1st Edition
Patient Safety and Serious Incident Responses The Essentials
This step-by-step guide takes the reader through the complex process of investigating serious incidents in health, social care, and criminal justice environments, acknowledging differences of culture and context that shape an investigation. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, Part 1 begins by exploring the key principles of investigation, including ethical and legal perspectives, the involvement of families and carers, and being aware of unconscious bias, among other issues. Part 2 outlines in detail the conduct of investigations, from planning to processing the findings, before moving on to Part 3, carrying them out in diverse settings.
Further chapters then look at investigating within diverse environments before moving onto to Part 4 which deals with reviewing and analysing the evidence collected and writing up the investigation. This final part also examines the pivotal issue of learning from the investigation and disseminating the report. The inclusion of case studies, models of good practice, and vignettes enables to reader to view each stage of the process in context and drive the transformation of practice.
This practical resource is designed to support health and social care professionals who undertake investigations as part of their role, including nurses, allied health practitioners, social workers, doctors, and psychologists, as well as military personnel and law enforcers. It is an essential companion.
Acknowledgements
Table of figures
Editors & Contributors
Foreword: Professor Mike Thomas
Introduction : Karen M. Wright & Alison Elliott
PART 1. Principles of investigation
1: Understanding and Avoiding Unconscious Bias: Alison Elliott
2: To Debrief or not to Debrief: Frankie Westoby.
3: The Theoretical and legal principles of formal investigations: Jenny Shaw.
4: Family engagement – why it matters: Julian Hendy.
PART 2: Conducting the investigation.
5: Planning Investigations: Kevin Wright & Tiff Sinclair
6. Individual investigative Interviews: Alison Elliott & Karen Wright
7: Managing Interpersonal dynamics, and issues with group interviews: Sue Ellis.
8: Processing, reviewing and analysing material: Karen M Wright & Alison Elliott
PART 3 : Investigating in diverse environments.
9: Managing Diversity and Vulnerability: Peggy Mulongo & John Wainwright
10: Serious incident investigations involving children and young people: Louise Hamer & Tim McDougall
11: Investigations in the custodial setting – practical advice: David Durrant
12: Investigating within the military context: James Clapson.
13: Fitness to Practice Investigations : Joanne Keeling.
14: Managing Organisational Dynamics: Jo Ramsden.
PART 4: Post- investigation reporting, learning & development
15: Approaches to managing information post investigation: Jenny Shaw.
16: How to present a report & the executive summary: Teresa Lean.
17: ‘Cautionary tales: investigations - the effects on staff involved’: Panchu Xavier
18: The coroner’s inquest and attendance to an inquest hearing: Louise Swarbrick.
19: Closing the loop: Creating learning from the incident: Kim Bennett & Panchu Xavier
Glossary of Terms.
Biography
Alison Elliott is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire and Programme Lead: Offender Personality Disorder Programme.
Karen M. Wright is Professor Emerita at the University of Central Lancashire, practicing psychotherapist, Chair of an NHS research Ethics Committee, and Registered Nurse.
