On 22-24 March, project organised a specialised training for the staff of the Forensic Psychiatry Institute, as a follow up to the findings and recommendations from the monitoring visits conducted by National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in 2018. The training was delivered by one of the leading international forensic psychiatrists, CPT expert Clive Meux and Helen Ayres, Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University and the Matron for the Medium Secure Forensic Inpatient Service in Oxford, United Kingdom.
More than 30 psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists and social workers of the Institute as well as a psychologist and a doctor of the NPM participated in the interactive workshop specifically designed for multidisciplinary team working in forensic psychiatric hospital integrating CPT standards and norms. The program of the workshop included lectures and case studies with role play on the admission procedures, management of violence and aggression, treatment approaches, potential ill-treatment and staff support and well-being.
Apart from the capacity building purposes, the workshop was used for the needs assessment of the Institute, following the request for support from the management. The Institute was established in 2014 and since then there was no further human or technical capacity development activities until this training was organised by the project. The findings of the needs assessment will be further used for advocacy with donors and relevant institutions to support this entity with dedicated professionals, but in urgent need for additional staff, training and budget.
The project "Strengthening the National Preventive Mechanism in Kosovo*" is funded by the Council of Europe, Swiss and Norwegian governments and implemented by the Council of Europe.
