Using Practice development to promote recovery; a Tasmanian experience

BACKGROUND & CONTEXT: This paper describes a project being undertaken in Tasmania. The project aims to address practice issues in an acute inpatient setting. These strategic changes are dependent on achieving a collaborative and supportive team approach and include the introduction of a recovery focused model of care, attitudinal and practice change using a practice development approach (Walsh et al., 2005). The paper will describe the initial stages of the project, the plans for the future and successes that have already been achieved.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Two experienced and enthusiastic MHN identi-fied several issues as change-worthy. Among these were the ward climate, level of containment, and the need for a recovery model of care. Literature revealed Bowers et al.’s (2011) landmark study in which the relationship between structure, leadership, teamwork, burnout and attitudes to clients were described noting that lower rates of containment are found in better functioning areas. With this study in mind, the Tasmanian team commenced the project and achieved some initial results. These outcomes will be described and will provide some direction for other clinicians wishing to undertake change in their clinical areas.