Ukeru Training Comes to CP Unlimited
One of the most important aspects of being a trusted provider of services to people with I/DD is safety; both for the people we support and for the dedicated staff who implement person-centered practices in their daily work. There are times when staff are called upon to respond to crisis and trauma that can result in harmful behaviors and emotional distress.
In our ongoing approaches to provide beneficial strategies for staff to employ in time of crisis and trauma, CP Unlimited looked to Ukeru, a crisis management program built on an approach of “comfort vs control” rather than depending on the use of restrictive techniques. Developed by a team of medical and mental health professionals, Ukeru is a trauma informed approach on how to treat people supported in crisis.
At the core of Ukeru (from Japanese, meaning receiving) is the belief that the care provided to people supported, should be the same as the care we would want and expect for ourselves. Guided by the “receiving” of information from the person supported, direct support professionals and others, can act in a way to comfort a person in crisis without having to use specialized or potentially injurious techniques. If necessary, the use of cushion pads and physical protection skills can be used to aid staff in calming a situation at hand. The result is a more secure setting in which to support people experiencing distress while at the same time providing effective oversight and maintaining a safe environment.
On June 25 and 26, Ukeru instructors came to CP Unlimited to conduct the first train-the-trainer course in the philosophy and practices of Ukeru. There were 11 staff selected to attend the training representing a cross-section of direct support professionals, supervisors, behavior intervention specialists, and training personnel.
Our new Ukeru instructors will begin training CP employees based on the needs of individuals supported in residential and day programs. We look forward to sharing this approach throughout the CP Unlimited network.
More Photos From the Training:
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