The team of Unit 4 at Dandenong’s Secure Extended Care Unit (SECU) has recently introduced several Safewards initiatives to improve the relationships between employees and consumers in Mental Health wards.
The Safewards model aims to reduce conflict and containment within the acute ward environment.
The initiatives introduced on Unit 4 were developed in collaboration with inpatients, nurses, doctors, management and Allied Health employees.
The ‘Tree of Hope’ has been incorporated into each of the wards in Unit 4. This initiative allows inpatients and multi-disciplinary team members to place a personal message on the tree. This tree has grown by giving people the opportunity to contribute their message to the tree at Mutual Help meetings each morning.
Another Safewards program is ‘Mutual Expectations’, which aims to promote a collective agreement of the obligations of both employees and consumers. The team at Unit 4 found this program to be very rewarding as it allows for both consumers and the team to feel heard and included.
The team has also implemented ‘Know Each Other’, which includes the display of employees’ profiles, a tea station and a games box for individuals on the ward to enjoy.
The team at SECU say they will continue to work hard to incorporate the Safewards model and attempt to reduce the frequency of conflict by improving the relationships between employees and consumers.
Approved by Anjali Dhulia and Andrew Perta.