Customised training plans for use by community managed mental health services The Ice: Training for Frontline Workers Training Package is a large and generic package aimed at a broad range of frontline workers. Consequently, the task of independently accessing the training online, without direction, can become an overwhelming experience or an inefficient use of time for staff. In order to make better use of this training package in the context of mental health services, it can be customized by the grouping of particular topics to meet the learning needs of staff in particular job roles, with different levels of experience or prior training. What follow below are four example training plans customised for community managed mental health services. They can be used as they are, or modified as necessary. Or services may choose to create their own customized training plan from scratch. To assist services in creating their own training plans or modifying the ones offered here, a mapping document has been created by VICSERV which provides an overview of all topics in the package, as well as suggestions as to the relevance of each topic for different staff and learning needs. This can be access on VICSERV website. The four training plans have been designed for each of the following situations: 1. Training plan for new and inexperienced mental health workers who deal directly with consumers 2. Training plan: Core aspects of Ice training, for building skills, knowledge and confidence in responding specifically to crystal methamphetamine use 3. Training plan: Work health and safety focus, for all staff 4. Training plan: management focus critical incidents, for staff within the organisation responsible for managing, responding to, and following up critical incidents. 1
Frontline Ice Training Plan for new and inexperienced mental health workers Objectives To introduce inexperienced mental health workers to the core knowledge required to understand what Ice is and how it affects people, as well as dealing with Ice-affected individuals in non-clinical settings. This training plan is relevant for inexperienced mental health workers dealing directly with consumers. Especially relevant to those workers who have not completed training in Dual Diagnosis, ASIST or AOD. Module Topic Content Comments Time 1. About Ice 1.1 About Ice and other forms of methamphetamine 3.75 1.2 Patterns of ice & other forms of methamphetamine use in Australia 1.3 How methamphetamine/ice affects users 2. Effects of Ice 2.1 2.2 Ice intoxication Ice withdrawal & long term effects Useful short videos: The crash, in Topic 2.2 2.5 2.3 Using ice with alcohol & other drugs How to avoid a stimulant overdose, in Topic 2.1 3. Communicating with ice users 3.1 3.2 3.3 Communicating with ice users Assessing & managing self-harm and suicide with ice users Basic mental health responses for ice users These are entry level strategies for dealing with ice-affected individuals. Follow up training might include: ASIST 2.25 5. Interventions 5.1 5.2 5.8 Overview of brief interventions Brief Interventions Supporting /working with families & carers [strategies around safety of families] Follow up training might include: Motivational Interviewing Dual Diagnosis 1.3 2
6. Prevention 6.2 Harm reduction strategies Non-clinical strategies that can be used by generalist workers Total 10.8 Reflective activities Once workers have completed this online training plan, the following activities are recommended as strategies for consolidating the learning: Group activity: Practicing skills for communicating with Ice users; exploring case studies from Topics 5.8 and 6.2; and discussing strategies for assisting a person withdrawing from Ice. Group activity for team meetings or other PD sessions: View one of the short videos (The crash, or How to avoid a stimulant overdose) followed by a facilitated discussion. Supervision discussion and reflection on learning. Identification of further professional development activities/ training to strengthen the knowledge gained from the online training, for example, Motivational Interviewing, dual diagnosis training, ASIST. 3
Frontline Ice Training Plan Core Aspects Overview This training plan focuses on the topics which are very specific to crystal methamphetamine (Ice) use. Aim is to build workers knowledge, skills and self-efficacy in dealing with consumers who use ice. This training plan focuses on the key aspects of the Ice: Training for frontline workers, for experienced staff who already have a basic understanding of drug-related issues, and have a range of skills in communication, assessment, dealing with critical incidents and interventions, etc. However these workers may have no specific knowledge of Ice, its effects on users, and crash and withdrawal processes. Module Topic Content Comments Time 1. About Ice 1.3 How methamphetamine/ice affects users 2. Effects of Ice 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ice intoxication Ice withdrawal & long term effects Using ice with alcohol & other drugs Staff with previous AOD training or experience may benefit from a refresher video, in lieu of Topics 1.1 and 1.2: Methamphetamine use in Australia: What the data tells us about patterns of use, Prof Ann Roche Useful short videos: The crash, in Topic 2.2 How to avoid a stimulant overdose, in Topic 2.1 1-1.5 2.5 3. Communicating with ice users 3.1 Communicating with ice users 5. Interventions 5.3 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Assessment Withdrawal management Relapse prevention and management Groups with specific needs Supporting/working with families and carers These interventions build on a worker s proficiency in dual diagnosis. Strategies for treating ice users in a clinical context 6. Prevention 6.2 Harm reduction strategies Non-clinical strategies that can be used by generalist workers Total 4 10 4
Reflective Activities Once this online training plan has been completed by staff, the following activities are recommended as strategies for reinforcing the learning: Group activity: Practicing skills for communicating with Ice users; and discussing strategies for assisting a person withdrawing from Ice. Group activity for team meetings or other PD sessions: view one of the short videos (The crash, or How to avoid a stimulant overdose) followed by a facilitated discussion. Discussion and reflection on learning in individual supervision sessions. Identification of further professional development activities/ training to strengthen the knowledge gained from the online training, for example, Motivational Interviewing, ASIST. Discussion at team or management levels to encourage organisations to reflect on current practices within their programs and services; and to consider best practice for dual diagnosis, and for supporting people using Ice. 5
Frontline Ice Training Plan Work Health and Safety focus Overview This training plan has a work health and safety focus; designed to include the very basics that frontline workers need in order to ensure their own and others safety, manage risks and respond to critical incidents related to Ice users. This training plan is aimed at mental health frontline workers. Module Topic Content Comments Time 1. About Ice 1.3 How methamphetamine/ice affects users 2. Effects of Ice 2.1 Ice intoxication 3. Communicating with ice users 3.1 Communicating and engaging with ice users 1.75 4. Ice users and critical incidents 3.2 4.1 4.2 Assessing & managing self-harm and suicide with ice users Critical incidents involving ice users Managing critical incidents 1.75 Total 5.5 Reflective activities Once workers have completed this online training plan, the following activities are recommended as strategies for consolidating learning: Skills practice around communication and de-escalation techniques. Group discussions around organisation s policies and procedures relating to safety, managing risks, and incidents. 6
Frontline Ice Training Plan: Management focus - critical incidents Overview This training plan has a work health and safety focus, in particular how to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from critical incidents involving ice-affected people. The content of this plan provides guidelines on: o how to assess environments for potential risks or critical incident triggers involving people affected by Ice o how to assess and prioritise the risks; implement risk prevention and control measures; and monitor and review responses to critical incidents This training plan is aimed at those staff within the organisation responsible for managing, responding to, and follow up of critical incidents. Module Topic Content Time 1. About Ice 1.3 How methamphetamine/ice affects users 2. Effects of Ice 2.1 Ice intoxication 4. Ice users and critical incidents 4.1 4.2 Critical incidents involving ice users Managing critical incidents 2.5 4.3 Recovery, review, resumption Total 4.5 Reflective Activities Once staff have completed this online training plan, the following activities are recommended: Group discussions at the leadership level to examine and reflect on any of the following: potential hazards in the work environment the risk prevention/control strategies currently in place; and identification of extra strategies which could be implemented ways in which their programs and services can be better structured to meet the support needs of consumers using Ice, whilst ensuring safety for all staff, consumers and others in the workplace existing policies and procedures relating to critical incidents; implementation of Service Resumption Plans, post-critical incident reviews, ongoing support for staff re-entry/ re-engagement plans for persons involved in critical incidents. 7