Victims Empowerment Support Team VEST

SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKPLACE Policy VEST conducts our business in ways that will ensure safety in everything that we do. Our safety performance is fundamental to operations, and has a positive impact on our employees, our stakeholders, and the communities in which we operate. Protecting the health and safety of staff and students is a part of our culture, and we are committed to keeping student's workplace free of health and safety hazards. Occupational injuries and illnesses are preventable. Each occupational injury and illness create an opportunity to strengthen our management systems. Leadership plays a key role in building capability, implementing systems, and establishing the culture that manages health & safety like any other key business result. Procedure 1. VEST’s Buddy System Policy helps mitigate risk of safety and includes that all staff/students are never left in the office alone and walk with a peer when leaving the office. 2. The agency has a Critical Incident Consideration training that is facilitated by the Solano Family Justice Center for all new staff. 3. Staff and students will shadow a victim advocate until they feel safe and confident to meet one-on-one with clients. Students can also request a peer to accompany them as needed to court and/or appointments. 4. Self-care is essential when working with victims of crime. 5. Stress debriefing and supervision is a vital part of this work when staff has a difficult client and/or after attending court hearings.