scholarly journals Violence and aggression in psychiatric settings: reporting to the police

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-151
Author(s):  
Susham Gupta ◽  
Elvan U. Akyuz ◽  
Jonathan Flint ◽  
Toby Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Healthcare Organisation ◽  
List Type ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Criminal Proceedings ◽  
Health And Social Care

SUMMARYViolence and aggression are relatively common and serious occurrences in health and social care and rates are higher in mental health settings. Despite the National Health Service's policy of ‘zero tolerance’ of such behaviour, reporting of violence and aggression against mental health staff remains low. This article considers the nature of violence and aggression against staff in psychiatric settings and the process of involving the police to ensure an effective outcome. It outlines each step, from the initial the multidisciplinary team assessment of the incident and its reporting to the police to the making of witness statements, should the case come to court. It also explains the discretionary role of the police in deciding whether to charge and of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in deciding whether to prosecute. The article stresses that NHS organisations need to provide an effective, streamlined and time-efficient reporting process, as this should reduce levels of patient violence, improve staff's well-being and morale, save costs and make the working environment safer for all.LEARNING OBJECTIVES•Raise awareness of the underreporting to the police of incidents of violence and aggression against staff by psychiatric patients and recognise the benefits of reporting such incidents•Develop a framework for assessment and reporting of such incidents committed to the police and to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), in the event of possible or actual criminal proceedings•Develop an understanding of the role of the healthcare organisation, the police and the CPS when such incidents are reported to the policeDECLARATION OF INTERESTNone.

scholarly journals The Role of Employee Relations in Shaping Job Satisfaction as an Element Promoting Positive Mental Health at Work in the Era of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1903
Author(s):  
Helena Bulińska-Stangrecka ◽  
Anna Bagieńska
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Interpersonal Trust ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Employee Relations ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Mediating Role

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of employees. Deterioration of the well-being of workers is also caused by changes in the working environment. Remote working can affect both social interactions and job satisfaction. The purpose of the study is to examine what factors influence job satisfaction in the context of remote work caused by a pandemic. The study analyses whether employee relations and interpersonal trust are related to the level of perceived job satisfaction. The investigation started with a literature review and then research hypotheses have been formulated. Based on an empirical study, carried out on a sample of 220 IT employees during the pandemic, an analysis of the mediating role of trust in links between employee relations and perceived job satisfaction was conducted. The current study found that positive employee relations contribute to the level of job satisfaction. Additionally, trust is an important factor that mediates these relationships. Based on the results of the research, it was possible to describe the mechanism of shaping a supportive work environment during a pandemic.

scholarly journals The impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, services and society

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Crowther ◽  
A. Taylor ◽  
R. Toney ◽  
S. Meddings ◽  
T. Whale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Advisory Panel ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Social Care Service ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact

AbstractAimsRecovery Colleges are opening internationally. The evaluation focus has been on outcomes for Recovery College students who use mental health services. However, benefits may also arise for: staff who attend or co-deliver courses; the mental health and social care service hosting the Recovery College; and wider society. A theory-based change model characterising how Recovery Colleges impact at these higher levels is needed for formal evaluation of their impact, and to inform future Recovery College development. The aim of this study was to develop a stratified theory identifying candidate mechanisms of action and outcomes (impact) for Recovery Colleges at staff, services and societal levels.MethodsInductive thematic analysis of 44 publications identified in a systematised review was supplemented by collaborative analysis involving a lived experience advisory panel to develop a preliminary theoretical framework. This was refined through semi-structured interviews with 33 Recovery College stakeholders (service user students, peer/non-peer trainers, managers, community partners, clinicians) in three sites in England.ResultsCandidate mechanisms of action and outcomes were identified at staff, services and societal levels. At the staff level, experiencing new relationships may change attitudes and associated professional practice. Identified outcomes for staff included: experiencing and valuing co-production; changed perceptions of service users; and increased passion and job motivation. At the services level, Recovery Colleges often develop somewhat separately from their host system, reducing the reach of the college into the host organisation but allowing development of an alternative culture giving experiential learning opportunities to staff around co-production and the role of a peer workforce. At the societal level, partnering with community-based agencies gave other members of the public opportunities for learning alongside people with mental health problems and enabled community agencies to work with people they might not have otherwise. Recovery Colleges also gave opportunities to beneficially impact on community attitudes.ConclusionsThis study is the first to characterise the mechanisms of action and impact of Recovery Colleges on mental health staff, mental health and social care services, and wider society. The findings suggest that a certain distance is needed in the relationship between the Recovery College and its host organisation if a genuine cultural alternative is to be created. Different strategies are needed depending on what level of impact is intended, and this study can inform decision-making about mechanisms to prioritise. Future research into Recovery Colleges should include contextual evaluation of these higher level impacts, and investigate effectiveness and harms.

Crisis assessment and management

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Kapoor
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Video Recording ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Crisis ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Correctional Settings ◽  
Many Sources

Crisis calls are a common occurrence in correctional settings. Psychiatrists are often called upon to triage and manage such events. Requests for urgent psychiatric evaluations can come from many sources, including security staff, non-psychiatric physicians, mental health staff, courts, attorneys, and family members. Psychiatrists responding to these requests for evaluation may feel tremendous pressure to reach a conclusion that is consistent with the opinions of the requesting party. However, maintaining an independent and therapeutic stance when conducting crisis evaluations is crucial. Some aspects of psychiatric evaluations in crisis situations are unique to the correctional environment: evaluations at cell-side, video recording, and leadership by security staff rather than medical professionals. Nonetheless, correctional psychiatrists should be guided by the same principles of medical ethics that apply to patient care in the community, placing the patient’s well-being above all other concerns. They should strive, when possible, to conduct a thorough assessment in a confidential setting. In considering how best to resolve the crisis and care for the patient, they should err on the side of caution and recommend placement in a safe and therapeutic setting, at least until a multidisciplinary team can consider other options. Finally, they should document the encounter carefully, articulating the rationale for the chosen course of action. This chapter reviews the pragmatics of evaluating and managing many common correctional events that lead to mental health crisis calls and discusses the range of concerns, the typical practices and procedures used in correctional settings, and the types of interventions that are best used.

Tackling the unseen virus at the unseen frontier

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-68
Author(s):  
Cholan Anandarajah ◽  
Matilda Elliott ◽  
Koravangattu Valsraj
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Health Unit ◽  
Compassionate Care ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Healthcare Environments ◽  
Mental Health Settings ◽  
Mental Health Unit

There has been widespread coverage, attention and discussion regarding the anxieties of COVID-19 pandemic in health and social care settings; however, compared to other healthcare environments, mental health care settings have not received a similar level of attention and concern. Interestingly there are unique challenges in mental health units and at the height of the pandemic there has been a significant impact on staff, patients and carers. Mental health staff have had to adapt their ways of working, focusing more on the physical health of patients and caring for COVID positive patients in a mental health unit. Anxiety about the infection spreading to other patients and to staff who interact very closely with patients were significant concerns, with the additional difficulties of accessing the appropriate PPE during the early stages of the outbreak. Some challenges are unique to mental health settings and become even more intense within a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). These include difficulties with isolation, social distancing and the reluctance of patients to wear masks. The lessons learnt caring for the most challenging patients in a PICU are explored. The adaptability, flexibility and commitment to providing kind, compassionate care at the height of the COVID pandemic is remarkable.

scholarly journals The role of psychodynamic psychotherapy in a modern general psychiatry service

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 461-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Hook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy ◽  
Psychiatric Service ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
General Psychiatry ◽  
Specialist Treatment ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between psychiatrists and psychotherapists is a complicated one. It has become no easier as mental health services have come under increasing strain over recent years, with pervasive bureaucratisation and the introduction of market forces. I aim in this article to elucidate the roles that a psychodynamic psychotherapy service can play as an integral part of a general psychiatric service in addition to its specialist treatment functions. I also explore some of the reasons why psychotherapy and general psychiatric services are still not fully integrated, thus failing to provide the most effective range of treatments and enhance the effectiveness of mental health staff in all settings in the delivery of those treatments.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Trial Staff on the Barriers to Recruitment in a Digital Intervention for Psychosis and How to Work Around Them: Qualitative Study Within a Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Allan ◽  
Hamish Mcleod ◽  
Simon Bradstreet ◽  
Imogen Bell ◽  
Helen Whitehill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Trial Staff ◽  
Recruitment Barriers

BACKGROUND Recruitment processes for clinical trials of digital interventions for psychosis are seldom described in detail in the literature. Although trial staff have expertise in describing barriers to and facilitators of recruitment, a specific focus on understanding recruitment from the point of view of trial staff is rare, and because trial staff are responsible for meeting recruitment targets, a lack of research on their point of view is a key limitation. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to understand recruitment from the point of view of trial staff and discover what they consider important. METHODS We applied pluralistic ethnographic methods, including analysis of trial documents, observation, and focus groups, and explored the recruitment processes of the EMPOWER (Early Signs Monitoring to Prevent Relapse in Psychosis and Promote Well-being, Engagement, and Recovery) feasibility trial, which is a digital app–based intervention for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. RESULTS Recruitment barriers were categorized into 2 main themes: service characteristics (lack of time available for mental health staff to support recruitment, staff turnover, patient turnover [within Australia only], management styles of community mental health teams, and physical environment) and clinician expectations (filtering effects and resistance to research participation). Trial staff negotiated these barriers through strategies such as emotional labor (trial staff managing feelings and expressions to successfully recruit participants) and trying to build relationships with clinical staff working within community mental health teams. CONCLUSIONS Researchers in clinical trials for digital psychosis interventions face numerous recruitment barriers and do their best to work flexibly and to negotiate these barriers and meet recruitment targets. The recruitment process appeared to be enhanced by trial staff supporting each other throughout the recruitment stage of the trial.

scholarly journals The therapeutic power of volunteering

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colette Fegan ◽  
Sarah Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
List Type ◽  
Paid Work ◽  
Type Number ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Uk

SummaryThere is growing evidence from smaller evaluative studies in the USA and anecdotal papers in the UK that supported volunteering can help recovery and can be a pathway into paid work for people with serious and fluctuating mental health conditions. It allows the person to take risks and test out a working environment. This opportunity can integrate their experience of mental illness into a valued identity and provides opportunities to engage with a world of work. We recommend that mental health professionals consider ways of providing volunteering opportunities as part of a recovery-oriented service within their organisations.LEARNING OBJECTIVESAppreciate the benefits patients gain from volunteering.Understand the principles of a supported volunteering scheme.Appreciate the potential value to the patient of volunteering within health and social care settings.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Trial Staff on the Barriers to Recruitment in a Digital Intervention for Psychosis and How to Work Around Them: Qualitative Study Within a Trial

10.2196/24055 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e24055
Author(s):  
Stephanie Allan ◽  
Hamish Mcleod ◽  
Simon Bradstreet ◽  
Imogen Bell ◽  
Helen Whitehill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Mental Health Staff ◽  
Trial Staff ◽  
Recruitment Barriers

Background Recruitment processes for clinical trials of digital interventions for psychosis are seldom described in detail in the literature. Although trial staff have expertise in describing barriers to and facilitators of recruitment, a specific focus on understanding recruitment from the point of view of trial staff is rare, and because trial staff are responsible for meeting recruitment targets, a lack of research on their point of view is a key limitation. Objective The primary aim of this study was to understand recruitment from the point of view of trial staff and discover what they consider important. Methods We applied pluralistic ethnographic methods, including analysis of trial documents, observation, and focus groups, and explored the recruitment processes of the EMPOWER (Early Signs Monitoring to Prevent Relapse in Psychosis and Promote Well-being, Engagement, and Recovery) feasibility trial, which is a digital app–based intervention for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Results Recruitment barriers were categorized into 2 main themes: service characteristics (lack of time available for mental health staff to support recruitment, staff turnover, patient turnover [within Australia only], management styles of community mental health teams, and physical environment) and clinician expectations (filtering effects and resistance to research participation). Trial staff negotiated these barriers through strategies such as emotional labor (trial staff managing feelings and expressions to successfully recruit participants) and trying to build relationships with clinical staff working within community mental health teams. Conclusions Researchers in clinical trials for digital psychosis interventions face numerous recruitment barriers and do their best to work flexibly and to negotiate these barriers and meet recruitment targets. The recruitment process appeared to be enhanced by trial staff supporting each other throughout the recruitment stage of the trial.

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