'Safewards' initiative at mental health unit gets the Scandinavian thumbs up

6th December 2016

A revolutionary new project at a Weymouth mental health unit has helped to create a ‘feel good’ atmosphere and reduce conflict between staff and patients.

The Linden Unit, run by Dorset HealthCare at Westhaven Hospital, has become the first ward at the Trust to introduce ‘Safewards’ complete set of interventions designed to make the facility a safer place and boost morale.

And the initiative has proved so successful that a mental health hospital based in the Danish city of Randers sent a team of nurses and psychiatrists to see the benefits first hand.

The Linden Ward is a 15 bed, mixed sex admission and recovery unit for people suffering from various mental health issues.

Safewards is made up of 10 interventions which summarise factors that influence the potential for conflict, patient restraint and containment on a ward:

  • Mutual expectations
  • Soft words
  • Positive words
  • Bad news mitigation
  • Know each other
  • Calm down
  • Reassurance
  • Discharge messages
  • Mutual help.

Patients and staff work closely on various projects which sit under each of the interventions to help avoid any incidents which could result in violent conduct or general negativity.

These include therapeutic engagement by using positive words, and introducing mobile distraction cabinets which contain items such as colouring books, calming putties and beads.

Linden Ward Manager Sarah Stuart said: “We have been at the forefront of implementing Safewards across Dorset HealthCare since September 2014 and have become the first unit to fulfil all 10 models.

“We were delighted to welcome staff from the Regionspsykiatrien Randers, and they were impressed with how effective Safewards has proved from such a simple concept.”

Runa Sturlasson, Chief Psychiatrist of Regionspsykiatrien Randers, said: “The visit has been worth every minute. We have been inspired by the staff and the feel-good atmosphere across the unit.

“It was great to discuss the challenges we face and some of the laws which often hamper mental health back in Denmark, and sometimes prevent us achieving our goals. We are looking forward to sharing our new-found ways of working.”

Staff at the Linden Unit have been invited to visit the Danish trust in the new year.

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