Women’s service clinical model review

A review of the Women’s clinical model and strategy has been conducted in discussion with multiple stakeholders, including patients and carers, staff, NHSE and regional teams, commissioners and regulators.

These discussions identified the need to develop a trauma informed approach. With many women  in secure services having experienced trauma, this whole system approach, grounded in a thorough understanding of trauma and its effect, aids women to feel safe and secure, so that therapeutic treatment can take place. The five guiding principles of trauma informed care are:

• Safety – that the secure environment is physically, psychologically and morally safe.
• Trustworthiness - by making the service delivery, boundaries and treatment goals both transparent and consistent.
• Choice and Control – by maximising opportunities daily to exercise choice over all aspects of care.
• Collaboration – establishing a culture of co-production in developing treatment goals and unit development.
• Empowerment – by an emphasis of recognising strengths, developing skills to live safely and well in the community.