Managing complex student and staff behaviours

Sally TrembathManager

Mental Health and Safer Community ProgramsHealth, Wellbeing and Development

Managing complex student and staff behaviours

• Define the problem, impact and risk• The Monash context: mental health and

safer community frameworks• Services, and resources for early help

seeking and intervention• Information sharing• Panel, Q and A• Key messages

Behaviour management in the University

When does the University’s tolerance of diversity and eccentricity bow to the need for containment and control?

Professor James Ogloff

Problem behaviours in a University community• Disgruntled students and staff,

complainants• Threateners, may or may not be harmless• Personal, domestic disputes• Criminals• Abusive students or co-workers• Abusive supervisors• Mentally ill

Defining the problem

Universitycommunity

Academicunit

Individual

Society

Table discussion

• Examples of complex cases

• Discuss impact on yourself and others

• Write case scenario describing behaviours and context

The safer community program and mental health strategy, a collaborative approach to behaviour management in order to:

– enable early intervention for better mental health outcomes

– mitigate the risk of threatening behaviour escalating to violence

– minimise the impact of disturbed behaviour on others

– ensure risk is contained in a fair and humane way

Mental health and safer community framework

High risk

specialised response

Low risk

local response by many

Safety of the individual and the community

Mental health promotion and resilience programs

Mental health Safer community

Safety awareness and crime prevention programs

Early intervention and help seeking.Psychological first aid

Early local containment, information gathering, advice and referral

Counselling and brief multi-modal intervention Risk assessment, coordinated case management and support to those impacted

External specialist referral Coordinated threat management and engagement of police, Forensicare. Support to those impacted

Crisis response Remove threat and support those impacted

What did you know? When did you know it? What did you do?

Step 1 Duty of care

Behaviour witnessed and identified as signpost of potential violence or serious mental health issue. Willing to act on concern for wellbeing.

Step 2Duty to report

Witness knows who to tell within the university. Witness chooses to act by reporting or seeking advice.

Step 3Duty to assess and act

Threat assessment team provides advice and assistance appropriate to threat level to reduce risk. High risk cases escalated to university wide risk management group.

Step 4Duty to actDuty to warn

Establish fact and develop evidence based intervention. Ongoing monitoring and flexible plan to reduce risk both to the individual and the university community.

Social and academic functioning scale (SAF)

• Adapted from the GAF

• Promotes early identification of students having difficulties to minimise disruption to their studies

• Provides clear and common language around observable behaviours

• Guides appropriate response

• Increases awareness of behaviours requiring containment

• Indicates referral and service pathways

Community Care Line : 9905 1599

Central point of enquiry for information, advice and support for students and staff who:

• Feel threatened or unsafe

• Have concerns about someone else’s behaviour or wellbeing

• Have received unwanted attention

• Are worried about someone harming themselves or someone else

May be referred to the Safer Community Unit to lead a coordinated management plan

Risk Management Group• Purpose is to meet regularly to monitor risks to

the safety of any part of the University community that arise from the conduct of individuals within or in contact with the University community

• Members: Solicitor’s office, Human Resources, Occupational Health and Safety, Disability Unit, Residential Services, Mental Health, Safer Community

• Clear terms of reference for sharing information in order to manage and mitigate risk

RMG cases: 52 cases January to June 2009

Case Type Intervention/outcome

Requests to re-enrol post exclusion 6.3

SCU access forensic or mental health assessment to guide decision by faculty

Stalking Stalking ceased after range of interventions eg. Police, intervention orders, misconduct

Aggressive behaviour

SCU coordinated response. Affected staff supported. No further reports.

Threat, veiled in email (note 5 in prev. half year)

Suspect located, admitted and apologised. No further problem behaviour.

Child Pornography

Police involved. Guilty plea - student excluded on academic progress

RMG casesCase Type Intervention/outcome

Unreasonable complainants

SCU develop strict management plan and monitoring

Non-suicidal self-injury impact on others

Safety plan meetings, external assessment and personal crisis plans in place

Mental health issues

1 exit home for assessment, non-compliance on return and academic progressed. 2 Referral and treatment.

Concerning comments

Investigation negated action, frightened staff debriefed.

High risk alcohol use

Halls resident unconscious, hospitalisation, counselling and monitoring

Vice President Administration

Safer Community Working Party Chair: Divisional Director Student & Community Services

Members: Director, HWD, Director, Equity & Diversity, Director OHS, Director HR Planning and Resources, Director, Workplace Relations, University Security Manager, Deputy University Solicitor, Manager Mental Health and Safer Community Unit, Coordinator, Safer Community Programs, Manager Leadership and Org Development, University Ombudsman, Assoc Dean Medicine.

Risk Management Group Chair: Manager Mental Health and Safer Community Unit

Members: Director, HWD, Director, Equity & Diversity, Director OHS, Director, Workplace Relations, Director, Monash Residential Services, University Security Manager, Deputy University Solicitor, Coordinator Safer Community Programs, Security Investigations Supervisor, Senior Disability Liaison Officer.

Safer Community Unit Manager, Mental Health & Safer Community Unit Coordinator, Safer Community Programs Project Officer

Key Internal and External

Stakeholders

DELEGAT I ON

&

FEED BACK

LOOP

SAFER COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONAL CHART

• Glenda Beecher, Deputy University Solicitor:

Information sharing , clarification of privacy and confidentiality

• Andrew Picouleau, Director Workplace Relations and Deputy HR DD:

Mental Health provision for staff in the EB

Table discussion

• Scenario

• How would you approach this situation now?

Key messages

• You do not have to know the solution• There are services to help• For the best outcome for individuals and the

community, seek advice early• All advice will be in line with university

statutes and policies• Where necessary appropriate internal and

external expertise will be engaged• Community Care Line 9905 1599