Admission to adult mental health wards for under 18's - adaptation for Scotland: guidance
Best practice guidance to aid implementation of s23 of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment)( Scotland) Act 2003 which places a duty on health boards to provide sufficient services and accommodation to meet the needs of young people under 18 when they are admitted to hospital for treatment of a mental disorder.
Section 8: Other Safeguards
Legal Status
8.1 Ward staff are aware of the legal and child protection status of young people admitted to their ward.
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1.1 |
1 |
Staff are aware of the legal status (for example if the young person is subject to a care order) of young people admitted and the implications of this. |
8.2 The ward complies with Local Child Protection Procedures (QNIC 41).
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.2.1 |
1 |
It is possible for those working with the young person to access their child protection status. |
| 8.2.2 |
1 |
The ward knows who the child protection lead is, and how to contact them. |
| 8.2.3 |
1 |
Ward staff are able to access and comply with child protection policies, procedures and protocols. |
| 8.2.4 |
1 |
The ward has up-to-date and regularly reviewed policies and procedures on how to deal with allegations of abuse during and out of working house. |
| 8.2.5 |
1 |
Staff know what to do if young people disclose allegations of abuse and that, if something is disclosed, young people are told what will happen. |
Admissions With Stays Longer Than 3 Months
8.3 Ward staff liaise and work with the local authority to safeguard and promote the welfare of longer staying young people (QNIC 42).
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.3.1 |
1 |
The Local Authority is alerted if the whereabouts of the person with parental responsibility is not known or if that person has not visited the young person for a significant period of time. |
| 8.3.2 |
1 |
The named child protection lead informs the Local Authority if a child or young person remains, or is likely to remain, an inpatient for a period of over three months. |
Use Of Physical Restraint
8.4 The ward operates within the appropriate legal framework in relation to the use of physical restraint with young people (QNIC 40).
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.4.1 |
1 |
Ward staff are trained to adapt their physical restraint techniques so that they are age-appropriate for young people. |
Stem Physical restraint is only used in the following situations:
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.4.2 |
1 |
|
| 8.4.3 |
1 |
|
| 8.4.4 |
1 |
|
| 8.4.5 |
1 |
|
| 8.4.6 |
1 |
After restraint, staff should spend time with the young person reflecting on why it was necessary and their views are sought and included in the post incident analysis. |
| 8.4.7 |
1 |
The circumstances and justification for using physical restraint are recorded immediately; every such incident is documented within 24 hours (one working day); the consultant or clinician in charge of the patient's case is informed and a report is submitted by the nurse in charge to the Board management in line with the Board incident reporting policy. |
| 8.4.8 |
1 |
The ward follows policies for untoward occurrences or critical incident reporting. |
Formal Admissions
8.5 Ward staff ensure young people's rights to access a Mental Health Tribunal are respected, and that the Tribunal accounts for their status as a minor under 18 years.
See: https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/the-law/mental-health-act/mental-health-tribunal
| No. |
Type |
Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 8.5.1 |
1 |
The Hospital Managers notify the tribunal service that the patient is under the age of 18 to allow the service to ensure that one of the tribunal members is a 'CAMHS' panellist. |
| 8.5.2 |
1 |
Young people under 18 who do not have a responsible clinician from a CAMH service are assessed by a CAMHS specialist prior to their Tribunal hearing. |
Contact
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback