The Aegis System™ has a tertiary design, which allows for custom-like engagement options without jeopardizing the fidelity of The System. Each of the four sections of Aegis translates into a learning module.
The De-escalation component is consistent with every client engagement but an organization may choose to have Trainers certified with or without any Physical Intervention component. In turn, Certified Trainers may elect to certify all staff in Physical Intervention, only select staff, or none of the staff; depending on the needs of the organization.
The Aegis System™ Content
System Introduction
Staff will acquire foundational knowledge that the Aegis System™ is built upon. Key aspects of the Aegis approach and strategy for achieving de-escalation will be explored.
- System Overview
- Aegis Philosophy
- Aegis Language
- What Will I Be Learning?
- Aegis De-escalation Model
- Core Aegis Principles
- Non-Judgmental Approach
- Social Survival
- “The Jockey” and “The Horse”
Staff Empowerment (Section 1)
Staff will learn to manage their own stress levels to mitigate the chance of over reacting or under reacting during crisis intervention. This stress inoculation will allow staff to maintain critical thinking throughout a crisis intervention. Section 1 encourages forward thinking, or front-track framing, around the realities of intervening in crisis.
- 1.0 Introduction to Staff Empowerment
- 1.1 Stress Inoculation
- 1.2 Cognitive Preparation
- 1.3 Managing Triggers
- 1.4 Perspective Taking
Nonverbal Acuity (Section 2)
Staff will learn nonverbal acuity that will promote the early recognition of crisis. Nonverbal acuity will also support non-verbal crisis intervention strategies. This same acuity will also encourage more empathy and increase staff’s forensic emotional intelligence. Staff will learn how to present themselves in crisis, most notably, to maintain a non-threatening presentation.
- 2.0 Nonverbal Communication In Crisis
- 2.1 Body Language Clusters
- 2.2 Emotion In The Face
- 2.3 Paraverbal Acuity
- 2.4 The De-escalation Cluster
Verbal De-Escalation & Rapport (Section 3)
Participants will learn how to communicate effectively and achieve client rapport. Achieving rapport is the ultimate crisis prevention and de-escalation strategy. The Aegis System™ is a rapport based de-escalation model. The skills of rapport and effective communication will be applied to verbal strategies that will empower staff with the ability to de-escalate crisis.
- 3.0 Introduction To Achieving Rapport
- 3.1 Applied Empathy
- 3.2 Mirroring & Matching
- 3.3 Insulated Approach
- 3.4 Positive Responses
- 3.5 The Crisis 2-Step
- 3.6 The ABC’s of De-escalation
The Protective Use of Physical Intervention (Section 4)
For organizations utilizing benevolent restraint, participants will learn to use specific benevolent restraint techniques arranged in a tertiary design. Staff will be trained to make situation appropriate decisions that employ the least restrictive option to ensure a safe outcome. Participants will also learn post-incident procedures to intentionally report and debrief incidents of crisis.
- 4.0 Introduction
- 4.1 Understanding the Risk of “Restraint”
- 4.2 Moving to Physical Intervention
- 4.3 Intervention Model
- 4.4 Physical Approach
Physical Skills Component
- 4.5 Practicing Physical Skills
- 4.6 Warm Up
- 4.7 Escaping Unwanted Contact
- 4.8 Aegis Holds
- 4.9 The Aegis Safety Position™
- 4.10 Duration
- 4.11 Critical Communication
- 4.12 Signs of De-escalation & Releasing
- 4.13 Re-establishing Rapport
- 4.14 Incident Debrief
- 4.15 Documentation
Appendix A: Aegis References
Appendix B: Case Law
Appendix C: Aegis Operational Policy
Download our whitepaper to learn more about workplace violence prevention and how the Aegis System™ helps keep your staff and clients staff from disruptive behavior or contact us and we’ll walk through implementing crisis intervention training at your organization.
Certification
Aegis certifies Trainers at regularly held train-the-trainer sessions across the country. The intention of the train-the-trainer certification program is to provide an economical and performance based solution for integration that maintains the fidelity of The Aegis System™.
Initial Trainer Certification is a 3-day commitment. Immediately following training, watermarked certificates are mailed to each Trainer’s place of employment. Key contacts and Aegis Trainers will receive a timely follow up e-mail including login details for the Aegis Client Portal.
Aegis Client Portal
The Aegis Client Portal is an online solution to support Aegis certified Trainers and is accessed via the Aegis website. Included in the portal are videos, staff handouts, supporting documents, training supports and PowerPoint presentations that are designed to assist Trainers in conducting their own staff trainings and managing their own staff certifications.
Each Trainer is instructed on how to use the portal at the train-the-trainer session. All of the materials that Aegis Trainers need to execute their own trainings are either in-hand within the Aegis Trainer Manual or a few clicks away in the Aegis Client Portal. There is no additional fee for access to the Aegis Client Portal. Training fees are the only cost from Aegis. There are no hidden fees.
Re-Certification
Aegis Trainers and certified staff complete their re-certification on an annual basis. Trainer Re-certification is a 1-day commitment. In most states there is a 2-3 month scheduling buffer for re-certification. Aegis maintains a regular presence in all client geographies to facilitate the re-certification process.
Contact Aegis to bring training in-house or view our training calendar to schedule training today.