Home visits

Where workers are required to make home visits, your organisation should have a clear policy on when these are necessary and who in your team is authorised to carry them out.

You should: 

• Only visit for an agreed purpose and in line with your organisation’s policy for home visits. 
• Inform a supervisor or another worker of the proposed visit. 
• Pass on any safeguarding concerns you encounter on your visit to your organisation’s Safeguarding Lead. 
• Keep a record of the visit. You should record:  

- The purpose of the visit. 

- The time you arrived and left 

- Who was present 

- What was discussed

Things to consider 

If you are visiting a child or family and the parents/carers aren’t there when you arrive, don’t go into the home (unless the child would be at risk if you didn't). You should leave some means of identification and explanation for the visit that can be given to parents/ carers.  

If the absence of parents/carers is a concern, tell your Safeguarding Lead straight away. 

When making a visit for the first time or going to an unknown location, consider whether there are any risks involved and how these can be managed (for example, visiting in pairs rather than lone working). 

Anyone making home visits on behalf of your organisation should have safeguarding training that enables them to recognise signs and indicators of harm, respond well, record and report concerns and work in safe ways.