Risk Management In Mental Health Services Page 35
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54Good written records:
if information is not recorded it will not be
remembered/discussed or acted on.
Regularly consult the records:
monitoring and recording change. A
strategy for Action Points, a communication chain and clear and shared
goals are all important.
Confidentiality:
any information sharing should be confidential on a ‘need
to know’ basis and not in the public domain.
Regular Review:
An active learning, changing process. (Remember: Risk
is dynamic).
(Source: Start Safe Stay Safe, O’Rourke, 2003)
Missing information can lead to an underestimation of risk, and
consequently a failure to act when action is required. The lesson from
practice is that agencies working together really can make the difference.
When forms are standardised and safe systems implemented, it is
important to supply regular updates (O Rourke, 2003).
4.2.2
Service User and Staff Safety
Violence and aggression in mental health services is a complex issue with
a wide variety of causes, behaviours and consequences. Aggressive
behaviour is a concern for staff and service users alike. Service users can
sometimes feel unsafe in inpatient settings, yet the purpose of the
inpatient care is to provide a safe and therapeutic environment. The
challenge for staff is to manage disruptive behaviour in a way that
optimises patient and staff safety, while protecting patient’s rights.
The legal obligation imposed upon employers by health and safety
legislation requires that organisations put in place all reasonably
practicable preventative and protective measures in order to create safe
places and processes of work for their employees and others. Enshrined
in this obligation is the requirement that employers conduct systematic
risk assessments of workplace hazards which are likely to result in
accident or injury. Such assessments must then inform the implementation
of control measures deemed necessary to minimise associated risks.
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