Collaborative Risk Assessment & Management across Secure Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Collaborative risk assessment and management across the secure mental health pathway in England: a realist review and mixed methods evaluation
IRAS ID
349606
Contact name
Daniel Whiting
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 28 days
Research summary
The secure mental health pathway in England is complicated, and links with many other services. It provides care when there has been some increased risk associated with a mental disorder (risk meaning the chances of something unwanted happening, for example harming others, or oneself).
Assessing risk is central to many decisions about treatment. It is important to consider how best to involve patients, and their support networks, in these decisions, especially because treatment might involve restricting someone’s liberty to maintain safety. However, how well this is done currently in the secure mental health pathway in England is unknown.
This project will 1) see how patients and carers can be involved in risk assessment and management planning in the secure mental health pathway in England, asking what works for whom, in what situations, and why, and 2) find out what ways are used currently, what effect they have, and what helps or hinders their use.
To achieve these goals, this study will use both interviews and surveys using a mixed methods approach. Information about what is happening currently will be collected, with a nationwide survey, and by interviewing people with different perspectives. The knowledge gained by combining the interviews and survey will help to better understand what is working in different situations in a pathway. The current study will also be guided by a review of existing evidence, being undertaken by the same study team as part of a wider project.
Finally, the learning will be brought together to create a Programme Theory which explains how an intervention/s brings about a chain of results that produce the intended outcome. This Programme Theory will inform recommendations for how things can be improved at important decision-points along the secure pathway.
Patient and public involvement is included throughout. Led by two experienced coordinators, including with lived experience, groups will meet 3-monthly. Roles will include co-designing the review, including what evidence to search for, co-designing the survey and interviews, and helping with study interviews.REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
25/WA/0053
Date of REC Opinion
13 Mar 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion