Developing Risk Assessments from the Perspective of the Patient: A Case Study Report

Chris Wagstaff^1*, Jose BOM², Richard Salkeld³ and Christian M Feij⁴

¹Medical School, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, University of Birmingham, UK

²Nurse Specialist, Forensic ACT team, Assen, NL

³Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK

⁴Clinical psychologist and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Forensic ACT team, Assen, NL

*Corresponding Author : Chris Wagstaff
Medical School, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
Tel: 0121-415-8589
E-mail: C.Wagstaff@bham.ac.uk

Received: May 25, 2018 Accepted: June 21, 2018 Published: June 25, 2018

Citation: Wagstaff C, BOM J, Salkeld R, Feij CM (2018) Developing Risk Assessments from the Perspective of the Patient: A Case Study Report. Int J Ment Health Psychiatry 4:2. doi: 10.4172/2471-4372.1000163

This paper describes clinical team practice developed simultaneously but separately, in the Netherlands and the UK. Both teams work with patients with a significant risk history who are often unwilling to discuss risk; however it is imperative that clinicians do so. This paper discusses strategies the teams introduced to address this issue and case studies are used to illustrate the approaches. In addition to building a collaborative relationship the starting point of the risk assessment and management process was a ‘Stay well’ plan in which the patient describes the strategies which enable them to stay well. The case studies demonstrate how the changes to the risk assessment processes benefitted both the patients and the clinicians whilst also highlighting the need for on-going collaborative work. Making the perspective of the patient central to the risk assessment process; created an atmosphere of optimism and opportunities for dialogue and understanding. This case study paper highlights good clinical practice developed simultaneously, by mental health teams in the north Netherlands and the West Midlands United Kingdom in writing risk assessment strategies that fore front the perspective of the patient. These risk assessment strategies are explained in detail, complimented by case studies from each team.