De-Escalation Training for Social Workers

Social workers are some of the most valuable (yet underappreciated) professionals in the country. Social workers can be deployed in a wide variety of settings, including senior assisted living centers, hospitals, family counseling centers, mental health facilities, and more, often dealing with emotionally intense situations.

A big part of social work is working with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Social workers also have to be part of high-stress situations where conflicts can arise quickly and suddenly. That’s why it’s so important for social workers to have de-escalation training.

For that reason, many social workers are mental health professionals, adept at assessing potentially violent situations and de-escalating them accordingly. However, not all conflicts are a result of mental illness, which is why it’s imperative for social workers to undergo comprehensive de-escalation training.

Fortunately, Defuse offers high-quality de-escalation programs that social workers can use in a wide variety of situations. We understand the challenging situations these workers face regularly, which is why we’re committed to providing the best service.

What is De-Escalation Training?

Conflicts are a natural part of human behavior. However, in many situations, conflicts can lead to harmful side effects, such as physical altercations, calls to law enforcement, and other public safety issues.

Since a big part of social work is helping individuals navigate through challenging times, social workers must understand what it takes to de-escalate these conflicts. In many cases, emotions and tensions can run high, so the right de-escalation strategies can make a huge difference in the outcome.

At Defuse, comprehensive de-escalation training involves various aspects of conflict resolution. First and foremost, effective verbal intervention is crucial because it can often prevent conflicts from getting out of control.

Additionally, de-escalation training may involve other skill sets, such as identifying and treating mental health issues. Often, mental illness is not considered when a conflict arises, so it’s imperative for social workers to recognize when mental health is a significant factor. That way, they can approach the situation with the proper care and attention to detail.

Why De-Escalation Strategies Are Vital for Social Workers

Social work encompasses a wide array of human services, including healthcare, family planning, law enforcement, mental health, and more. Although individual workers may focus on one area of expertise, they will likely find themselves in different scenarios with different sets of people.

In many instances, social workers must rely on their de-escalation skills and effective verbal intervention to mitigate potentially hazardous situations. Often, a social worker can act as an intermediary between two conflicting parties, such as family members, patients and hospital staff, or criminals and law enforcement.

Situations Where De-Escalation Skills are Valuable for Social Workers

Because social workers are deployed in so many human services situations, it can be hard to understand how de-escalating conflict can apply in each case. Here are some common fields where workers can benefit from de-escalation programs.

Mental Health Crises

Typically, mental health situations are handled by police, who are woefully unequipped to mitigate and de-escalate conflicts. In many cases, police officers can actually escalate the situation, leading to more arrests and a tougher strain on county jails and courts.

Instead, it’s often better to use social workers in these situations, both in mental health facilities and out on the street. When used as first responders, social workers can alleviate stress and help those involved find the assistance they need.

Additionally, having trained social workers in mental health clinics can help prevent patient violence or conflicts between patients and staff. Having strong verbal de-escalation skills can make most of these challenging situations dissipate before becoming violent.

Family Health Situations

Some professionals work with children as part of different welfare programs. Social workers need to have strong de-escalation skills that they can employ when minors are present. Not only can conflicts worsen a stressful situation, but they can have a substantially negative impact on the child’s mental health.

So, using the right techniques, a social worker can alleviate stress and coach parents and guardians on how to address conflicts in the home. By teaching these techniques, families can create a more positive home environment, making it easier for everyone involved.

Law Enforcement Scenarios

Police officers are called to a wide range of situations, many of them which don’t require law enforcement. For example, domestic abuse scenarios may benefit from having social workers present to calm tensions and provide a more positive and calming atmosphere.

Additionally, many social workers can help those caught up in legal troubles navigate the system to find the best route forward. Since these situations can be extremely stressful, it’s crucial for the social worker to know how to communicate and provide verbal de-escalation as necessary.

Healthcare Clinics

Hospitals and clinics can also be sources of extreme stress, particularly when they’re overcrowded and understaffed.

Social workers can help alleviate tensions by working with patients and stepping in to resolve conflicts before they get out of control. In some cases, a full-time social worker may be the best designated de-escalator the hospital or clinic could have on staff.

As with law enforcement, many healthcare facilities tend to rely on security personnel to handle altercations and conflicts. However, because security guards and staff are trained to restrain or take down perpetrators, their efforts can often make the situation worse.

Schools

Teachers are often unable to meet the needs of their students, thanks to larger class sizes and budget cuts. So, social workers can provide much-needed human services on-site so students have someone to talk to and ask questions when necessary.

Typically, a social worker with de-escalation training is far better than a school resource office (SRO) or other law enforcement professional. Again, individuals in these positions can often escalate a conflict, not de-escalate it.

What’s Involved in De-Escalation Training for Social Workers?

Comprehensive de-escalation training can be highly valuable, but it’s also important to know what’s included. The basic steps we cover in Defuse include:

Risk Assessment

Workers need to be able to identify potential conflicts before they erupt. They can pay attention to elements like body language, tone of voice, and even someone’s stance when talking to another person.

Risk assessment is crucial because it allows the worker to tell whether verbal strategies will work best or not. Some risks are best handled by security, while others can be mitigated through a simple conversation.

Non-Violent Self Defense

Ideally, a social worker won’t have to defend themselves, but if necessary, they should know how to do it without posing a risk to themselves or others.

Contact Defuse De-Escalation Training for Programs Tailored for Social Workers

Overall, de-escalation training is integral to the success of social workers, regardless of where they are or the situations they face. If you’re interested in providing training for your staff, contact Defuse today.