CALM Training - Crisis, Aggression, Limitation and Management Philosophy

Calm Training offers training programmes covering aggression management, physical intervention, challenging behaviour, escape techniques, post incident debriefing and risk assessment

The CALM Philosophy

The assumptions which underpin explanations of why assaults on staff happen are often the core problem, and the main obstacle to the development of effective responses. Research repeatedly confirms that attacks on practitioners are commonly viewed as the "fault" of the "victim" who has somehow acted "unprofessionally". This can lead to stigma, and the inability of concerned staff to discuss personal anxieties or safety issues.

The under reporting of incidents is widespread in all service sectors, leading to the invisibility of the problem. Consequently responsible managers are often unaware of the scale of the problem or the depth of staff concern. This can lead to a failure by agencies to take effective action, which can consequently further alienate staff, and an inability to prevent incidents or support staff and service users.

CALM Training seeks to promote and support realistic and effective solutions, based on coherent action at all levels of the organisation. We believe the evidence demonstrates that, where balanced with accountability, ensuring staff feel valued and supported is the key to safe practice and quality services.

Remedial strategies on violence from users of the human services need to consider the rights and needs of a wide range of stakeholders, including service users whose behaviours may be the product of developmental problems and/or traumatic life experiences. Organisational strategies will inevitably need to achieve a balance between the rights and needs of different groups. Training programmes must therefore be underpinned by an explicit framework of professional values, informed by the "best practice" standards for a particular service, and, wherever possible, be evidence based.