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How much risk training takes place in mental health services?

A national survey of training and policies

National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness, PO Box 86, Manchester MA0 2SF

See editorial, pp. 203-205 this issue.

Correspondence: e-mail: Louis.Appleby{at}man.ac.uk

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
AIMS AND METHOD

The main aim of the study was to establish the proportion of hospital trusts in England and Wales in which training in the assessment of suicide risk and risk of harm to others is available to mental health professionals. A questionnaire was sent to clinical directors covering training on these subjects and in mental health legislation, details of training and the existence of risk-related policies.

RESULTS

Seventy-six per cent of trusts said they provided training in suicide risk assessment for junior psychiatrists; for hospital and community nurses, the figure was just over 50%. Between 50% and 60% of trusts said they provided training in the assessment of risk of harm to others. Provision of training in mental health legislation was said to occur in most trusts. In some key areas of risk management, hospital policies were uncommon.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Despite the current importance of risk assessment in mental health services, many hospital trusts do not provide their staff with relevant training.

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
Training in risk assessment has become an important area of clinical practice in mental health. Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation (Department of Health, 1999a) sets a new suicide prevention target (20% reduction by 2010) and states that training is a key element of suicide prevention. The recent National Service Framework for Mental Health highlights the need for training in risk management (Department of Health, 1999b). Many of the local inquiry reports after homicides by those who have had contact with mental health services highlight problems in risk assessment and recommend training (Lingham et al, 1996; Mishcon et al, 1995; Ritchie et al, 1994). It is the policy of the Royal College of Psychiatrists that there is an induction training in risk assessment for new staff and continuing training for established staff (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1996). We therefore conducted a survey to establish how widespread training in risk assessment is in mental health services in England and Wales. To our knowledge there has been no previous national review of the amount and content of such training.

	The study

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
A questionnaire on training and policies was sent to clinical directors in the 193 trusts in England and Wales providing mental health services within the NHS. The survey was conducted during 1998. The questionnaire was constructed to cover three main areas of training: the assessment of suicide risk, the assessment of risk of harm to others and mental health legislation. It enquired about the availability of training to three groups of staff: junior psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses and hospital ward nurses. Questions about the content of risk assessment training made specific reference to the learning of assessment skills as well as the provision of information. On mental health legislation training, there were questions on discharge planning — there is a high risk of suicide on discharge from in-patient care (Appleby et al, 1999) — the Care Programme Approach and the supervision register. Additional questions concerned the frequency of training, the availability of follow-up training and whether courses were compulsory (see Tables 1,2,3).

A fourth section to the questionnaire asked whether trusts had written policies covering aspects of the clinical management of high risk patients including responses to non-attendance and non-compliance (see Table 4).

Clinical directors were asked to complete all sections of the questionnaire, if necessary after consultation with colleagues, and to exclude from their replies general professional courses, such as MRCPsych courses, because the study was examining training within the NHS.

	Findings

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
We received replies from 159 trusts — a response rate of 82%. The main findings were as follows. Seventy-six per cent of trusts provided training to junior psychiatrists on suicide risk assessment but only approximately half provided such training to community psychiatric or ward nurses. Just over half the trusts provided training in the assessment of risk of harm to others for all three professional groups. Most trusts provided training in mental health legislation. Most risk assessment training was said to include skills as well as information. It was usually provided at least once a year but was generally not compulsory. Follow-up training occurred in approximately half the trusts. The existence of written policies varied. Almost all trusts had policies on the observation of inpatients. Only one-third had policies on responding to non-compliance and non-attendance.

Additional comments made by respondents followed three themes. First, training was provided but it was not compulsory and so attendance by staff was low, often because staff were unable to take time off from their clinical commitments. Second, training was said to be planned for the future in many places where it was not currently taking place. Third, staff also received training elsewhere, in particular, on the wards as part of their routine clinical work or on specific courses, for example, MRCPsych.

	Comment

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
The response rate in this study was satisfactory and the questionnaires provided a simple way of recording information. However, we do not know how accurately they were completed. Clinical directors may have overstated the availability of training because of what they believed to be the case, or may have reported training that was available but poorly taken up because of other demands. These sources of error may have inflated our figures and the lack of training in risk assessment may be more widespread than our findings suggest. If so, this should be a source for concern. Nursing staff in particular appear to have fewer opportunities for training than their medical colleagues. There is evidence that such training can improve skills (Morris et al, 1999) and front-line staff need opportunities to develop and maintain their knowledge and skills in these key areas.

It appears from this survey that the recommendations on training from the Department to Health and College reports, as well as from homicide inquiries, are not followed in many trusts. We would support a national programme of regular, possibly compulsory, training for front-line professionals funded by regional education training consortia and other postgraduate educational sources.

	Acknowledgments

 
We would like to thank the clinical directors who completed their questionnaires.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction The study Findings Comment References

 
APPLEBY, L., SHAW, J., AMOS, T., et al (1999) Safer Services. Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness. London: Department of Health.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (1999a) Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation. London: HMSO.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (1999b) National Service Framework for Mental Health. London: Department of Health.

LINGHAM, R., CANDY, J. & BRAY, J. (1996) The Report of the Inquiry into the Treatment and Care of Raymond Sinclair. Kent: West Kent Health Authority and Kent County Council.

MISHCON, J., DICK, D., WELCH, N., et al (1995) The Report of the Independent Inquiry Team into the Care and Treatment of Kenneth Grey. London: East London and the City Health Authority.

MORRIS, R., GASK, L. BATTERSBY, L., et al (1999) Teaching frontline health and voluntary workers to assess and manage suicidal patients. Journal of Affective Disorders, 318, 77-83.

RITCHIE, J., DICK, D. & LINGHAM, R. (1994) The Report of the Inquiry into the Care and Treatment of Christopher Clunis. London: HMSO.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS (1996) Assessment and Clinical Management of Risk of Harm to Other People. Council Report, CR53. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.

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