The Importance of Debriefing for Direct Service Providers
By Luke Schmaltz, SADOD FEED Newsletter Editor
Working in overdose outreach can present a specific set of challenges for direct service providers (DSPs). The rigors of helping those who are struggling, if left unaddressed, can cause unnecessary stress, personal conflict, and vocational burnout.
These issues highlight the importance of debriefing on a daily or weekly basis, and as a standard protocol at the completion of topical presentations, community projects, and outreach initiatives.
Communication is Key
Debriefings allow direct service providers (DSPs) to discuss difficult situations, safety issues, standout moments, and overall outcomes. Timely debriefings can also bring forth important suggestions for changes in program delivery while events are fresh in the mind of the DSP.
According to a 2023 review published by the National Institutes of Health, “Debriefing holds the potential to represent an accessible, flexible and low-cost intervention for a community of workers in desperate need for emotional support to complete demanding but vital work.”
The NIH review also presents a variety of models for navigating the debriefing process.
- REFLECT: Review the event, Encourage team participation, Focused feedback, Listen to each other, Emphasize key points, Communicate clearly, Transform the future
- TALK: Target, Analysis, Learning, Key Actions
- PEARLS: Promoting Excellence and Reflective Learning in Simulation
Learn Debriefing from Experienced DSPs
Jill Shanahan and Gabriel Qualia lead SADOD’s Direct Service Provider Program. On September 24, they will host Debriefing in DSP Work: Resources for Managers, Supervisors and Co-workers. Shanahan and Quaglia will discuss the importance of debriefing based on their collective work with outreach organizations, recovery facilities, and treatment centers across Massachusetts.
This training will explore the value of debriefing sessions after the de-escalation of a situation and after responding to an overdose. Presenters will also discuss the role of debriefing when supporting your team during staff transitions and when interpersonal conflicts require managerial intervention.
Training topics will be examined through the lens of collective care and will discuss how debriefings can enhance support and communication while alleviating burnout. Suggestions for checking in with your staff and team will also be presented along with creative approaches to managing debriefing sessions. Attendees will discover tools and resources applicable across the spectrum of direct service occupations.
Debriefing in DSP Work: Resources for Managers, Supervisors and Co-workers is a free training, and is sponsored by MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, SADOD & AdCare Educational Institute, Inc.