| Home visits need adequate time to be effective |
| | Properly introduce yourself (carry identification) |
| | Attempt to find or create a quiet environment for the visit - eg, turn off TV, exclude children and animals if they are a distraction. |
| | Consider ethical issues to do with privacy and confidentiality, especially when talking to others such as family, neighbours, and police.
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| Home visits may be dangerous |
| | Always carry a mobile phone. |
| | If danger is anticipated don't go alone, and take police if violence is a possibility. |
| Visiting people who have an acute psychiatric illness can be stressful, and should be followed by adequate debriefing (whether this is simple "timeout" or formal consultation with a professional).
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