Worker Safety & De-escalation Basics

Description

Gain an introduction to de-escalation techniques and learn appropriate strategies for preventing, recognizing, and responding to safety threats. Topics include: The importance of treating all people with dignity and respect; The four A’s of Safety (awareness, assessment, anticipation, and action), assessing behavior and the environment; importance of boundaries, types and aspects of communication, common risk factors, personal worker safety issues (home, office, vehicle, home visits), de-escalation techniques, response to human and non-human safety threats. Learning Objectives: Be aware that all people have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Recall the Four A’s of Safety. Understand that a person has to first manage his or her own behavior before asking other people to manage theirs. Understand the need to create boundaries for self and others. Be aware of different types of communication (verbal, nonverbal, and paraverbal). Be able to recognize the aspects of communication (body language, tone, word choice). Be able to recognize common risk factors that could lead to worker safety issues. Remember personal worker safety issues that exist at home, in an office, in a vehicle, and during a visit. Be aware that many people are in crisis mode. Be able to use de-escalation techniques when working with children and families to promote a safe environment. Be aware of the various types of responses to human and non-human threats to worker safety (e.g., weapons, animals, communicable diseases, driving hazards). Be able to assess an individual’s behavior. Be able to assess the environment for safety. Understand potential unsafe circumstances that could impact worker safety. Understand the various types of responses to human and non-human threats to worker safety (e.g., de-escalation, leaving the scene, etc.) and when each is appropriate. Presenter: Terri Bougger & John Turner, University of Nebraska - Lincoln: Center on Children, Families, and the Law