Course Introduction
Courses can be designed specifically to meet the needs of any group of employees who work with the public either directly in workplace settings or in community and lone working settings. Trainers will use their background and experience to focus issues towards the needs of the group.

The following are examples of generic courses focussed towards the public sector which are currently being successfully presented.

Course 1. Introduction to violence at work
Course 2. Personal Safety Awareness
Course 3. Dealing with difficult situations/Coping with violence
Course 4. De-escalation techniques
Course 5. Managing Challenging Behaviour
Course 6. Working with People - Carrying out Risk Assessment
Course 7. Breakaway Techniques
Course 8. Physical Intervention- Effective & Ethical Control and Restraint
Course 9. Weapons Awareness
Course 10. P.A.C.E. and the Appropriate Adult

Course 1. Introduction to violence at work
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Aim: To increase awareness of the problem of violence at work and how to keep safe.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme the participants will be able to:
Say what is meant by violence at work;
Identify risks they may face at work;
Describe actions they will take to ensure safety at work.

Target groups:
All staff who need an introduction to the subject of violence at work and keeping safe.

Course Duration: Half Day

Course 2. Personal Safety Awareness
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Aims: To raise awareness of the need to develop strategies to ensure personal safety; To focus on threat and risk assessment in a structured manner thereby reducing the likelihood of violence at work in any given situation

Objectives:
At the end of the programme the participants will be able to:
Define violence in the workplace
Be able to undertake/consider the need for personal risk assessment
Be aware of Health and Safety requirements and the need for good systems and the operation of safe practice
Consider the physical environment in which they work and take steps to minimise risk within it

Target Group:
All front line staff who may deal with people in uncertain or potentially aggressive or violent situations and will apply to both residential and fieldwork staff. The course participants, who may be from a wide range of experience and backgrounds, will benefit from a heightening of awareness of the need for personal safety strategies.

Course Duration: One Day

Course 3. Dealing with difficult situations/Coping with violence
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Aim: To equip staff with basic skills in coping with difficult situations and/or violent behaviour towards them.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
Identify a range of difficult situations/violent behaviour;
Describe potential triggers to difficult situations /violent behaviour;
Describe the signs of impending violent behaviour;
Describe how self-awareness and awareness of others contributes to coping
Identify a range of actions they could take in the event of being faced with a challenging/violent person.
Explain the flight/fight syndrome and its effects on self and others.
Explain how this could be used to manage the behaviour of violent or aggressive individuals

Target Group:
All staff, but particularly those who deal regularly with the public, customers or clients.

Course Duration: One Day

Course 4. De-escalation techniques
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Aim: To enable participants to practice communication and other de-escalation skills that will help them avoid, cope with and defuse violent situations.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
Apply self-awareness and the awareness of others contributes to effective communication in potentially violent situations;
Demonstrate the use of ‘body language’ and its importance in communication;
Demonstrate practically what is meant by assertiveness;
Demonstrate assertive communications.
Apply de-escalation techniques in potentially violent situations

Target Group:
All staff, but particularly those who deal regularly with the public, customers or clients. This course will build upon the knowledge gained from other courses and allow the practice of de-escalation although may be taken as a stand alone course.

Course Duration: One Day

Course 5. Managing Challenging Behaviour
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Aim: To enable those who work with individuals who present challenging behaviour to act confidently and assuredly in circumstances where immediate and effective action is required.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
Explain challenging behaviour
Understand and apply local policies and procedures
Explain the need for planning in meet challenging behaviour and consider a range of options for different levels of behaviour.
Be aware of the ethics and legality of physical intervention
Apply effective reporting procedures

Target Group:
All staff, but particularly those who work regularly with individuals whose behaviour is likely to be challenging or aggressive such as Mental Health workers and child care workers.

Course Duration: Half Day

Course 6. Working with People - Carrying out Risk Assessment
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Aim: To enable those who work with individuals who may have the potential to pose a risk to carry out a valid and effective risk assessment to minimise danger or risk to themselves, the individual or others.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
Offer their concept of risk
Understand and apply local policies and procedures and carry out individual risk assessment
Consider risk in terms of the rights of self and others
Undertake and use information and methodology in people based risk assessment effectively
Develop and apply personal risk checklists

Target Group:
All staff, but particularly those who work regularly with individuals whose behaviour is likely to be challenging or aggressive such as Mental Health workers and child care workers.

Course Duration: One Day

Course 7. Breakaway Techniques
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Aims: To enable participants to minimise risk to self and others by the use of effective breakaway from threatened or actual violence towards them in an ethical and practical manner.

Objectives:
At the end of the programme participants will be able to:
Apply and use effectively breakaway techniques
Understand the legal and ethical issues
Consider the rights of individuals in the use of breakaway

Target Group:
All staff, but particularly those who work regularly with individuals whose behaviour is likely to be challenging or aggressive such as Mental Health workers and child care workers.

Course Duration: ??? Day

Course 8. PHYSICAL INTERVENTION- Effective & Ethical Control and Restraint
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Aim: To provide a framework in which the use of physical interventions can be applied in a confident and ethical manner taking due account of the dignity, needs and safety of the individual against whom it may be applied. To introduce the participants to the concepts and basic skills of physical intervention. To teach the participants physical skills which will allow them to control aggressive and violent behaviour in a safe and professional manner.

Non-Physical Objectives: At the end of this part of the programme participants will be able to:
• Understand and explain local policy
• Carry out personal dynamic risk assessments
• Take knowledge of the legal framework into the workplace
• Explain causes of violence and aggression
• Clearly recognize when physical intervention is appropriate
• Recognise and understand the medical implications of physical interventions.

Physical Objectives: At the end of the physical intervention section the participants should be able to.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and carry out a safe pre planned intervention with due regard to both the service user and the service provider.
• Demonstrate the ability to reduce the chance of adverse medical implications from physical interventions by safe practice.
• Demonstrate the ability to respond to spontaneous incidents of violence, safely with due regard to both the service user and the service provider.
• Understand the importance of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills, being able to recognize the non-verbal signs of aggression.

Target Group:
Front line staff who may have to confront violent and aggressive behaviour and ultimately may have to defend themselves or another and restrain the individual involved.

Course Duration: 4 Days

Course 9. Weapons Awareness
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Aim: To provide young people with the correct information about the consequences of carrying weapons, allowing them to make an informed choice as to whether they carry or not.

Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to:
• Understand and explain the law relating to possession and use of weapons.
• Understand the policy of the police after they have been found in possession of a weapon.
• Understand the medical implications of using weapons.
• Explain the likelihood of being injured with, their own weapon.
• Understand the effects of shock on a knife victim.
• Understand and explain the consequences to themselves their family and friends of being in possession of, using or being the victim of a knife attack.
• Understand that there are no safe targets when using a knife.
• Understand that it is a misconception that a knife is a good defensive weapon.
• Discuss revenge and the implications of their actions

The course is completely in confidence, which encourages the students to open up and share their experiences, feelings and concerns. The course is fact based and includes graphic pictures of knife victims.

Course Duration : approximately one hour.

Course 10. P.A.C.E and the Appropriate Adult
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Aims: To provide a sound understanding of the role of the appropriate adult within the context of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and to enable the individual acting in that capacity to represent the interests of vulnerable persons in a professional and authoritative manner.

Objectives:
• At the conclusion of the course participants will be able to:-
• Understand the basic rights of individuals in police custody.
• Apply the Codes of Practice to the role of the appropriate adult.
• Recognise and interpret relevant police documentation.
• Act confidently within the interview situation.
• Support potential witnesses.

Course Duration: 1 or 2 Days