The Employee of Concern Advisory Team (ECAT) is the multidisciplinary team that will facilitate a coordinated response to all behaviours in which individuals may pose a threat to others.
Purpose
The goal of the response is to prevent serious violence and to support all individuals involved.
Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA)
A Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) assessment is the process of determining if a threat-maker poses a risk to a target or targets they have threatened. The threat could be to themselves or others. In doing so, supports and interventions can be identified and offered to help the threat-maker and prevent further evolution on their pathway to violence.
VTRA Essentials
- No one just snaps, serious violence is an evolutionary process.
- The best predictor of future violent behaviour is evidence of an increasing baseline.
- The biggest problem identified in the aftermath of a violent situation is under-reporting of often blatant indicators that someone is moving on a pathway towards serious violence.
- Report or talk to someone - your information may be useful in preventing future violence.
USask VTRA Structure
With many other members of Saskatoon and surrounding community, USask is a committed member of the Community Threat Assessment Support Protocol. USask has VTRA teams dedicated to both employees and students.
Next Steps
If you observe a employee who is showing some or all of the symptoms below, contact the appropriate group(s) listed.
To activate an ECAT process or report high risk behaviors, please contact Protective Services at (306) 966-5555
Worrisome Behaviours
- Violent content
- Writing or speech is disjointed and fragmented
- Stories/journals/assignments/ communications
- Vague threatening statements
- Significant change in both behaviour and social media behaviour
- Significant change in baseline behaviour and/or appearance
- Behaviours causing others to feel uncomfortable
- Disruptive behaviour in learning/living/working environments
- Suicidal ideation
- Significant academic/work performance changes
- Disrespect for authority, unreasonable demands
- Substance abuse
- Harassment/sexual harassment
- Atypical of email/social media
Contact: HR SBA or Protective Services
High Risk Behaviours
- Acts of aggression
- Stalking behaviour
- Possession of weapon/replica
- Bomb threat plan
- Unwanted sexual advances/contact
- Verbal/written threat to kill/injure self or others
- Internet website threats to kill or injure self/others
- Fire-setting behaviour
- Escalation in frequency and/or intensity of behaviour
- Threats of violence
- Hate-motivated violence targeting a particular student or group
- Cluster of worrisome behaviour
- Plans of sabotage
- Writing or speech is disjointed and fragmented
- Gang related intimidation and violence
Contact: Protective Services
Immediate Threat
- Weapons in possession that poses serious threat to others
- Active, or planned for, serious assault on a target
- Homicidal/suicidal behaviour that threatens safety
- Fire-setting
- Acts of sabotage that threaten the safety of self or others
- Targeted bomb threat
Contact: Call 9-1-1