Developing Good Practice in Effectively Searching Patients and their Belongings

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Developing Good Practice in Effectively Searching
Patients and their Belongings

• Ian Thorpe RNMH
• Lynn Williams RMNH

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Previous Situation

• Training methods over 10 years old
• Staff not receiving regular training
• No evidence/literature re. best practice

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Training Initiative

• Through existing links with Northumbria Police
  Force training offered to 10 staff
• Staff then cascade training to all members of
  Forensic Learning Disability Service within Trust
• Further training in pipeline for all Trust search
  trainers

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Training

• Law Trust Policy
• Types of security relational/procedural/physical
  
• Use of metal detectors
• Detailed person search
• Room search
• Zonal searches
• Drug awareness

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The Law

• MHA Code of Practice (1999)
• Broadmoor ruling
• MHA code of practice
• 25.1 Managers of hospitals and mental nursing
  homes admitting patients under the act should
  ensure that there is an operational policy on
  searching of patients and their belongings
• 25.3 The policy may extend to random and routine
  searching without cause, but only in exceptional
  circumstances, for example, where the dangerous
  or violent criminal propensities of patients
  create a self evident and pressing need for
  additional security. R v Broadmoor Special
  hospital Authority ex parte S 1998 COD 199

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In R v Broadmoor Special Hospital Authority ex p
SH D 1998 COD 199, Auld LJ indicates that,

• where patients have been sectioned either under s
  3 or s 37 of the Act, the safety of staff and
  visitors will, in circumstances that require it,
  override the individual therapeutic requirements
  of an individual patient

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Security/Searches 4 Principles

• Deter
• Deny (Opportunity)
• Detect
• Respond

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Persons Search - Principles

• Minimum of two staff to be present
• Always have a searcher and an observer
• Each has a specific role
• They must always stay in role

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Considerations

• History check previous records (May require 3rd
  person)
• Religion, Race Culture
• Disability
• Gender

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Persons Search - Methodology

• Look and remove jacket if wearing one and other
  items such as belts, watches etc and place on
  designated surface
• Check head and hair first
• Split body into four parts
• Be systematic
• Look before you touch
• No patting once hands on, leave on
• Always use back of hands

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Building Search
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Search Phases

• Planning
• Entry
• Documentation
• Search
• Exit

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Search Teams

• Police Best Practice
• OIC (search awareness trained)
• Scribe
• Exhibits officer
• Search teams (minimum of two pairs)

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Search Teams

• Ideally 3 people
• Lead/Scribe (search team trained)
• 2 search team
• Minimum of 2 staff (1 search team trained)

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Considerations

• Previous search details
• Structural details
• Equipment
• Religion
• Culture
• Disability

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Entry Order

• Lead/Scribe (search team trained)
• Search team

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Documentation

• Person In Charge scribe survey area with or
  without patient
• Damage check (photograph any damage caused)
• Zone off all areas
• Designate documentation area

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Search Six Elements

• Visual check
• As a pair search furniture in situation
• Move furniture to one side
• Search floor, walls, fixtures and ceiling of
  clear half
• Move furniture and search other half
• Search all remaining areas.

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Be systematic, always consider

• Roof voids
• Eaves
• Water tank
• Rafters
• Insulation
• Tiled areas
• Boxed hollow woodwork
• Doors

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Contd

• Air vents
• Outside ledges
• Fireplaces
• Cistern
• Bath panels
• Sewer systems
• Toys
• Always work in pairs

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Actions on a find

• Consider photographing
• Try to leave find in situ for police
• If exhibit needs to be removed, package and seal
  as appropriate
• Complete documentation

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Search/EvidencePreservation Kit

• Gloves
• Self seal bags/labels
• Cellotape
• Pen
• Bin bag/large paper bag (dispose of gloves etc)
• Plastic tubes (for knives etc)
• Documentation
• Torch
• Metal Detector
• Flexible mirrors

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Exit Procedure

• Everybody leaves
• - Except Person in charge/scribe
• Final damage check
• Remove all equipment
• Complete documentation

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Staff Feedback 33 Participants
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