CJA/234
Corrections Task Force Project
The task force has been assigned the mission of creating a training program which will detail the ways that staff for the correction facility are better able to manage the mentally ill offender population safely and effectively. This will review the following information to better explain how this may be accomplished: information vital to improve staff effectiveness for secure and safe operations, sill sets required for staff working with the population, and any notable information from research in both historical and emerging trends.
Effectiveness for Safe/Secure Operations Staff/personnel who are dealing with mentally ill patients need to be trained in many different areas to become effective in each patient’s life. The staff members need to fully understand the clinics policies, plans, and programs that have been put into place for the safety and protection of all patients and staff members. With there being more than 200 types of mental illnesses, the staff needs to know and understand the different types of symptoms and disorders so that they can properly handle each individual per clinic policy (Mental Illness and the Family: Recognizing Warning Signs and How to Cope, 2013). Support groups have been proven as a useful tool for therapy, and patients need a support network either through staff/personnel, other patients, or outside sources such as friends and family. Staff members need to be helpful and considerate with each patient, each having the understanding that they can have a positive or negative effect on each individual. Showing respect to each patient will help remove any stigma that may be in place, allowing patients to fully trust the staff without any unnecessary walls of defense or feelings of threat. Communication amongst staff members has been known to help with potential safety issues. Staff members must log any patient misbehavior or any strange or unusual