The Joint Commission R3 Report: Workplace Violence Prevention in Behavioral Health Care and Human Services

By CPI
January 9, 2025
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Effective July 1, 2024, three new and one revised workplace violence prevention requirements will apply to all Joint Commission–accredited behavioral health care and human services (BHC) organizations.   

The prevalence of workplace violence in BHC settings is high and has increased in recent years. This violence contributes to burnout and staffing shortages in health care, further exacerbating the mental health crisis among behavioral health workers. The new and revised Joint Commission requirements provide a framework to help BHC organizations develop new and reinforce existing workplace violence prevention efforts. 

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Three Easy Steps to Bring CPI to Your Behavioral Health Care and Human Services Facility  

Step 1: Schedule a 15-minute call with CPI. We’ll evaluate your current crisis prevention programming to determine how we can help you.

Step 2: Obtain a complimentary training program recommendation. We will design and recommend a training plan.

Step 3: Train your staff. Our world-renowned Global Professional Instructors will provide an engaging and interactive training to give your staff the tools needed for proactive, safe de-escalation.

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See how CPI training programs make it easy for all staff to gain perspective and de-escalation skills, regardless of role or risk level.

Legal Requirements

The Joint Conference R3 Report
Dated: December 20, 2023
Effective: July 1, 2024
New Requirement

Applies to all Joint Commission-accredited behavioral health care and human services (BHC) organizations.

Requirement
Standard HRM.01.05.01: Staff participate in education and training. EP 17:
As part of its workplace violence prevention program, the organization must provide training, education and resources to leadership staff and licensed practitioners.
The training, education and resources must address workplace violence as follows:

What constitutes workplace violence?

Recognition of what constitutes workplace violence begins with awareness of the different types of physical and nonphysical acts and threats that are occurring in the workplace.

CPI Alignment

CPI’s person-centered, trauma-informed, training will equip individuals with the skills to identify and assess workplace violence. The CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® program provides staff with risk assessment criteria to evaluate any perceived threats. This empowers them to assess potentially dangerous situations and respond appropriately, ensuring the highest level of safety for all individuals involved.

Training in de-escalation, nonphysical intervention skills, physical intervention techniques, and response to emergency incidents.

Education and training should focus on deescalation and intervention techniques when confronted with incidents of workplace violence.

CPI Alignment

CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® Training will offer effective prevention techniques, including verbal deescalation strategies and physical disengagement and holding skills, to manage incidents that staff are unable to prevent successfully. Physical intervention strategies are emphasized to be used only as a last resort. CPI’s Nonviolent Crisis Intervention® program emphasizes proactive measures by identifying early warning signs of potential crisis situations. It equips staff with both nonverbal and verbal de-escalation techniques. The program educates staff on recognizing signs of aggression, appropriate responses, and situational awareness regarding indicators of violence.

The reporting process for workplace violence incidents.

Incorporating violence prevention tools and encouraging the use of a simple and accessible reporting process can ultimately reduce the likelihood of staff being victims of workplace violence.

CPI Alignment

CPI recommends that all incidents of violence be thoroughly documented as part of the post-incident review process. Staff should assess each incident with a focus on the CPI training program to identify opportunities for adjusting intervention strategies at earlier stages of the crisis. CPI teaches that post-crisis situations should focus on responding to the present needs, understanding the past (trauma and antecedents), and planning for the future.