Getting to know you – Safewards is bringing us together and helping to keep us safe
Did you know St. Joe's Mental Health and Addiction Program has adopted a new way of providing patient centred care while reducing workplace violence on inpatient units?
Safewards is an internationally recognized evidence-based best practice model of care that has proven to reduce conflict and containment on inpatient units by using the varying interventions that supports Safewards.
On October 26, 2017 staff, visitors and patients gathered at St. Joe’s West 5th Campus for the Safewards Knowledge Fair for their first interactive look at this new way of supporting the way we work.
The Knowledge Fair featured more than 10 display booths that allowed front-line staff to showcase the work that has taken place on their units. Each booth allowed individuals to learn more about the 10 interventions that make up Safewards.
"The Knowledge Fair has allowed us another route to gain understanding and respect between staff and clients. It allows us to work together and as equals in understanding each others individual needs for recovery”, said Neal Sandink, Charge Nurse, Acute Psychiatry, Orchard 1.
The Safewards model is one of many initiatives St. Joe’s is prioritizing to prevent violence in the workplace and enhance patient safety. Adopting this program has provided common language and common practices across the organization.
"The implementation of Safewards at St. Joe's is important to our goal of enhancing safety for those within our hospitals."
- Winnie Doyle, Executive Vice-President
"The implementation of Safewards at St. Joe’s is important to our goal of enhancing safety for those within our hospitals,” explains Winnie Doyle, Executive Vice-President, Clinical Services, Mental Health and Addictions and Chief Nursing Executive. “This model builds relationships between staff and patients and supports our goal of reducing aggressive incidents while providing patient centered care.
Learn more about Safewards by watching the video below or contact, Derek Stokke, Safewards Project Lead at dstokke@stjoes.ca or 905.522.1155 Ext. 39074.