This module addresses contemporary mental healthcare policy and practice, where risk assessment and safety planning are integral components of a recovery-based approach to care. Students will have the opportunity to develop expert knowledge, skills and competence related to risk/complex care management issues in accordance with best practice guidelines and policy.

 

In contemporary mental healthcare policy and practice, risk assessment and safety planning are integral components of a recovery based approach to care (Higgins et al, 2015). Education and training in the area of risk assessment and safety planning is therefore essential for all healthcare professionals working with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties. A need for further education and training in safety planning and risk management amongst healthcare professionals has been identified (Higgins et al, 2015; Cusack and Kiloury 2012; Jelinek et al, 2013).

 

This module addresses this need by providing participants with the opportunity to develop expert knowledge, skills and competence related to complex care management issues in accordance with best practice guidelines and policy. The concepts of recovery, person-centered care and evidence based practice are central to the philosophy of this module. Health care professionals will critically evaluate and lead assessment in risk management, safety planning, therapeutic interventions, informed by evidence based practice guided by local, national and international policy.

 

Learning outcomes:

• Critically discuss the role of the healthcare professional in safety planning and risk management in mental healthcare settings
• Critically appraise risk assessment tools and management strategies within the mental healthcare setting.
• Demonstrate the application of the principles of evidence based practice to determine the mental healthcare and safety management of an individual with complex mental health care needs.
• Critically discuss the challenges associated with safety planning and risk management when caring for people with mental health difficulties.
• Critically appraise the challenges experienced by the service user and families in positive risk taking.