Reducing Restraint through Communication

'The Role of Staff and Team Communication in Reducing Seclusion, Restraint and Forced Tranquilisation in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Settings'

2022-2024

This project will identify staff and team communication that lead to successful management of patient aggression in acute mental health settings, avoiding the need to use physical restraint (held to prevent movement), seclusion (locked in isolation), and forced tranquilisation (involuntarily injected with sedating medication).

This will be achieved through detailed observational analysis of staff management of aggression on inpatient mental health wards, employing body worn cameras. Working closely with clinical educators, these findings will inform clinical staff training and practice.