The document describes the Safe Wards initiative and its 10 interventions to improve safety and care on psychiatric wards. It asks patients to select their top 3 interventions by ticking the boxes next to Clear Mutual Expectations, Soft Words, and Talk Down. The interventions aim to establish clear rules and expectations for all, use kind and empathetic language, and provide guidance for staff on how to help patients when they are upset.

1. WHAT IS IT?

2. The Safe Wards initiative is based
on 10 interventions
• These interventions are agreed, owned and
shared by the staff team and the most
important people on the ward – YOU!

3. WHAT ARE THE TOP 10?
&
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3?
(IT’S TIME TO VOTE -PLEASE TICK YOUR TOP 3)

4. CLEAR MUTUAL EXPECTATIONS
• WE WILL DEVELOP AN
AGREED LIST OF
EXPECTATIONS (FOR ALL)
AND HAVE THIS FRAMED
ON THE WARD
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

5. SOFT WORDS
• This is about how we
engage one another:
• Understanding
• Kindness
• Empathy
• The language we use
• Explanation
• Apologise
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

6. TALK DOWN
• This will be a poster of
the interventions most
helpful for staff to use
when people are upset,
distress – This will be
developed with YOU!
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

7. POSITIVE WORDS
• Positive appreciation
• Focus on strengths
• Achievement
• Positive understanding
• Individuality
• Hope and optimism
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

8. MANAGING DIFFICULT NEWS
• Accept people get difficult news
• Managing this with compassion and
sensitivity
• Supporting people in the way they would
like to be supported
• Understanding how people might want to
receive difficult news and what they need
to do to manage this
• Avoid misconception
• Understand the impact this may have on
others
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

9. KNOW EACH OTHER
• Staff know a lot of information
about you – this is part of health
care
• Do you want to know more about
us?
• Staff profiles in a booklet:
Strengths, likes, dislikes etc.
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

10. MUTUAL HEALP MEETING
• We are a social community
• The assistance we give one another is
extremely important
• We all have meaningful contributions
to make
• Regular morning meeting to discuss
how we can help each other
• Plan for the day
• What will be important for the
everyone that day
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

11. CALM DOWN METHODS
• It is understood that at time
medication may be used to assist
when other options might be
preferred: This is could be many
things and different for everyone:
• A calm down box – Item identified
by you as helpful – writing paper,
music, personal fan, stress ball
• Printing list of what works for you –
walk, hot drink 1:1 time, gym, TV
etc. (this could be written with you
and put in a care plan and on your
wall)
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

12. REASSURANCE
• We are aware that things can happen
that cause increased anger and fear –
both on the ward and in the
community (this might be as simple
as the onset of night time)
• We would look to offer 1:1
explanation and reassurance or to do
this in small groups
• We would never break confidence
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3:

13. DISCHARGE MESSAGES
• When you are well and ready for
discharge it could be extremely
supportive for others to leave a
positive message of hope for
other.
• This could be a leaf on a tree of
hope or similar.
• PLEASE TICK THIS ONE,
IF IT IS ONE OF YOUR
TOP 3: