Professionals Providing Care: Managing Violence in Residential Psychiatric Facilities

Author : Melissa Adendorff, Riaan du Toit

Abstract :This paper addresses the safe and ethical management of neuropsychological dysregulation which contributes to aggressive and violent behaviour exhibited by patients in residential primary care psychiatric facilities to manage the risk of harm to self and others. This paper sets out a descriptive report comprising a case-based needs analysis for de-escalation interventions based on central nervous system co-regulation and systemic integration. This form of intervention is juxtaposed to current practices of chemical restraint and sedation, based on ethical and non-abusive best practice which simultaneously upholds the safety of nursing staff. Therefore, the functional neuropsychological status of patients and professional mental healthcare providers is addressed for ethical and effective ward management, crisis management, and crisis prevention, based on the tenets of the Guardian Programme, as implemented by Therapeutic Skills Development in all Gauteng-based Life Healthcare psychiatric hospitals in South Africa since 2015

Keywords :Guardian Programme, non-abusive intervention, risk of harm, violence in psychiatric facilities.

Conference Name :World Congress on Patient Safety & Nursing Healthcare (WCPSNH-25)

Conference Place Durban,South Africa

Conference Date 1st Dec 2025