When Safety Is Your Responsibility, Prevention Is Best
In 1994, Service Alternatives gathered a group of specialists in response to an alarming lack of innovation in the field of crisis management. This group discovered the industry had become complacent and relied too heavily on dated theories and ineffective responses, including the over-use of restraints. We realized the best way to deal with our worst behavioral and aggression problems was to prevent them! Thanks to the group’s multi-faceted and proactive approach, the specialists created a unique set of principles that, when applied correctly, actively work to prevent a crisis from happening in the workplace.
This novel idea of prevention became the cornerstone of the group’s operating philosophy. Eventually adopting the name Service Alternatives Ethical Crisis Understanding and Response Education (S.E.C.U.R.E.), these specialists recognized the incredible benefits of their breakthrough findings and began sharing their knowledge with intelligent and progressive clients throughout the workplace in a wide variety of different industries. Today, the spirit of innovation still guides S.E.C.U.R.E.’s successful practices. Not just a training company, members of the Service Alternatives Training Institute actually continue to work in the field. By applying new knowledge gained as a result of their ongoing real-life experiences, S.E.C.U.R.E. has evolved into RIGHT RESPONSE Workshops, at the forefront of crisis management.
Research Indicates Prevention
One recent comparison study, The Economic Cost of Using Restraint and the Value Added by Restraint Reduction or Elimination, showed a decreased use of restraint, was associated with a reduction in the cost of restraint, sick time, staff turnover and replacement costs, workers' compensation, injuries to adolescents and staff, and recidivism decreased. Adolescent Global Assessment of Functioning scores at discharge significantly improved.
This study concluded that implementation of a restraint reduction initiative was associated with a reduction in the use of restraint, staff time devoted to restraint, and staff-related costs. This shift appears to have contributed to better outcomes for adolescents, fewer injuries to adolescents and staff, and lower staff turnover. The initiative may have enhanced adolescent treatment and work conditions for staff. See: Psychiatric Services 56:1109-1114, 2005
Wouldn’t you rather prevent an incident from occurring in the first place than react to it when it happens? Spend more time achieving success for the individuals you support and yourself by spending less time reacting to incidents. Let’s Discover Together! →
