Contents
1 Aim
The forensic service aims to provide a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.
Patients will have access to their personal possessions where appropriate. However it will be necessary to exclude or restrict some items from patients while they are resident at Amber Lodge.
Prohibited items are excluded because their makeup or properties are hazardous. This may be because they could be used to harm others; because of their harmful properties (for example: drugs or alcohol) or their intrinsic illegality (for example, child pornography or illicit drugs).
Restricted items may also be potentially hazardous. This may be because they could be used to; cause distress, to self-harm or to harm others. These items may be restricted but not prohibited because they can be valuable tools in encouraging normalisation and avoiding institutionalisation, providing opportunities for rehabilitation, social inclusion, recreation and diversion.
Access to some restricted items is a necessary function of forensic inpatient services in order to facilitate aspects of patient treatment and rehabilitation. Patients will be preparing for safe transfer to care in the community; this requires increasing exposure to restricted items that may be freely available in the destination or setting (Standards for Low Secure Care 2012).
To ensure a safe therapeutic environment is maintained, for all patients, staff and visitors at Amber Lodge.
This procedure describes the processes by which we will ensure best practice for the care and treatment of those using the low secure service and compliance against national standards for low secure services, whilst adopting the ethos of least restrictive practice.
2 Scope
This document applies specifically to the forensic service and provides procedural guidance for use of staff working in this service including agency, bank and students.
3 Link to overarching policy, and or procedure
This procedure is overarched by the forensic services manual and should be read in conjunction with the forensic service security procedure (see forensic services manual on the trust website).
4 Procedure or implementation
In the interests of health, safety and security, there are certain items which could pose a risk to the patient or staff on Amber Lodge. We therefore ask that visitors do not bring the following items onto the unit.
Notices detailing prohibited and restricted items are displayed in the air lock of both units (appendices G and H).
4.1 Prohibited Items
- Alcohol.
- Blu-Tack.
- Cans.
- CD’s or blank DVD’s.
- Chewing gum.
- Drones.
- E-cigarettes (e-burn is not included in this group).
- Fidget spinner.
- Fire hazard Items, lighters, matches etc.
- Illicit or illegal substances.
- Laser pens.
- Photography equipment.
- Radio scanner.
- Recordable devices.
- Rope.
- SD cards.
- Weapons of any type.
- Wire hangers.
- Wire-bound books
This list is not exhaustive.
4.2 Restricted items
- Aerosols.
- Basic and smartphone mobile phones.
- E-burn e-cigarette device approved by the trust.
- Energy drinks.
- Glass items.
- Glue or solvents.
- Identification.
- Laptop or tablets or USB.
- Money.
- Needles or syringes.
- Photography equipment.
- Razors wet or dry.
- Scissors or cutting equipment.
- Steel toe-capped boots.
- Vehicle or house keys.
This list is not exhaustive.
4.1 Procedure
On admission, patient’s property will be searched by staff as per the trust searching of a person or their property policy and any prohibited or restricted items will be removed and returned on discharge (depending on the nature of the restricted items). If any items are removed the details will be recorded into a duplicated Removed Items book (in line with the forensic service searching of a person, (patients and visitors) and their property procedure). A duplicated copy will be given to the patient as a receipt, one will remain in the book and one will be filed into the nursing care file for that patient. Under no circumstances will any unknown or illicit substances be returned to the patient. To dispose of any illicit substances, staff should follow the procedure outlined in the drug misuse on trust premises policy.
To dispose of weapons staff should contact the police for guidance. All removed items will be securely labelled and stored until their use is approved, or the patient is discharged or transferred from the unit. An explanation is to be provided to the patient of the reasons for this removal.
All visitors are required to leave all personal items included on the restricted items list in the lockers provided. This is to maintain the security of the unit, and for the safety of staff, patients and other visitors. Notices detailing restricted items are displayed in the unit airlock area. Any food or drink brought in by visitors must be shop bought, sealed and within its sell by date unless by prior arrangement with nursing staff.
Sharp objects held within the unit must be recorded as per the security Amber Lodge procedure.
Restricted items that patients have been granted access to by the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) must be stored in a locked cupboard in the nurses office and issued by staff to patients when they are leaving the unit on section 17 leave. These items must be handed in on the patient’s return to the unit.
Patients are assessed by the MDT to establish the amount of money (for example, cash) they are able to hold on their person and in their personal bedroom safe.
If staff suspect that a patient is in possession of a restricted item on the unit, the following steps should be taken:
- the nurse in charge will ask the patient to hand over the item(s) to them and any patient’s leave may be suspended if required until discussed at MDT review dependent upon the items retrieved
- carry out personal or room search as per searching of a person, (patients and visitors) and their property procedure)
- inform responsible clinician and modern matron immediately
5 Appendices
Please see forensic services manual webpage for appendices attached to this procedure.
- Appendix G Restricted items poster
- Appendix H Prohibited items poster
Document control
- Version: 2.3.
- Unique reference number: 534.
- Approved by: Clinical policies review and approval group.
- Date approved: 6 December 2022.
- Name of originator or author: Forensic ward manager and social worker.
- Name of responsible individual: Executive director of nursing and allied health professionals.
- Date issued: 13 April 2023.
- Review date: 30 April 2024.
- Target audience: For all staff working in the forensic service.
- Description of change: Minor amendment, correction to the review date approved 21 April (originally with 12 month reviews), this was amended to a 3 year reviews so correct to April 2024.
Page last reviewed: April 24, 2024
Next review due: April 24, 2025