|
Toolkit for Developing and Operating Supportive Housing
Safety and Security
One challenging aspect of operating supportive housing is putting in place effective safety and security procedures without residents feeling unduly restricted in their home environment. Supportive housing is by definition independent living. Residents value the freedoms this implies, and will often express objection to rules and procedures that make the housing site feel “like a program.” However, such security practices can also ensure that the housing environment remains safe and orderly and offers a sense of community, qualities that residents also value. In short, safety and security policies and protocols help both residents and staff to prevent and respond effectively to incidents that threaten to undermine stability. It is important that these policies and procedures be clearly outlined for tenants (including both their purpose and their execution), and applied consistently by staff.
Safety procedures, crisis intervention, violence prevention, de-escalation and emergency/disaster planning are crucial elements of on-going training for staff at all levels. It is strongly recommended that providers make these topics part of staff orientation, provide periodic in-service and refresher training sessions on them, and take advantage of training opportunities in these areas available through local mental health associations, law enforcement agencies and emergency response agencies and teams. It is also recommended that providers develop relationships with their local police precinct and offer specialized training for staff in when and how to involve law enforcement agencies and emergency psychiatric services.
This section of the Toolkit is designed to help providers establish sound and pro-active safety practices, focusing on those most frequently implemented in supportive housing environments. These recommendations are intended to augment, not replace, design features such as security cameras, intercoms, and other measures that protect the perimeter and restrict access to the physical premises by unauthorized persons.
Tools for Safety and Security:
Critical Situations During Building Operations Scenarios: This document contains a list of scenarios that, while hypothetical, are also not atypical for supportive housing projects. These scenarios can be very useful in training situations where both property management and supportive services staff are present, to discuss how staff would respond to each situation described.
Safety and Security Responsibilities: This document provides an overview of safety and security responsibilities, and for responding to crises.
Preventing Crisis and Conflict: This informational piece highlights the importance of good record-keeping and communication between staff in preventing crises. It also instructs providers on how to identify potential sources of conflict and offer early intervention.
Log Books and Incident Reports: This informational piece describes two common ways of documenting and tracking incidents. It first details the practice of keeping a log book in order to record incidents, including what types of incidents should be noted and the purposes for which this information may be used. It then describes the practice of incident reporting, including responsibility for follow-up and coordination between supportive services and property management in responding to incident reports.
Sample Policy and Procedure for Incident Reviews: This sample policy describes one program’s approach to reporting, investigating and responding to significant incidents that occur on site. It also describes the formation of an incident review committee that is charged with periodically reviewing incident reports and making policy recommendations to prevent future incidents.
Supportive Housing Visitor Policies: This informational piece de provides guidance regarding the formulation and enforcement of visitor policies.
Mediating Conflicts in Supportive Housing: This informational piece provides useful guidance for staff in personally mediating conflict situations.
Sample Incident Report / Tenant Complaint Form: This template requests the basic information needed to document and respond to incidents (who, what, when, how).
Coordinated Responses to Inappropriate Behavior by a Tenant: This table provides a model for coordinated and collaborative response to crises by staff (property management and supportive services), explaining which staff should be responsible for which steps.
Emergency Procedures for Supportive Housing Sites: This informational piece highlights the importance of having written crisis policies and procedures in place for use by staff and suggest the topics they should cover.
Protocols for Emergencies: This document includes suggested protocols for handing medical emergencies, psychiatric emergencies, and incidents resulting from alcohol and/or substance use.
Protocols for Potentially Violent Situations: This document describes the need for policies and procedures and training for staff in how to respond to violence and potentially violent situations, including identifying outside agencies that can be called upon to intervene., includes a sample policy procedure and a tool to provide staff with a quick guide to bringing in law enforcement in response to violent incidents.
Universal Precaution Guidelines: This document provides an overview of precautions to minimize the transmission of illnesses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C. The guidelines are designed to prevent people from having direct contact with blood and other fluids, including semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and amniotic fluid.
Return to Housing Operations Page
Go to Table of Contents
|
