Managing aggression and violence in care settings: a review of the legal and ethical content of staff training courses
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200100009 |
| Date | 01 May 2001 |
| Pages | 8-17 |
| Published date | 01 May 2001 |
| Author | Bernard Beech |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
8© Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 3 Issue 2 • May 2001
key words
legal and ethical issues
training course content
aggression and violence
physical restraint
abstract
Staff must have an appreciation
of legal and ethical issues associated
with the people they care for,partic-
ularly when physical restraint to
manage aggression or violence is
being considered. This article
examines legal and ethical issues
related to the management of
aggression and violence, and
considers the inclusion of this
material in training courses.
While discussing the changing context of health care, with its
increasing emphasis on autonomy, accountability and willing-
ness of the public to resort to litigation, Paterson and
Tringham (1999) assert that: ‘If independent practitioners are
to exercise mature judgement, formulating rational decisions
for which they can be accountable … they must be aware of
the professional, ethical and legal framework that shapes their
practice.’
Presumably, with regard to the management of aggression
and violence, much of this awareness will be provided via
specialist training courses and on-going updates. Hence, one
would expect legal and ethical issues to figure prominently in
courses that purport to prepare staff to manage aggression and
violence in various health care settings.
Legal and ethical considerations occupy a great deal of staff
time and affect the quality of care offered, the therapeutic
environment maintained, the satisfaction of clients and their
families with services, and the morale, sickness/absence rates,
ease of recruitment and retention of staff. These considera-
tions are present in many health and social care situations but
are among their most heightened when professional decisions
about using physical force to restrain or control a person’s
behaviour or restricting a person’s liberty are being made
(Tarbuck, 1992a).
Many recent reports show that aggression and violence are
pressing problems for all staff working in care settings (Health
Services Advisory Committee; 1997; Industrial Relations
Services, 1998; Department of Health, 1999a). Indeed, the
most recent inter-departmental government campaign – Zero
Tolerance – uses many examples of aggression and violence in
Managing aggression and
violence in care settings: a
review of the legal and
ethical content of staff
training courses
Bernard Beech
Lecturer, Department of Nursing and
Midwifery, Keele University
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