Reducing Restrictive Practices Evaluation

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An Evaluation of the Implementation of Mersey Care Trust's 'Guide to Reduce Restrictive Practice in Mental Health Services'

  • IRAS ID

    277787

  • Contact name

    Alina Haines-Delmont

  • Contact email

    a.haines@mmu.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Mersey Care NHS Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 4 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Despite guidelines and public pressure to reduce the use of restrictive practices on vulnerable populations, these are not always used as a last resort. Service users in mental health trusts in England are being restrained on average every 10 minutes. Restrictive practices can include physical, medication-led restraint, seclusion, segregation, and enhanced observation. These can be traumatising for service users and staff. Reducing restrictive practices is a key priority area of quality improvement for Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.

    Mersey Care have asked us to (1) measure changes in the use of restrictive practices, levels of conflict and harm following the introduction of the Guide; (2) assess the Guide’s implementation in practice; and (3) speak to staff and service users to identify priority areas for improvement. This is not about blaming staff, but finding best ways to improve practice to ensure service user and staff safety, dignity and respect.

    We will do this in 3 Phases:
    • In Phase I, we will use anonymised quantitative Trust data to measure change in levels of conflict, harm and use of restrictive practices;
    • In Phase II, we will send self-completion questionnaires to managers, nurses, clinicians, trainers to rate the implementation of interventions part of the Guide. We will also invite up to 60 staff and service users to take part in a discussion (informal interview) to capture views, attitudes, and experiences regarding the use of restrictive practices and any prevention strategies;
    • In Phase III, we will conduct 4-6 focus groups to discuss results with staff and service users to agree on priority areas for improvement and best ways to achieve these.

    We will disseminate findings using social media, the Trust and the University communication systems, presentations, and publications in peer-reviewed journals. We will produce a final report for Mersey Care, summarising findings and highlighting priority areas for improvement.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    20/WM/0042

  • Date of REC Opinion

    2 Apr 2020

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion