Safety through innovative practice and working together at Monash Mental Health

In this symposium speakers will present the research and evidence that underpins our work; the roles of the Sexual Safety Clinical Coordinator and Right To Be Safe steering committee; an overview of the policy, training and practice improvement initiatives underway at Monash Health; showcase the Quick Guide we have developed to improve recognition of, responding to, and reporting sexual safety incidents, and the "Welcome Project" which aims to provide patients with meaningful orientation to the acute unit environment and assist staff to have conversations with consumers about their own safety needs and how they can contribute to a safe environment for everyone; the systemic and cultural challenges involved in improving sexual safety in public sector mental health inpatient units; how this work links with consumer choice more broadly; and the cumulative impact on staff of exposure to verbal and physical incidents of a sexual nature

Presentation one: Safety for all when accessing Mental Health services
Karen Dixon - 15 minutes
For many years we have known that safety for female and LBGTI+ consumers, in particular, has been problematic. In Victoria, despite strong advocacy by the Women's Mental Health Network, the Office of Chief Psychiatrist Sexual Safety Guidelines, and the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner's Right To Be Safe report in 2018, little has changed. Furthermore, there has been very little attention paid to the impact on staff of exposure to verbal and physical assault of a sexual nature.
Karen will present on the existing evidence and how the Mental Health service at Monash Health is responding to the need for improvement by working together to develop innovative practice.