Reflective analysis of a critical incident: professional development

Abstract

Prolonged seclusion and restraint has been criticised by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture, yet may be common clinical practice in some mental health settings. This article uses reflective practice to describe and discuss a clinical event in a mental health inpatient unit, in which the clinical team held differing views on the application of these techniques to manage the perceived risk of violence from a particular patient.