A format for existing threat assessment teams
to maximize their continuing learning and growth
WTS provides case debriefing workshops for organizations in which their multi-disciplinary threat assessment teams prepare their own case presentations and then engage with us in a technical debriefing – a very effective way for teams to test their competency and continue to build on their knowledge.
- Among its advantages, this format illuminates the nuances in assessment strategies and case management that are particular to an individual organization, its culture and its in-house practitioners.
- Teaching points are more personalized and go beyond what is accomplished in general threat assessment workshops or public trainings.
- In-depth discussion typically identifies obstacles and opportunities at various levels and how an organization’s threat management program and protocol may be improved.
In-house teams may meet regularly to discuss new and ongoing cases, but they rarely get an opportunity for a “retreat” with an expert to delve more deeply into their more challenging cases and the inherent learning opportunities such exercises offer. Common as well as unique issues are addressed.
The workshops are usually a full day and may include up to five or more cases that the team has prepared. The cases may still be active but are more often considered resolved or inactive.
Typical topics include:
- Disagreements on opinion of risk among team members
- Information siloes: Strategies to better identify and collect useful data
- Recognizing bias errors and process flaws such as “disciplinary drift”
- Interviewing strategies with different kinds of subjects, for example individuals that are paranoid, very litigious, intimidating, or suicidal
- Identifying the possible unintended consequences of actions taken in a given case
- Communicating findings and managing fear, especially when a team’s objective opinion of risk differs from concerned clientele
- Managing one’s own emotions and personal concerns as a team member
- Identifying thresholds for appropriate engagement of threat assessment experts
- How to resolve cases of individuals who may not pose a risk but manifest troubling behaviors related to mental illness
- How different cases would be coded on the WAVR-21, and how to weigh and integrate findings
Threat assessment consists of general principles, but violence risk scenarios present a wide variety of individual differences – in subjects of concern, targets and their expectations, and work environments and topography – calling for flexibility in response and selected interventions. Case debriefings get at the heart of these issues for individual organizations.
The critiques and discussions are conducted respectfully, as we offer teaching points and raise questions for attendees’ consideration. Threat assessment lives on information and collaboration. Attendees often come to recognize how collecting more reasonably available information leads to better-informed case management decisions.
Threat assessment is now a recognized specialty and “best practices” in organizational settings are well-established. Many mid and large-sized corporations and institutions of higher learning have established proactive violence prevention teams – at least in principle. A common concern is the degree to which threat assessment knowledge and principles are actually integrated into team deliberations. Case debriefing workshops offer a focused way to support team members’ competence and growth toward effective response protocols.
As an alternative to in-person workshops, webinars can be arranged, and are especially effective if scheduled periodically.
We emphasize that the advanced case debriefing workshops are best suited for existing teams that have had some basic training in threat assessment and have some demonstrated experience working together.
For further information and pricing please contact Dr. Stephen White: swhite@wtsglobal.com.