Advanced Issues in the Assessment of Risk for Violence: Formulation (USD 500.00)

This self-paced online training program on Advanced Issues in the Assessment of Risk for Violence: Formulation was developed by Dr. Stephen Hart and is presented in partnership with Protect International.

The practice of clinical risk assessment and management has changed greatly in the last five years. Predicting harmful outcomes in clients continues to be the first line of response by busy practitioners trying to prioritize large caseloads of demanding and potentially at-risk clients. However, recent research makes it clear that reliance on prediction models to manage individual risk is unsafe. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. Risk prediction tools make a comparison between an individual client and a group of research participants with a known rate of re-offending they do not predict harmful outcomes in individuals. Also, risk prediction does not facilitate risk formulation or individual risk management planning assessment using a risk prediction tool does not encourage an understanding about why harmful outcomes are a possibility or the mechanism by which treatment, supervision and monitoring processes can lead to managed risk.

Prerequisite: The prerequisite for this training program is either the Foundations of Threat Assessment training program offered by CONCEPT or at least 4 days of foundational threat assessment and risk management training.

This training program will provide practitioners with a summary of the most up-to-date research findings relevant to violence and sexual violence, provide an overview of the most recent clinical guidance on risk assessment and management using a structured professional judgement approach, and give practitioners the opportunity to advance their practice in respect of clinical interviewing skills, risk formulation, risk management planning, and risk communication through relevant exercises and case studies. Professionals who do not have a solid foundation in threat assessment and risk management may wish to register for the Foundations of Threat Assessment training program before registering for this Program.

The fee for this training program is $500 and includes all materials and worksheets. E-copies of the HCR-20 Version 3 assessment manual and instrument protocol are provided for use in this training program. In addition, case studies and other case-relevant materials are provided for training purposes. The program includes both didactic and interactive materials and allows the opportunity to apply the information and assessment instruments to sample cases. Throughout the training program there will be quizzes that must be passed with a 70% in order to advance in the course. Once the course is completed participants will complete a course evaluation and then will be able to print their certificate of completion.

Intended Audience

This training program is intended for experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and probation officers, and nurses working in forensic mental health and correctional services in institutions and in the community. This course is best suited for practitioners who have already undergone training in risk assessment tools such as the HCR-20, SVR-20, RSVP, or SARA and who wish to enhance the quality of their practice using these tools. This training program is for intermediate and advanced level clinicians.