Conflict Management

The Paradox of Restraint Reduction: Why Fighting Restraint Might Fuel Its Persistence

by

In the realm of organisational management, particularly in sectors dealing with vulnerable populations such as healthcare facilities, schools, and correctional institutions, the discourse around physical restraint has undergone significant evolution. Restraint reduction programmes have emerged as a seemingly noble initiative aimed at minimising the use of physical force in managing challenging behaviours. However, beneath the surface of good intentions lies … Read more

Red Card…Your Banned!

by

QMC recorded 1,800 incidents of aggression, violence and harassment during 2022-23. Notting University Hospital recorded 1,806 incidents. Staff have been hit, spat at, threatened, verbally and racially abused. What are some of the main triggers for the abuse of staff: Treating drunks Rival gangs People high on drugs People with mental health problems Homeless people, seeking a place of warmth … Read more

Observation – A Crucial Perspective In The Use of Physical Intervention

by

Up to the year ending March 2023 overall there were 2.1 million offences against the person recorded.  This was a 20% rise compared with the pre-covid pandemic year ending March 2020. Violence with injury was 6% higher (573,791 offences) than levels recorded in the year ending March 2020 (540,870 offences). Violence without injury increased by 14% to 828,673 offences compared … Read more

I’m Not In Charge, So Not My Problem

by

I was reading several news articles related to inquests, where several things stood out.  In one case, a point that particularly caught my attention was that when asked about the ‘assumption the two-security staff working on the night of incident had been trained in physical intervention’, the person replied “yes”. Assume…you know what you get when you break down the … Read more

The Essence of Compliance, Competence, and Common Law in Physical Intervention Techniques

by

Yet again I received a phone call stating that because someone conducting a review had not heard of a particular technique that was being used, the reviewing person was saying that what they (the person being reviewed) had done was wrong! My question to the reviewing person, who as it turned out had no known physical intervention or conflict management … Read more

Breaking News – A Person Being Restrained Now Can’t Die from Excited Delirium!

by

As reported in the New York Times on the 11th October 2023, “California has become the first US state to ban the use of “excited delirium” as a cause of death, rejecting a term that prominent medical associations have said is rooted in bias and is often used to justify the deaths of people in police custody”. The New York … Read more

What Type of Incidents Do You Report?

by

We use well known phrases like the Health & Safety Executives (HSE) definition of work-related violence… Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work, whether the behaviours are explicit or implicit in nature or design, is a reportable incident. What does the HSE’s Definition Mean to You? These incidents are not … Read more

Preventing Violence to Shopworkers Today and Everyday

by

Violence against shop workers is a pervasive issue. According to a survey conducted by the British Retail Consortium, there were around 455 incidents of violence or abuse towards retail staff each day in the UK. That means there are over 160,000+ reported incidents per year, that’s before we start thinking about the un-reported incidents. Why are some (lots according to … Read more

Is the Escalating Issue of Workplace Violence a Society-wide Problem?

by

In today’s modern landscape, the spectre of workplace violence looms larger than ever, casting a dark shadow not only within office walls but seeping into the fabric of our societal norms. Violence in the workplace isn’t just a problem confined within the nine-to-five routine; it’s a pervasive issue that echoes across various spheres of our lives. The Health and Safety … Read more

Workplace Safety – Whose Responsibility?

by

In today’s dynamic and hectic work environments, ensuring the health and safety of employees must be of paramount importance for employers. The Health & Safety Executive previously produced data in 2020 that outlined the prevalence of aggression and violence affecting businesses and workforces across the UK. Approximately 688,000 incidents of aggression and violence were reported in the workplace in England … Read more