Critical incident stress debriefing

Aim

To gain skills, confidence and practice in facilitating critical incident stress debriefings (CISDs). 

Objectives:

• To clarify the nature and purpose of CISDs.
• To review and practice existing models of CISD.
• To understand the role and tasks of the CISD facilitator.
• To learn and practice the skills of facilitating CISDs.

Day 1: Critical incidents and the process of debriefing

09:00 - 10:30 

• Introduction. Introducing the facilitator and the group; outline of the day, expectations and outcomes.
• The process of debriefing. The practice of ‘talking through’ and the therapeutic benefits of debriefing.
• Understanding critical incidents. Defining critical incidents, what makes an incident ‘critical’? The psychological impact of a critical incident.

10:30 - 12:00 

• Trauma and post-trauma, Unpacking these important concepts and understanding their implications and relevance to CISD.
• Debriefing critical incidents. Introducing existing models of CISDs, comparing and understanding the components of a CISD.

12:30 Lunch break 
13:00 - 14:00

• Skills practice and experiential learning. Practice session, trying out models of debriefing using scenarios from experience.

Day 2: Facilitating critical incident stress debriefings – theory and practice

09:00 - 10:30 

• The competent facilitator. The qualities and skills of the competent facilitator.
• Containment. The role of the facilitator and the challenges of facilitating emotional conversations. 

10:30 - 12:00 

• Facilitating critical incident stress debriefings. Prompt cards - a tool for the facilitator.
• Facilitating critical incident stress debriefing. Ground rules, time-frames, and keeping ‘on task’.

12:30 Lunch break
13:00 - 14:00 

• Skills practice and experiential learning. Working with scenarios and prompt cards: practice session - facilitating CISDs.
• ‘Debriefing’ the day