Training for the Safety Planning Intervention

There are three levels of training in the Safety Planning Intervention (SPI): 1) Awareness Training, 2) Knowledge Training, and 3) Competency-Based Training. Please see the descriptions below for each training level. For questions about training in the SPI, please contact Drs. Gregory Brown and Kelly Green.

Level 1: Awareness Training

When considering implementation of the SPI, Awareness Training is the first step. We have developed the following free 30-minute webinar to provide an overview of SPI and the evidence supporting its effectiveness, as well as describe some of the challenges we have encountered when it comes to implementing the SPI in healthcare settings. This training is appropriate for healthcare organization leaders and administrators, clinicians, and anyone involved with implementing or supporting the implementation of SPI.

Level 2: Knowledge Training

Once you have decided to implement the SPI, the next step is acquiring knowledge. We have developed a 3.5-hour web-based, asynchronous foundational course entitled “The Safety Planning Intervention: It’s more than filling out the form!”

This training is appropriate for Master’s and Doctoral level licensed clinicians or trainees who are practicing under the supervision of a licensed clinician. With this course, you’ll learn about the important clinical tasks that comprise the SPI, going beyond the safety plan form to understand how to deliver the intervention as intended - as a patient-centered and collaborative intervention. This course also includes an expert demonstration of the intervention, as delivered by SPI co-developer, Dr. Gregory Brown. Participants who complete the course and pass the final knowledge test are eligible to receive 3.5 CE credits from the American Psychological Association.

For more information on the course and to register, please visit the following link. Please note that when registering for the course, you should use your email address as your username: https://platform.onlinelearning.upenn.edu/offering/a0QVt000016hFr3MAE

Level 3: Competency-Based Training

While knowledge training is necessary for learning to deliver the SPI, it is not sufficient for training clinicians to competency in this intervention. In recognition of this, we have developed a Competency-Based Training Program for organizations wishing to train groups of clinicians to competency in the SPI. If you are interested in bringing the SPI Competency-Based training Program to your organization, please email Drs. Gregory Brown and Kelly Green to discuss your training needs.

The SPI Competency-Based Training Program includes prerequisite-work and three training phases: 1) Didactic Training Phase; 2) Experiential Group Roleplay Phase; and 3) Standardized Patient Competency Evaluation Phase, which are described in detail below. Before training commences, pre-work is required with organizational leadership to 1) examine and adjust policies and clinical workflows to support SPI implementation and 2) program the Stanley-Brown safety plan template into the electronic health record.

Phase 1: Didactic Training

Phase 1 consists of completion of the 3.5-hour web-based course described above.

Phase 2: Experiential Group Roleplays

Following the completion of Phase I, training participants are divided into small groups of 4 participants with 1 Expert SPI Trainer. Participants meet in these small groups for three 2-hour experiential roleplay meetings (6 hours total). During these meetings, participants roleplay the SPI and provide feedback to each other. Additionally, participants receive feedback from the Expert Trainer that is based on the Safety Planning Intervention Rating Scale (SPIRS), the SPI competency measure, in order help participants to develop competency in delivering the SPI.

Phase 3: Standardized Patient Competency Evaluation

Following the completion of Phase 2 training, participants complete a SPI roleplay with a member of the training team, who plays a standardized suicidal patient. These roleplays are observed and rated for competency by an Expert SPI Trainer using the Safety Planning Intervention Rating Scale (SPIRS). To successfully complete the training program, participants must achieve the required cut-off score for competency on the SPIRS. If participants do not pass the first standardized patient evaluation, they receive feedback from the Expert SPI Trainer and are eligible to complete a second roleplay evaluation.