Services
At Lig-Safe our team of experts recognise that ligature resistant products only mitigate risk within the wider context of developing a whole systems approach. This message was reinforced within the new Care Quality Commissions guidance ‘Reducing harm from ligatures in mental health wards and wards for people with a learning disability (CQC, 2023)’ which presents a tier of controls to mitigate risks from ligature attachment points. This document rightly outlines that safety encompasses a triumvirate approach which embraces a hierarchy of controls including the environment, individualised care, systems and process.
Training
The primary goal of ligature-resistant products is to prevent the harm of patients in safety environments however if the products are not fitted or used correctly the products can't function as intended. Lig-safe offer tailored training packages to highlight the importance and functionalities of these products. If you require specific training get in touch with the Lig-Safe team.
ResQHook Ligature Cutter Knife Training
Before using the ResQHook ligature cutter knife understanding its proper use is crucial to ensure the safety of staff and residents. Familiarity with the tool's design, operation and maintenance helps to ensure a smooth process if/when needed in real life emergencies. Missuse of the knife can have devastating effects both to users and staff members and can in turn damage the knife, reducing the longevity and lifespan, thereby increasing costs for replacement and repairs. Lig-Safe can provide training to ensure individuals are well-prepared to handle the tool correctly in diverse and challenging scenarios.
Product Installation Training
Did you know that from auditing within mental health inpatient care environments we found that up to 80% of ligature resistant products designed to enhance patient safety were found to be incorrectly installed. Ligature-resistant products are specifically designed to minimise the risk of self-harm or harm to others by reducing opportunities for attaching ligatures. Proper installation ensures that these products function as intended, providing a safer environment. We can deliver and tailor training packages to ensure products are fitted correctly and operate how they are designed to.
Environmental ligature resistant awareness training
Reduced Ligature Training is crucial when it comes to installing ligature-resistant products for several important reasons, particularly in settings where the risk of self-harm or harm to others is a concern.
Ligature-resistant products are designed with specific features to minimise the risk of attachment points for ligatures and the way these products are fitted are particular to the need of the environment. Lig-Safe can provide reduced Ligature training to installers to ensure they understand the importance and have the specialised knowledge about the unique characteristics of these products and how to spot ligature points when fitting into safety environments.
Auditing
We recognise that eliminating ligature attachment points should start from a position of knowing what state the environment is in. Lig-Safe can provide a full audit of your safety environment including all equipment fitted and if it has been fitted correctly. Once the audit has been completed a full report will be written that will highlight any errors or areas of improvement and highlight any particular ligature points.
Types of Survey Available
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Full Audit of Inpatient Areas: An examination of each room identified by the care provider. Purpose: to identify the physical state of the care environment including the products fitted and how they are functioning. The audit will assist care providers in developing remedial work required to help create a safer environment and to specifying products and work required for refurbishment or upgrade.
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Health Safety Check: This report examines critical areas on each unit within a mental health hospital with terms of reference tailored to the clients needs. This could be to examine a hospital prior to commissioning or as a preventative measure where safety concerns have been raised. As well as auditing the physical environment we can co-develop bespoke terms of reference to triangulate our physical findings with, policy and procedures, staff training to identify any gaps in current practice and testing.
Testing
All load release equipment can be tested (curtain tracks, back plates, shelves etc) in accordance with manufacturers instructions. Commonly most manufacturers recommend a yearly inspection to ensure that products are operating appropriately and that the fixings and fittings are free from damage. Rigorous testing validates the effectiveness of these designs, ensuring they meet stringent safety standards and can withstand real-world usage. Our testing will also highlight inconsistencies and comment more widely on the state of locking mechanisms, fitted and unfitted furniture, lighting, fixings etc. By prioritising the thorough testing of ligature-resistant products, institutions demonstrate a commitment of care and safety.