Demonstrate Basic Interpersonal Skills With Persons In Trouble With The Law Training

Objectives:
• Understand the scope and importance of interpersonal skills in working with persons in trouble with the law.
• Identify key stakeholders in the criminal justice system and their roles.
• Recognise the impact of personal attitudes and biases on interactions.
• Establish a foundation for self-awareness and professional boundaries.

Topics:
• Overview of the course and unit standard outcomes.
• Defining interpersonal skills and their relevance.
• Introduction to the South African criminal justice system.
• The role of service providers and support workers.
• Understanding personal biases and values.
• Professional ethics and confidentiality.
• Self-assessment of current interpersonal abilities.

Objectives:
• Demonstrate effective verbal and non-verbal communication techniques.
• Practice active listening and paraphrasing.
• Understand barriers to communication and how to overcome them.
• Apply questioning techniques to gather information sensitively.

Topics:
• Elements of communication: sender, receiver, message, feedback.
• Non-verbal cues: body language, eye contact, tone of voice.
• Active listening skills: attending, reflecting, summarising.
• Open and closed questions.
• Cultural considerations in communication.
• Overcoming communication barriers (e.g., language, emotional state).
• Role-play exercises on basic communication.

Objectives:
• Explain the importance of rapport in working with offenders.
• Apply strategies to build trust with resistant or distrustful individuals.
• Demonstrate empathy without condoning criminal behaviour.
• Maintain professional boundaries while establishing connection.

Topics:
• What is rapport and why it matters.
• Techniques for building rapport: mirroring, matching, pacing.
• Empathy vs sympathy: appropriate emotional engagement.
• Dealing with suspicion and hostility.
• Consistency and reliability as trust builders.
• Boundary setting: professional vs personal involvement.
• Case studies on successful rapport building.

Objectives:
• Identify common psychological and social factors influencing criminal behaviour.
• Recognise the needs of persons in trouble with the law (e.g., rehabilitation, support).
• Understand the impact of trauma and substance abuse.
• Apply a non-judgmental approach to assessment.

Topics:
• Theories of criminal behaviour: social, psychological, economic.
• Common characteristics of offenders: impulsivity, low self-esteem.
• Substance abuse and its role in offending.
• Trauma-informed care principles.
• Assessing needs: safety, health, education, employment.
• Stigma and its effects on rehabilitation.
• Group discussion on case scenarios.

Objectives:
• Identify signs of escalating conflict.
• Apply de-escalation techniques to calm tense situations.
• Use assertive communication to set limits.
• Resolve conflicts constructively without aggression.

Topics:
• The conflict cycle: triggers, escalation, crisis, recovery.
• De-escalation techniques: calm voice, open posture, respectful language.
• Assertiveness vs aggressiveness.
• Negotiation and compromise skills.
• Safety planning in volatile situations.
• Role-play: managing a verbal confrontation.
• Debriefing after conflict.

Objectives:
• Understand the principles of motivational interviewing (MI).
• Use MI techniques to explore ambivalence about behaviour change.
• Elicit change talk and strengthen commitment.
• Avoid confrontation and support self-efficacy.

Topics:
• Overview of motivational interviewing: spirit, principles, skills.
• Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summaries (OARS).
• Recognising and responding to change talk.
• Rolling with resistance.
• Developing discrepancy between current behaviour and goals.
• Supporting self-efficacy.
• Practice sessions using MI scenarios.

Objectives:
• Identify key components of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to support offenders.
• Help clients set realistic goals and develop action plans.
• Link clients to community resources and support networks.

Topics:
• The rehabilitation process: assessment, intervention, aftercare.
• Multi-disciplinary teamwork: roles of probation, social work, psychology.
• Goal setting with offenders: SMART goals.
• Referral pathways: housing, employment, counselling.
• Family involvement and restorative justice.
• Monitoring progress and providing feedback.
• Case study: successful reintegration plan.

Objectives:
• Recognise signs of burnout and vicarious trauma.
• Implement self-care strategies to maintain personal well-being.
• Develop a personal resilience plan.
• Utilise supervision and peer support effectively.

Topics:
• Understanding vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
• Warning signs: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced empathy.
• Self-care practices: physical, emotional, social, spiritual.
• Setting boundaries at work.
• Utilising supervision and debriefing.
• Peer support networks.
• Creating a personal self-care plan.

Objectives:
• Integrate all skills learned into a coherent practice framework.
• Demonstrate competence in simulated interactions.
• Develop a personal action plan for ongoing professional development.
• Evaluate own learning and identify areas for growth.

Topics:
• Review of key concepts and skills from Days 1-8.
• Simulated interactions: role-play with feedback.
• Peer and self-assessment against unit standard criteria.
• Creating a professional development plan.
• Ethical dilemmas and decision-making.
• Course evaluation and reflection.
• Certification and next steps.