Managing the Risk of Workplace Violence to Healthcare and Community Service Providers
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Appendix 5: Violence Assessment
Key Considerations
The following considerations have been included as practical examples of the questions one might ask as part of the Workplace Violence Assessment for those patients who, for a number of reasons, may be unaware of their violent actions.
- Is the client/patient alert, orientated, co-operative and co-ordinated?
- Should the patient be accompanied by a mental health professional? Some clinical settings are not equipped with the skills or facilities to safely manage patients `sectioned’ under the Mental Health Act 1992
- What can immediate family/friends tell you about the patient in terms of specific likes and dislikes?
- Communicate with the patient’s attending doctor
- Is it appropriate to include a psychiatric review as part of the action plan?
- Attach the risk assessment to accident forms resulting from the patient’s continued violence.
- Have all items that can be used as weapons been removed?
- Has the area been assessed for clear escape routes?
- Is there a cumulative effect on the employees from a number of similar violent individuals on the same ward? (i.e. should that unit’s potential “load” be reduced?)
- Where there is a potential for significant incidents, ensure you identify all those who may come into contact with the patient and are at risk of injury, documenting those findings on the assessment.