When making home visits, it is critical to have someone that knows:

• where you are (exactly)
• about when you expect to be completing the visit 
• when you have left the location

The only "life-line" a home visitor has to help is the phone and this process.  By calling an interested third person to give them the above information, you can be sure someone will be looking for you if you are not able to check-in.

I urge all employees and employers to use a check-in system for safety.  In the event of a serious auto accident, abduction or hostage situation, home visitors should have someone they trust looking out for them. 

If you accidentally drove off the road with no witnesses, how long would it take for someone to notice you were missing?  If a client was mentally unstable and decided to hold you hostage, how long would it take for someone to realize you were missing?  If you didn't come back to the office, would your employer know where to send help (or where to start looking)?

Without any signs of foul play, most police departments require a 24 hour waiting period before an adult can be reported missing.  A lot can happen in 24 hours.

Below is a sample check-in sheet. Feel free to copy it or modify it for your use.  I suggest that each morning, prior to visits, this form is filled in by the home visitor and given to the person they will be checking-in with during the day.

(A) Including an exact address (including apartment number) will provide the employer or police with a starting point. 

(B) Including the phone number on location gives the check-in person an additional means of contact in case a cell phone battery loses power or the location is not in cell tower range.

(C) The home visitor gives the estimated time of arrival (ETA) at the start of the day for the first stop.  ETA for each subsequent stop is given upon completion of the prior stop. If the home visitor is substantially delayed in calling in their arrival, the check-in person should attempt to contact them.  This protects the home visitor between stops.

(D) Upon arrival at the location, the home visitor will give the estimated time of completion at that stop.  The check-in person will make a note of the arrival time and the estimated time of completion.  If the home visitor is substantially delayed calling in the completion of that visit, the check-in person will attempt to contact the home visitor.  This protects the home visitor while they are on location.

(E) Upon completion of the home visit, after the home visitor has left the location (or is at least safely in their vehicle), he or she calls the check-in person to advise them of the completion of the visit.  If applicable, he or she can also give the ETA to the next location.  Calling at the completion of the visit lets the check-in person know the home visitor has completed the visit safely and is on their way back to the office or on their way to the next stop.

Date: ______________

Employee name: ___________________________________

Working with: ______________________________________

Location #1: address: ____(A)_________________________

Phone Number on location: ____(B)_____________________

ETA: ____(C)___  Expected Time of completion:____(D)_____

Actual Time of Arrival: ____(D)_______ 

Actual Time of completion: ____(E)_______