Organizations providing support services to vulnerable populations such as people with disabilities, face unique challenges that may increase an organization’s exposure to liability resulting from allegations of abuse and neglect. Further an organizational culture poisoned by attitudes of insensitivity is fertile ground to undermine the quality of life of those supported.
Through a series of challenging vignettes developed by Dr. Tom Pomeranz, managers and supervisors gain critical skills to proactively address potential as well as actual situations of abuse and neglect. The participants are organized into small groups of 4-7 individuals and presented with challenging scenarios depicting abusive and neglectful staff interactions with those they support.
This workshop’s instructional format allows each of the small groups to process what action steps they would employ to resolve the abuse or neglect situation presented. Following the presentation of each groups’ action steps Tom and the groups critique each other’s conclusions and Tom offers his response to the scenarios. This activity gives the organization insight and the catalyst to modify it’s current personnel policies and practices, human resource role/s, liability exposure and, most importantly, a renewed zeal to protect the rights and humanity of those individuals supported.
