to expect social worker to...

[elliesm98]

To expect my child’s social worker (male, wears work boots) to offer to take his shoes off when he comes in when he knows I’ve just had carpets fitted. Or at least take them off when he goes upstairs to nose at the bedrooms

You should see some of the homes social workers have to go into! I bet it is on page one of the social workers manual Do Not Take. YOur Shoes Off.

And as others have said, they need to be able to protect themselves and leave in a hurry if they need to.

Those disposable shoe covers are cheap as chips in pound shops and would then be available to offer to other visitors, workmen, meter readers etc etc.

I go into people's homes and I am advised not to take my shoes off under any circumstances. Provide overshoes if necessary, I see someone on a weekly basis who does this.

being a professional has no impact on how dirty, or clean, your shoes are

Spot on. And if some of the houses that SW visit are that minging I don't want that being traipsed into my flat thanks!

Shoe covers are a great idea actually. I once walked flea eggs into my own home on my shoes, leading to my whole home needing to be treated at a significant cost. It’s possible I could have spread this to other families’ houses too, had I visited them after the infested one. So looking at it like that, I can see that shoe covers are possibly the best solution.

In general I think if somebody wants visitors to take off their shoes then they should. In this circumstance I can see that people like social workers might be trained not to and that's reasonable too. It sounds like shoe covers are the way to go OP.

I’m a social worker and have taken my shoes off before. Often is South East Asian houses were they all have their shoes off. I wouldn’t if I felt there was even a risk though. But I’m guessing this isn’t the case. Just ask him 😊

I have to go into people's houses, some of them are in an absolutely dire state. I have a few shoe covers in my bag and always put those in if it's a filthy house, a house where there may be needles lying around, or conversely a clean house where my shoes are mucky because it's raining outside. I wouldn't take my shoes off as I might need to make a quick exit!

I wouldn't be at all offended if I was asked to put shoe covers on by a someone I was visiting. However, if you are that concerned then you should have a supply of them just in case your s/w, GP, gas meter reader etc don't have any with them.

Unless it’s an emergency, I don’t think the fact a person is a professional should make a difference tbh.

Have you RTFT? A number of professionals who regularly make home visits have explained why they would not be willing to remove their shoes.

I have to visit client's homes. I'm occasionally asked to remove shoes, if I'm not asked it wouldn't occur to me. Some of the homes I visit I certainly wouldn't want to, either because the floors are absolutely filthy or I might want to leave quickly.

It amazes me how people jump to their own conclusions when SW is mentioned.

Ex social worker, some houses I did, foster carers for example if they had a shoe free house and some I didn't for health and safety reasons primarily. I was happy to flex if I judged it safe to do so.
But it isn't always safe to do so.

If he fitted the carpet for you you obviously know him well enough to say, ‘do you mind taking your boots off before going up, what with the lovely new carpet?’

InABoat it amazes and amuses me........They're like little pirahna fish full of ignorance circling the op.

Most tradespeople here supply their own shoe covers. Suggests to me it isn't as trivial a thing as some might think

I know district nurses aren't allowed to for health and safety reasons (on placement at the moment had this incident last week).

I have a no shoe policy at my home so when professionnels come I give them overshoes bags so they don't have to remove said shoe problem solved!!

Kiki DS1 has cystic fibrosis. He has a SW as part of the CF team at the hospital. He's never been asked to remove his shoes.

Why do fussy people have carpets?

He is in a place of work.
For his health and safety he should keep them on.
Nothing at all against your house, but generally you don’t take your shoes off at work, and if you have an accident and you aren’t wearing the correct footwear you could be left in a precarious position.

If it bothered me that much I’d purchase those plastic shoe covers for visiting professionals.

Exactly the overshoes bags are so cheap a couple of quid for 100. Saves the drama!!

www.screwfix.com/p/disposable-overshoes-blue-size-one-size-fits-all-100-pack/3734K?tc=MB4&ds_kid=92700024696231299&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1244069&ds_rl=1249481&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=Cj0KCQiAp7DiBRDdARIsABIMfoDZma9Ap29OJhSfYlY7kG3rmnbpZa5RO8GC24esCeAklnoYcj0x6DAaAuKbEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

He ís at work so he wears shoes just like any other worker. Don't have carpets if you don't want them getting dirty.

I'd imagine he visits a mix of places, many of which he would want to make a quick exit from / wouldn't want to go barefoot and others where it's ok and he may be there to support an adoption etc. It likely doesn't cross his mind to remove his work attire.

Why do fussy people have carpets?

Because they feel nice under their feet?

There's nothing wrong with asking someone to remove their shoes but you do need to ask yes.

We have loads of professionals visiting the house over the years ,I have a disabled child so the disability team, speech therapists, OT, etc etc.some offer to take their shoes off some don't I'm not bothered .