Overview
An innovative approach to offer education in the area of suicide intervention and prevention
Care Setting
All types of care
Care Group
All Care Groups
Evidence Base for Practice
We have developed SIPP by carefully considering the learning outcomes requested by Health Scotland to meet the requirements of the HEAT 5 Target. We have tailored a programme of learning for staff who demonstrate relevant prior learning knowledge and skills through their professional qualifications. We aim to provide a programme that is both challenging and relevant to their practice. Experienced clinicians who have expertise within the field of suicide intervention and prevention and who can offer both a knowledgeable and experiencial learning session deliver the programme. SIPP is delivered in two modules; the first is a half-day training programme delivered by the training team. The second module involves self-directed learning and requires completion of a Skills Practice and Development Workbook, (recommended to take 5 hours). We have organised a programme of learning events for frontline staff throughout Tayside during 2009 and 2010 and delivered the programme successfully to a large number of staff.
Quality assurance/impact of practice
The programme has been very successful across Tayside allowing us to reach NHS, Local Authority and Voluntary Sector staff. Bringing professionals together from different backgrounds has allowed a rich combination of knowledge, skills and experiences to be shared and further enhanced with SIPP and highlighted the importance of everyone in meeting the target and reducing suicides. To date we have delivered the programme to over 600 staff reaching 47% of our target and project to train an additional 200 staff by the end of 2010 meeting our 50% target . We have further training dates for 2010 and have successful strategies in place to deliver the programme to our harder to reach groups.
Practice Summary
The Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme was developed collaboratively by Mental Health professionals who are motivated by suicide prevention. It has been supported by NHS Tayside and approved by Health Scotland. The programme was developed in response to Scottish Government HEAT Target 5, to reduce suicides in Scotland, supported by all frontline staff being educated in suicide intervention and prevention skills, 50% of these trained by the end of 2010. We at NHS Tayside aim to meet the target and raise awareness in suicide prevention and intervention by delivering SIPP in addition to offering other recommended training programmes such as ASIST. This provides a choice to staff and service leads depending on their existing skills and learning needs.
Practice Detail
Main areas that are taught within the programme are:
Introduction and Background to HEAT 5 Target and Delivering for Mental Health Plan.
Scale of Suicide Problem in UK, highlighting Scotland.
Risk Factors for Suicide, High Risk Groups, Cultural Differences
Suicide Risk Awareness
Attitudes towards Suicide and Barriers to interventions
In Patient Risk, Risk related to Intensity of Care
When To be Concerned
Interventions, Protective Factors
What Works?
Eight Points to a Safer Service
Case Studies, Skills Practice and Group Work
Overview of Module Workbook and Self- Directed Learning
Conclusions, including recommended reading and websites
Challenges
Time constraints due to competing priorities, full-time jobs and other national drivers.
Evidencing that the Suicide Intervention and Prevention Programme meets the requirements and learning outcomes identified by Health Scotland. Regular meetings with the Steering Group and Chooselife learning advisor overcame this. We created a framework of detailed information matching the SIPP training programme with the required learning outcomes to meet the approval of Health Scotland. We used qualitative evaluations, further developed case studies and facilitated discussions to ensure a full and relevant learning experience that recognises the value of prior learning through professional qualifications.