Managing difficult situations
Week 6
Context
"Mentally ill people in hospital sometimes behave aggressively. They may try to harm other patients, staff, property or themselves. In the UK, the National Audit of Violence found that a third of inpatients had been treatened or made to feel unsafe while in care. This figure rose to 44% for clinical staff and 72% of nursing staff working in these units. Such aggression can result in injuries, sometimes severe, to patients or to staff, causing staff absence and hampering the efficiency of the psychiatric service. The ways in which aggressive behaviour is managed by staff is contentious and emotive, and there is little evidence or agreement about their effectiveness" (King's College London, 2011).
Content
Legislation
De-escalation
De-escalation is a technique used during a potential crisis situation in an attempt to prevent a person from causing harm to us, themselves or others. The principles are to 'Control yourself', show 'Respect & Empathy', and them move through 'Delimit' to 'Clarify' to 'Resolve', as shown below:
References and Further Reading
Department of Education (2013) Working together to safeguard children. London: The Stationary Office
Kings College London (2011) Inpatient violence and aggression: a literature review. London: Institute of Psychiatry
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. London: The Stationary Office