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Verbal Threats and Intimidation
In most cases violence will not escalate past verbal threats. Verbal threats can lead to physical violence or be a part
of a deliberate attempt to harass and intimidate. Staff should be made aware of how to deal directly with verbal
threats and in incident reporting.
Staff who are being verbally attacked should:
Try to assess the emotional/mental state of the person – i.e. frustrated, disturbed, under the influence of
drugs or alcohol
Try to accommodate their needs. They may simply have been woken and momentarily not be aware of
where they are
Use assertive but non-aggressive language
Assess the potential for the situation to become physically violent
Seek the presence of another staff member if at all possible