Key Working & Risk Assessment (2 days)

The role of the key worker is often misunderstood. This one day course, designed for support workers provides the clarity required so that the worker can support the service user in a professional way.
Learners will acquire an understanding of the knowledge and skills required to carry out the task. The key work relationship will be explored and principles of good practice reinforced with a particular focus on holding appropriate professional boundaries, team and multi-disciplinary working; developing and maintaining an appropriate relationship.
On the second day learners will focus on Risk Assessment and the Key Workers responsibilities in taking the lead in the formal process.
The post training certificates list the links to NVQ and CIS

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course learners should understand:

Day 1

• What is a key worker
• Different models of key working in different settings
• What the key worker does on an everyday basis and in the longer term
• How the key worker needs to relate to the rest of the team
• How the key worker needs to relate to other professionals, agencies and the service user’s friends, family etc
• What the essential skills are
• What skills need to be developed over time
• The advantages of a key working system
• The potential dangers in the relationship
• How to initiate the relationship
• The use of Key work contracts
• How to maintain a healthy relationship
• That the relationship is not personal and that the key worker does not ‘own’ the service user.
• Unconscious processes that may distort the relationship
• How to establish and hold boundaries
• How important Supervision and team meetings are
• What is meant by Person Centred support
• Basic listening skills (2 day course only)
• The organisation’s confidentiality policy regarding key work
• How to promote the interests of the service user within the team
• The role of advocates and what they can do to assist
• How to support the principles of Diversity in the service user’s interest
• The need to be aware of the organisation’s Safeguarding policy
• How to manage a key worker meeting; the challenges and how to respond to these
• How important it is to record effectively and according to policy
• How to link key work to the Support Plan
• How to go about arranging a review
• How to lead the review; supporting the service user to lead the review
• How to end the relationship in a healthy way

Day 2

• What is meant by ‘risk’ ‘assessment’ and ‘Management’
• Life is a ‘risky business’ and that people have a right to take risk
• The use of staff power and its potential misuse. To include
        -Choice-control
        -The Duty of Care
        -Neglect
• The key worker’s and others’ responsibilities in protection.
• When risk is unacceptable (including Health and Safety issues) and what action is appropriate when this is the case
• How to be sensitive to the perception of others-including the family
• Understand how to articulate concerns about practice when risk is being assessed and managed
• Their role in Safeguarding service users from staff heavy handedness, including issues of empowerment,
  assertiveness training and education, self advocacy and the role of advocates
• How to use a risk assessment form and:
        -name who will be involved
        -Describe the person involved
        -Establish the prime issues
        -Name the risk factors
        -Consider what could be done to limit risk
        -Justify their decision as to whether the activity could go ahead
        -Explain when and what preparation needs to be done beforehand
        -Link the risk assessment to the support plan

Training methods:

• Warm up exercises
• Tutor presentations
• Role play
• OHP/PowerPoint
• Work in pairs/triads
• Small and larger group work
• Practical application
• Examination of organisational formats
• Word storm method
• Chalk & talk

CP16/5.9