Defusing Difficult and Disruptive Behaviours Seminar

8:30am - Registration and Refreshments

9:00am

Human Behaviour and Motivation

Conflict develops because we are dealing with people's lives, jobs, children, pride, self-concept, ego, and sense of mission or purpose. It is important to understand human behaviours in order to deal with or defuse disruptive behaviour. Perceptions, prior experience, and prior learning all contribute to human behaviour and may contribute to disruptive, negative, or even aggressive behaviours. This session discusses:

• Emotions, moods, attitudes, intelligence, and thinking
• Anxiety and defence mechanisms
• Unconscious defence mechanisms
• Personality development and influences
• Roles and their influence on behaviours, including carer roles, gender roles, and “sick” roles
• What leads to disruptive behaviour
• Examples of disruptive behaviour in the workplace
• Understanding motivation

10:30am - Morning Tea

11:00am

Understanding Thyself and Emotional Intelligence

One of the most effective tools in responding to challenging behaviour in others is to understand our self and to have insight into our present state of mind. This session provides an opportunity to understand our own motivations and to ensure we are not “fuel on the fire” when it comes to dealing with conflict.

12:30pm - Lunch and Networking

1:30pm

Why do some People Behave in a Disruptive Way?

Disruptive behaviours are commonly seen amongst staff and coworkers. This highly interactive session examines some of the more commonly seen behaviours and what the key influences are that lead to disruptive behaviour. Coworkers can cause many challenges in the workplace and can contribute to workplace stress and staff turnover. Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences and consider:

• Influences and factors that lead to disruptive behaviour
• Disruptive coworkers and the influence of power
• Professionalism and unprofessional behaviour
• When it’s a manager or a doctor or an administrator...
• A look at what is “bullying” at work
• Discussion about disruptive behaviours in coworkers

2:15pm

The Consequences of Disruptive Behaviour

Disruptive behaviours are frequently seen in healthcare settings. Not only can they interfere with day-to-day operations, but they can also have effects on both individuals and the organisation. This session will look at the effects of challenging people within the workplace and who can be involved. Topics include:

• Disruptive behaviour in staff, visitors, and patients
• Organisational disruption
• Staff and team disruption
• Effects on the patient and family and quality of care
• The responsible party for managing disruptive behaviour
• Effects of not managing disruptive behaviours
• How to apply solution-focused management strategies

3:00pm - Afternoon Tea

3:30pm

What is Disruptive Behaviour in Patients and Visitors Telling Us as Professionals?

As with staff, patients and visitors may also be disruptive. Stressful environments, such as critical care, emergency, and mental health may be more commonly associated with disruptive behaviour, but it can occur in any setting and at any time. Topics include:

• What influences disruptive behaviour in visitors and patients
• The role of stress and anxiety in visitors and patients
• Communication problems – lack of information and information overload
• Support networks and social connectedness
• Examples and discussion about disruptive behaviours in patients and visitors
• Participants’ scenarios will also be discussed

4:30pm - Close of Day One of Seminar

9:00am - Commencement of Day Two

9:00am

Timely and Effective Management of Disruptive Behaviour

In order to minimise the effects of disruptive behaviour on the patient, staff, and the organisation, it is essential that action is taken quickly and effectively. Not acknowledging or dealing with disruptive behaviours can have far-reaching effects, including poor morale, staff turnover, and negative impacts on quality of care. We will look at:

• “Zero tolerance” and whose responsibility it is
• Preventing disruption and potential violence
• Actions to deal with disruptive behaviour
• Reducing the consequences of the disruption
• Avoiding the pitfalls, including doing nothing and hoping the problem will sort itself out or diminishing the extent of the problem
• Validating staff experiences
• Rapidly and thoroughly investigating the problem
• Adopting a solution-focused approach

10:30am - Morning Tea

11:00am

Strategies for Dealing with Challenging People: Part 1

Communication skills are essential for establishing positive relationships. In order to communicate effectively, it is essential to have a knowledge of the processes of communication, how to analyse it, and how to improve. Communication barriers or breakdowns are not always evident, and the reasons for them can be challenging to determine. Poor communication can have negative impacts on behaviour and people's responses during times of stress. Topics include:

• Barriers and difficulties in understanding
• Listening techniques
• Knowing your own limitations and strengths
• Understanding the real problem
• Solution building

12:00pm - Lunch and Networking

1:00pm

Strategies for Dealing with Challenging People: Part 2

Conflict can arise at any time, particularly in the often stressful environments of health care. Strategies for avoiding aggression are essential, but what do you do when it escalates anyway? During this session, we will cover the skills for dealing with challenging behaviour through the principles of conflict management. It includes:

• Mindful management of conflict
• Noticing exceptions to the problem
• A solution-focused response to aggression
• Strategies for dealing with a persistently challenging employee
• Managing the conflict outcome

2:45pm - Afternoon Tea and Coffee

3:15pm

Taking Conflict Resolution into the Workplace

There is no one approach when dealing with conflict. However, having the skills and a good understanding of the nature of conflict will help you to deal with it confidently. As healthcare professionals, our role is to bring the best knowledge and strategies to issues, to address them in a productive, respectful, and positive manner. This session summarises the seminar content and looks at strategies for applying good practice in the workplace.

4:00pm

Serious Problems

Not all problems can be managed independently. It is important to understand when you must call for help, or when to report a problem. More serious problems may require formal reporting, performance management, or even police involvement. How do you know what to do and when? We’ll look at:

• Mandatory reporting – what is mandatory, who does it affect, and how to report
• Professional misconduct
• Physical aggression, assault, and criminal matters
• Grievance procedures
• Documentation

4:30pm - Close of Seminar and Evaluations