actually need with you on a home visit.

If you have a massive bag filled with stuff and you're going around and visiting someone's house or sitting in different rooms, lugging that big bag with you can often add to the feeling of being flustered. I often found myself unsure whether to leave my bag or bring it with me. Sometimes, I would always bring it with me in case there's anything confidential or my own personal items in the bag. However, that can set off a different energy in a visit because people might think, "Oh, maybe that social worker doesn't trust me enough to leave that bag in the house."

I would always suggest bringing as little as possible. Think about what you need in terms of taking notes and making observations. Consider the impact that has. While taking notes is necessary at times during visits, be clear when you're doing so and inform people about why you're writing something down. Is it to remember it because you have a few visits to attend today? Is it to ensure correct spelling? Is it to ensure that information is clear? Paying attention to these small details will help and support you during a home visit.

Additionally, thinking about the items you need to bring with you is really useful in terms of planning. This is especially important if you plan to bring little games or engage in direct work. If you need consent forms, information leaflets, or details about the services, all of these require careful planning. Doing a bit of preparation before heading out on a home visit will always be helpful for you.

And the final thing to think about when it comes to planning home visits is your safety and support. I actually did a much longer live discussion with Nana from Social Work with a Mentor, focusing on home visits and safety. It's covered in more depth in that episode, and I also have a podcast episode dedicated to it.

If you feel extremely nervous, overwhelmed, anxious, or if the risks seem particularly high, remember that you don't have to go on that visit alone. You should have support to accompany you, whether it's a coworker, supervisor, manager, or another professional who works with and around families. Going on the visit with someone else can be reassuring and provide additional support, especially in situations where there are multiple people in the household and you need to speak to different individuals at different times. Depending on the circumstances, it might even be safer for you to have someone accompany you to a certain area. Consider the support available to you.

I understand that it can be challenging in the moment, when everyone is busy, to ask someone to join you on a visit. However, many teams function and work collaboratively, conducting joint visits. Even if your team doesn't currently practice this, it doesn't mean it can't be a possibility in the future. Remember, nothing is worth compromising your safety. Reflect on your feelings and if they are hindering your ability to effectively observe and focus on the information you receive and record during the visit due to fear and anxiety.

Considering the impact of these emotions on the children and families you visit, it is always worth reaching out to someone to accompany you on a visit. If this becomes a recurring issue, it's something you can address during your supervision sessions as well.

I hope this overview has been helpful for you as a refresher before your home visits or as a guide to help you feel more confident during them. If you're looking to enhance your skills, integrate theory into your practice, utilize research, and improve your observation and recording abilities, I invite you to join the Home Visit Masterclass. This masterclass is designed for new and near-qualified social workers, although some students have also participated. If you're a student and interested in joining, please contact me to ensure it's the right fit for you and that you'll benefit from it. The masterclass will take place on Wednesday, June 28th, from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It will be filled with valuable information, advice, and support that you can carry throughout your career. Home visits are a crucial part of our work, even beyond the newly qualified stage.

Additionally, there will be seven-day access to the replay for your convenience. My priority this summer is to make the masterclasses and resources as accessible as possible, so that as many people as possible can benefit from them. Tier one tickets, priced at £10, have already sold out within 24 hours. However, there are still some tier two tickets available for £15, and tier three tickets are priced at £20. If you're interested, you can find the link in my bio for more information. Feel free to send me a direct message with "masterclass" for further details, and we can have a chat. If you have any questions, you can also put them in the comments of this live session.

During the home visit challenges discussion, many of you shared your experiences and concerns, such as encountering unfamiliar paths, aggressive or dangerous pets, unauthorized individuals present, unanswered doors, conflicts, and challenging questions. We will delve deep into these situations, providing scripts and support to navigate them effectively. Regarding suitability for family support workers, please send me a direct message so we can determine the best approach based on your specific circumstances.

Thank you for watching or listening, whether through this live session or the podcast. I hope you can enjoy a relaxing evening, close your laptops, and refrain from any additional work. Remember, if there's anything specific you'd like me to cover in future podcasts, blogs, or live sessions, simply send me a message, and I'll address it in the coming weeks. Take care, everyone.