The Modernisation Agenda is placing increasing demands upon Fire Service Managers in terms of workloads and adapting to the accelerated pace of change.
This means that Fire Service personnel need to accept responsibility, for themselves and for their colleagues; to develop an awareness of what is meant by stress, the causes, the symptoms; and what can be done both to prevent negative stress and to manage it when it still occurs.
This course comprises three sections:
Defining and identifying the causes and symptoms of negative stress
Techniques for preventing and forestalling stress and ensuring a culture which does not inadvertently encourage stress
Personal management techniques and coaching/supporting skills for dealing with stress in others and ourselves
AIM
To enable Fire Service personnel to define the causes of stress in themselves and others, recognise early symptoms, take action to prevent, manage and deal with stress.
OBJECTIVES
Define what is meant by stress, describe the range of individual and personal response
Identify causes of stress
Recognise the symptoms of stress in yourself and colleagues, especially ‘early warning signs’
Develop techniques for preventing and managing personal stress levels
Apply techniques for supporting colleagues and team members experiencing stress
COURSE CONTENT
Defining and Identifying Stress
What is meant by ‘Stress’; positive and negative stress
Impact of stress-related illness and stress-related absence
Types of stress
Causes of stress
Symptoms of stress; how to recognise them in yourself and others
Early warning signs
Preventing Stress
Tackling the root causes of stress
Personal responsibility; responsibility for others
Stress-prone and stress-resilient individuals
Creating and maintaining the right work culture and environment
Managing others without causing stress
Personal stress prevention techniques
Dealing with Stress
Personal stress management and stress reduction techniques
Supporting colleagues under stress
When to refer to HR, specialist counsellors or health professionals
INTRODUCTION