Critical incident stress debriefing

Aim:

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

Objectives:

• to clarify the nature and purpose of CIDs
• to review and practice existing models of CID
• to understand the role and tasks of the CID facilitator
• to learn and practice the skills of facilitating CIDs

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 CID
• debriefing critical incidents
• introducing existing models of CIDs, comparing and understanding the components of a CID

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 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 debriefings

• prompt cards - a tool for the facilitator
• facilitating critical incident 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 CIDs
  ‘debriefing’ the day