These are some of the key points in related mental health regulations which we thought important to list as an outline to help establish effective training outlines, and ensure the most progressive guidelines are followed when dealing with individuals in crisis. We hope these comparisons aid in your understanding of what our training has to offer.
- 1. Restraint/ seclusion procedures may only be used as an intervention of last resort;
- One of the most important topics covered in our courses is learning when to intervene, and when to attempt alternative interventions prior to going “hands-on”. We believe that physical intervention is the “last-resort”, thus we makes every effort to train individuals in how to find alternatives to aggressive behavior, rather then rushing to physical intervention.
- 2. Once a restraint procedure is initiated, it shall be as limited in time as possible;
- Our techniques allow for a peaceful, immediate return to normalcy, allowing the individual in crisis to be maintained in the most efficient and respectful means possible. Our techniques allow staff and the individual involved to be maintained in comfortable, least restrictive, non-awkward positions which directly aid in the immediate calming of a crisis situation.
- 3. Patient dignity shall be maintained to the extent possible during restraint procedures;
- Our techniques are some of the most advanced, yet safe, non-threatening, non-harmful, comfortable, and effective positions which do not negatively impact the dignity of the individual in crisis. In fact they often aid in helping the individual regain their sense of dignity by assisting them in regaining control of themselves as quickly as possible.
- 4. Training of staff shall focus upon identifying the earliest precipitant of aggression;
- Our training covers nearly all of the factors that lead to crisis behavior, identifying risk, signs of stress, anger, fear, and frustration, and other causal factors of violence and aggression. Having a working knowledge of what leads to aggressive behavior is just as important as knowing what to do when it occurs, thus we cover this topic fully.
- 5. Training shall encompass the primary importance of safety at all times during the restraint process;
- Safety is paramount, especially during a crisis. Our techniques are inherently safe, and do not involve any hyperextension of joints, pain compliance, or off balance, awkward positioning. Ask to see a Live Presentation and you will be shown how our techniques ensure safety and security even during a crisis situation.
- 6. Staff training must result in competency based certification and demonstration of techniques. Retraining, Re-certification and demonstration of competency in the use of these techniques must be done annually;
- All of our courses require competency testing for certification. All participants must show competency in both verbal and physical techniques. We will not certify any individual or facility that is unable to perform the techniques which would result in an unethical, unsafe and unprofessional situation for all.
- 7. Staff must have training to identify the possible negative psychological effects that restraint may have on some individuals;
- Our courses teach about the possible negative effects that employment of any technique may have on an individual in crisis. When working with the mentally ill, or individuals that have been victims of abuse, physical intervention can cause severe impacts, and should be avoided whenever possible. We train participants in how to avoid these damaging situations when able to do so without jeopardizing themselves or others.
- 8. Recognition of the behavioral and psychological indicators that restraint/seclusion may be safely terminated;
- Many programs teach how to perform techniques, yet forget to train participants how to end the intervention. They fail to train participants how to also step down the intervention in agreement with the aggressor’s de-escalating behavior. Our courses fully cover these topics to ensure that just as staff may know how to confront and deal with a crisis, they must know when to end one when the time comes.
- 9. Staff must participate in post-intervention debriefing and discussion to determine how future situations may be prevented or de-escalated;
- We discuss effective debriefing strategies and the importance of doing so after a crisis situation has occurred. We also discuss topics that often rise to the surface during interventions, and how to effectively communicate between staff members in order to find solutions, rather then problems. Using group exercises during the training program, our Master Instructors help students develop communication skills and trust in one another work to more as a team when crisis strikes.
