Ministry of Health, New Zealand Country Resources General Health Service Standards, Mental Health Service Standards New Zealand 2008 Guidelines

This translation feature uses a third-party service. Please be advised that the machine-translated content may not be accurate. Translation only applies to this page and is not available for downloaded files or external links.

Print

Description

The main intent of the Standards is to reduce the use of restraint in all its forms and to encourage the use of least restrictive practices. It is crucial that providers recognise which interventions constitute restraint and how to ensure that, when practised, restraint occurs in a safe and respectful manner.

Restraint should be perceived in the wider context of risk management. Restraint is a serious intervention that requires clinical rationale and oversight. It is not a treatment in itself, but is one of a number of strategies used by service providers to limit or to eliminate a clinical risk. Restraint should only be used in the context of ensuring, maintaining, or enhancing the safety of the consumer, service provider or others. All restraint policies, procedures, practices, and training should be firmly grounded in this context.

Content