For those who have experience in healthcare (and in particular mental health- what methods have you introduced to control the risk of smoking in mental health units where the clients display extremely challenging behaviour and as a result, are approximately 101% non compliant when it comes to smoking rules?
In this case, some clients chain-smoke nearly all day/night. Since the removal of all internal ashtrays, the building is peppered with literally hundreds of burn marks on all surfaces and there has been at least one two known fires (known as the afd operated but staff suspect there have been others).
Attempts at restricting access to smokers materials have only been partially effective as some clients have access to local shops and simply act a 'tobacco pusher' supplying the others with what they want. Attempts at controlling access to client's money has been met with some complaints from relatives and patient's groups and has been abandoned.
So how do you compel compliance in a group when you have no tools to discipline or sanctions to apply??
The health trust appear to be sticking their collective fingers in their ears and simply tell the staff to manage the smoking ban. The staff feel frustrated that senior managers have simply passed the buck and see fear if they mention being unable to manage clients it will be seen as incompetence. So they run around all day chasing smokers whilst others light up on the other side of the building. It's got to a stage now where the staff are becoming anxious as they fear they will be held liable in the event of a fire tragedy.
Currently extra fire training and additional fire audits have been introduced as a control measure. In the absence of controlling the occupants, I would like to see the environment better protected by sprinklers or water mist. But that is sheer fantasy as there's more chance of Gordon Brown staying PM after the next election than there is this trust digging deep into it's pockets.
Any ideas??
