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Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Women’s experiences of special observations on locked wards
T2 - The case for effectual engagement
AU - Fish, Rebecca
PY - 2022/2/24
Y1 - 2022/2/24
N2 - his article discusses ‘special observation’, a practice used in inpatient units and in mental health and learning disability services. I present some perspectives on this practice from women detained on locked wards, and staff members. Despite the many valid criticisms, I show that constant observations can be used as a way to harness engagement and to improve relationships between staff and residents.Points of interestSpecial observation is used in services when a resident is at risk of harm. It means that staff need to watch a resident all the time.I talked to women with learning disabilities and/or autism who lived in a secure unit.They told me they did not like being watched all the time, and they wanted their privacy in the bathroom above all.Some women told me that special observation is better when the staff talk to them and do activities with them. It is better when staff do not stare at them in the bathroom.I show that it is important to keep people safe. Special observation can be used in positive ways to do this.
AB - his article discusses ‘special observation’, a practice used in inpatient units and in mental health and learning disability services. I present some perspectives on this practice from women detained on locked wards, and staff members. Despite the many valid criticisms, I show that constant observations can be used as a way to harness engagement and to improve relationships between staff and residents.Points of interestSpecial observation is used in services when a resident is at risk of harm. It means that staff need to watch a resident all the time.I talked to women with learning disabilities and/or autism who lived in a secure unit.They told me they did not like being watched all the time, and they wanted their privacy in the bathroom above all.Some women told me that special observation is better when the staff talk to them and do activities with them. It is better when staff do not stare at them in the bathroom.I show that it is important to keep people safe. Special observation can be used in positive ways to do this.
KW - Observations
KW - inpatient services
KW - self-harm
KW - therapeutic relationship
U2 - 10.1080/09687599.2022.2034112
DO - 10.1080/09687599.2022.2034112
M3 - Journal article
JO - Disability and Society
JF - Disability and Society
SN - 0968-7599
ER -