The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) is today calling for reflective practice – led by trained facilitators – to be mandated for staff across mental health services to improve clinical practice, patient safety and outcomes.
Many mental health staff, including psychiatrists, experience distress, disturbance and trauma when they are not given the time and space to reflect on experiences at work. This can have a significant impact on both patients and the workforce. In its new Position Statement published today, RCPsych is calling on employers to put this right.
Mental health professionals across the UK are facing increasingly stressful working environments in a system under huge pressure and stretched well beyond its limits. A chance to pause and reflect can help to alleviate some of this pressure, at a time when many are left feeling burnt out, morally compromised and isolated.
Guidance on how to set up high-quality reflective practice does exist, and there are pockets of good practice in the UK. However, staff face a postcode lottery in accessing this type of professional support.
Reflective practice allows staff to reflect on the impact of distressing or challenging situations at work on themselves, colleagues and or patients. It takes a variety of forms, including case discussion groups, team-based groups, risk panels and engagement with external consultants, and is designed to enhance individual and team functioning and, consequently, benefit patient care.
Dr Simon Heyland, co-author of the Position Statement, said:
“Mental health professionals face challenging and often distressing situations at work every single day. Without dedicated time and space to step back and reflect, there will inevitably be a toll on clinical practice and outcomes for patients, and on their own wellbeing.
“The College is clear in its new Position Statement that reflective practice should be embedded within mental health services, supported by organisations, facilitated by appropriately trained professionals and built into job plans as part of clinical care. It’s no longer a nice to have – it’s essential.
“In a variety of ways, reflective practice can enhance how clinicians and teams understand and learn from complex and challenging situations. It can help staff to feel supported, improve collaboration and enhance their ability to provide effective, safe and compassionate care.
"Yet, for it to be effective, staff must have protected time to step out of their everyday roles.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896