Health and Safety of Visitors, Clients and Staff

Depending on the type of service your Centre provides, you may need to consider additional safety and security measures for your staff and clients, and verify that your insurance policy covers all your activities.

• ER activities usually result in increased number of visitors and clients, some of whom may be highly vulnerable and under considerable stress.
• Domestic violence and family counselling requires privacy and confidentiality as well as physical safety while on the premises.
• Many of the Centres' staff members become accidental counsellors by working with vulnerable, disadvantaged or traumatised clients. Taking care of your staff's mental help is critically important. Linkwest's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides free counselling sessions for staff and their families. 
• Supermarket, fuel or phone vouchers need to be stored as in the same way as you would cash. They also count towards your cash limit for insurance purposes.
• Consider your Centre layout. Do visitors and clients have easy access to staff areas? If so, it may be advisable to modify it to separate public access and staff only zones.