Post-incident responses (debriefing) in mental health services in England: A policy review

Introduction

Post-incident responses, also described as debriefing, are structured processes that provide opportunities to address harm and identify learning to prevent future incidents. National guidance recommends post-incident responses after restrictive interventions but provides little indication of the explicit purpose.

Aim

To examine how post-incident responses are defined and implemented according to English NHS mental health trust policies.

Method

A Freedom of Information request was sent to all 52 English NHS mental health trusts to identify policies, guidelines, procedures and training materials about post-incident responses. Data was extracted using an iterative process and assessed using content analysis.

Results

Forty-six trusts responded (response rate 88.5%); 98 policies were included. Responses were inconsistently defined and there was variation in how they are conceptualised and operationalised in practice.

Discussion

The findings demonstrate inconsistencies in the definition, timing, facilitation and content of post-incident responses. The policies offer little guidance to staff in outlining when, how and with whom to conduct them. This likely results in inconsistent practices, potentially limiting the benefits.

Implications for Practice

This study highlights the need for clear, evidence-based, standardised frameworks for post-incident responses to ensure that staff, patients and witnesses receive appropriate support following restrictive interventions. Further research is required to clearly define and describe such responses.