Introduction
The Interdisciplinary Practice Training (IPT) is a well-established method of training that has been utilised within the Berlin prison service since 1997. During IPT sessions, participants are exposed to both ordinary and extraordinary real-life situations involving inmates.
Prison officers have the opportunity to learn or consolidate their skills in professional interaction within their everyday work environment. Complex and challenging situations, in particular, can be effectively presented during these training sessions. The essential skills and competencies required to carry out various interactions with inmates safely and professionally are trained, videotaped, and evaluated by experts.
The experienced trainer team comprises staff in a variety of roles within prisons, including prison officers, psychologists, and social workers. They guide participants throughout the day, ensuring they gain the maximum benefit from the training.
During the cross-border training, the programme started out with an overview and introduction to the German and Berlin correctional system, where resocialisation and de-escalation are the central principles. This session also provided the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a general exchange with other participants. For this purpose, the afternoon of the first day was scheduled at the academy’s headquarters.
The following day was entirely devoted to IPT in a section of the prison. Participants were placed in a variety of scenarios, with some given the opportunity to actively take on the role of prison officers to test their skills. Time was provided to reflect on and discuss the events, examining how situations developed or, in some cases, escalated.
