Addressing & Preventing Violence at Home & in the Workplace

Rita Rizzo

Welcomes You

Learning Objectives

Participants attending will..... Assess their work environment for unsafe

conditions through the use of threat assessment guidelines.

Be able to detect 14 warning signs of impending workplace violence.

Know how to spot and counteract safety threats while visiting clients in their homes & neighborhoods.

Recognize signs of escalating situations and respond with a four step verbal de-escalation process to interrupt the violence cycle.

Group Activity

How has violence impacted you as a person or as a professional?

How does violence impact co-workers and clients?

How does society respond to violence? How does it condone it? How does it condemn it?

What frightens you the most about your workplace and the people you see daily?

The Cycle of Violence

Stress: The Precipitating Event

Thoughts: The First Response

The Emotional Reaction

Taking Action: Violence or Avoidance

4 Types of Workplace Violence

Violence committed by clients or patients Violence associated with robbery or other

crimes Violence among co-workers or managers Domestic violence that spills over into the

workplace

Major Causes of Workplace Violence

Violent Society De-institutionalization Staffing Public Policies

Assessing Your Workplace to Improve Safety & Security

Using the Workplace Threat Assessment

As a small group please answer yes or no to the questions in your workbook…

When finished discuss as a group how safety could be improved at your agency.

14 Warning Signs of Impending Violence

Persons who exhibit an obsession with weapons. Persons who make veiled or clear threats. Persons who attempt to intimidate or instill fear in

others. Demonstrate obsessive behavior concerning their

job. Isolative or brooding, don't relate often with others. Persistent in showing unwanted romantic interest in

others. Persons exhibiting paranoid behavior.

14 Warning Signs of Impending Violence

Persons who cannot calmly accept criticism. Persons who hold grudges, silently or with ongoing

talk. Recent family, financial, social, legal, or spiritual

distress. Undue interest in recently publicized violent acts. Consistently test the boundaries of acceptable

behavior. Made extreme changes in their behavior or beliefs. Easily agitated and take longer to "wind down" each

time.

Defusing Strategies Disengage Assume your competence isn't in question Decide you are not being personally attacked

Empathize Make others feel heard and understood Be aware of how your reaction will make others feel

Inquire Ask questions to seek information, inferences, ideas and

attitudes Demonstrate caring for the other's point of view

Disclose Reveal your own needs and goals assertively Use "I" statements to state feelings and beliefs

Managing a Potentially Violent Incident

•Casually interrupt the interview to call and request something.•Don't be a hero. •Keep the client engaged in conversation about his/her feelings or problem. •Encourage the person to be seated. •Explain the consequences of violent behavior •Use your common sense and don't let your emotions take over.

Discussion Questions

What is your organization currently doing to create a workplace that is non-oppressive and non-violent?

What are you doing personally to create a safe and positive environment?

What are some recommendations you have to better serve your customers and clients who are impacted by violence in the workplace or home?

Authoring a Threat Management Policy

A threat management policy should....

Identify ways to insure employees feel they can report threats in a safe and secure way.

Identify departments to which threats are to be reported. Define the scope of duties of a threat management team. Identify individuals who will be a part of a threat

management team. Set criteria for convening the threat team and for

referring incidents to law enforcement. Mandate primary and refresher training for threat

management team members.

Dealing with the Risk of Violence

Immediate Danger: When there is violence, or an immediate danger of violence, it is always appropriate to…

Contact the police, sheriff's department or call 911 for immediate help.

Follow the instructions given to you by law enforcement and 911.

If you are unable to call 911, ask somebody to call for you.

Leave the building if possible.

Dealing with the Risk of Violence

If you can’t leave seek a secure hiding spot such as under a desk, in a restroom stall, under a staircase, in a closet, or behind filing cabinets.

If you are at risk and you are in a building that has security or safety officers, call them or ask someone to contact them for you.

Avoid being alone or in areas in which you could be surprised and could not easily escape.

Dealing with the Risk of Violence

Non-immediate Danger: There are three steps that will help you deal with the risk of interpersonal violence. – Identify the risk factors and discuss these

with people who can be supportive and offer constructive advice.

– Report violent or threatening behavior to proper authorities.

– Prevent violence by taking appropriate actions.

Actions that Reduce the Risk of Harm or Future Violence

Seek an evaluation and advice from a qualified mental health professional or crisis intervention specialist if there are any critical risk factors. 

Review and familiarize yourself with the material on this web site that pertains to crisis intervention.

Seek counseling or therapy for any emotional problems or difficulties associated with angry or violent behavior from a qualified mental health professional.

Actions that Reduce the Risk of Harm or Future Violence

Evaluate any alcohol and other drug use and treat as recommended by a qualified professional.

Encourage a medical evaluation and treatment for any mental illness or other medical condition requiring medication or medical treatment.

If appropriate, consider enrolling and participating in an educational or skills training group that will improve communication and interpersonal skills.

Actions that Reduce the Risk of Harm or Future Violence

Develop a plan that will minimize and limit all communication that usually leads to conflict, aggression or violence and take steps to resolve problems calmly. Establish a plan that supports communication that does not increase the risk of violence and will support actions that reduce the risk of violence.

Insure your own safety and provide for your basic emotional and physical needs while allowing the other person to do the same.

Actions that Reduce the Risk of Harm or Future Violence

If there is physical or sexual abuse, seek advice and further investigation from law enforcement or an attorney who has experience dealing with interpersonal violence especially when violent or homicidal threats have been made. If appropriate, keep records of all contact, conversations and threats made by the person including dates, times and witnesses.

If appropriate, enroll in a personal safety and self-defense course. Information regarding these courses can usually be obtained through local telephone crisis services, health care facilities or through the police or sheriff's department.

Five Ways to Manage Conflict

Avoid--Neither you nor I satisfy our concerns. Accommodate--I satisfy your concerns at my

expense. Compete--I satisfy my concerns at your

expense. Compromise--We give up some of our

concerns for other concerns. Collaborate--Together we discover alternatives

to satisfy all concerns.

Action Plan

Think about 3 things you will do differently as a result of this workshop.

Write them down. Place them where you will see them

regularly until your new habits develop.

Links for Self-Study

Addressing and Preventing Violence at Home and in the Workplace

http://cscwww.cats.ohiou.edu/tops/ODJFSOVC/VIOLENCE/OVCVIOLENCEEP.PDF