Safety plan

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Safety planning is an essential component of assisting people who experience domestic or family violence. As having a physical copy of a safety plan could be risky for a person experiencing violence, a copy of the plan should be kept in the client’s files and reviewed regularly [581, 582]. The safety plan should:

  • Include emergency contact numbers.
  • Identify a friend/neighbour/family member who can provide assistance.
  • Identify one or more places of safety, means of getting there safely, as well as secure locations to store valuables, emergency items, and documents.
  • Identify safe ways to access finances in an emergency.
  • Encourage the client to establish a distress code to be used with trusted friends/family members that will trigger them to call emergency services.