The ACT Government is delivering on its commitment to create a safer, more supportive public health system for nurses and midwives, patients and families, with the successful rollout of the Safewards model of care in priority inpatient settings.
One of the key initiatives in the Nurses and Midwives: Towards a Safer Culture 'The Next Steps' Strategy, Safewards is an evidence-based model designed to improve communication, reduce conflict and containment, and support trauma-informed care.
The model includes 12 practical strategies staff can use to improve collaboration between all parties and support a positive environment, which includes:
- sharing more information between team members and patients to build stronger relationships and find common areas of interest
- senior team members visiting each patient, enabling them to escalate any concerns and ensuring they feel seen and heard
- staff and patients agreeing on mutual expectations of each other in the hospital environment.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said completion of the rollout is another milestone in creating safer work environments for frontline health care staff and improving patient care.
"Supporting a positive culture and safer workplaces is the foundation for improved patient outcomes. Safewards not only improves staff wellbeing, it also improves rapport and mutual respect between patients and staff," Minister Stephen-Smith said.
"Research has shown that the Safewards strategies are effective in making a difference for staff and patients, by reducing potential conflict, rates of occupational violence and restrictive practices.
"By focussing on the relationship between staff and patients, Safewards proactively addresses the triggers that lead to occupational violence."
Evaluation of the initial Safewards trial across four wards at Canberra Health Services in 2021 found more than half of participating nurses observed a reduction in conflict and containment, two-thirds saw positive engagement among colleagues, and almost half reported positive feedback from patients and carers.
Originally designed for mental health settings, the Safewards model has been scaled and implemented in a total of 12 public inpatient settings across mental health, medical, surgical and rehabilitation units, with implementation in the final two wards at Canberra Hospital recently completed.
"This is just one of the range of initiatives the ACT Government has supported as part of the Nurses and Midwives: Towards a Safer Culture 'The Next Steps' Strategy. We have also committed to delivering clinical supervision to nurses and midwives across the ACT public health system, as well as strengthening awareness and management of occupational violence in public health care settings," said Minister Stephen-Smith.
"Clinical supervision is designed to enhance nurse and midwife wellbeing by providing a formal, structured and confidential space for reflection and support.
"This initiative aims to reduce burnout and improve staff satisfaction and retention, with 196 staff trained to deliver interdisciplinary clinical supervision across the ACT public health system to date.
"These are all important aspects of our commitment to supporting our nurses and midwives to be able to do what they do best, provide the best health care for the Canberra community."
