Protecting Emergency & Security Staff from Trauma

Security and contingency planning tends to be driven by process and procedure: but planners and managers neglect the ‘human factor’ at their peril, according to UK trauma charity and training organisation PTSD Resolution. Too rarely do they address the issue of how people react to and are affected by the often traumatic events associated with a security incident. A new training course for line managers and HR professionals represents an opportunity to understand and take account of this issue, which will impact upon even the best laid plans.

The individual capability of emergency service and security personnel is critical to success in protecting places and people effectively. Performance deteriorates when staff are affected by trauma: the reactions of staff are compromised. The experience of disturbing scenes and events, however and whenever suffered, will reduce the level of overall surveillance and protection that even highly-trained personnel can provide.

However trauma occurs, it can result in depression and behavioural problems for staff, clients and members of the public who are affected. This presents both a significant security issue and also a potential liability for employers because of the duty of care.

So how can a line manager know when staff are suffering from trauma? What should you look out for, and what can you do? The session is led by Piers Bishop – therapist and lecturer, and lead trainer at PTSD Resolution, the charity whose objective is to resolve military trauma.

This Session introduces line managers to the issue of trauma in a counter-terrorism environment: what it is, how to recognise it, how it affects performance; and how to resolve it.

The seminar is based on the one-day training programme: Trauma Awareness Training for Employers. The course enables line managers to:-

• Recognise post-traumatic symptoms and PTSD

• Understand the effects of trauma on human behaviour

• Engage with traumatised people to explore practical options

• Identify a clear route to resolving workplace difficulties caused by trauma

PTSD Resolution’s training is uniquely effective because it is the first national treatment agency also to offer Trauma Awareness Training for Employers (TATE) programme.

As a charity (No. 1133188), Resolution provides free out-patient therapy for UK armed forces’ veterans, reservists and TA through our network of 200 therapists. We also employ the same effective techniques to help other sufferers in commercial and public sector organisations.

Discreet and confidential, our therapy has amongst the highest overall rates of success anywhere in the world, at over 83 per cent.  Because we know ‘what works’ in identifying trauma and delivering therapy, we are well placed to advise line managers and HR professionals on the key symptoms and what needs to be done.

www.ptsdresolution.org or Tel 0845 021 7873 or e-mail contact@ptsdresolution.org.  - Facebook: http://is.gd/4RPUV

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