Our DASA (Dynamic appraisal of Situational Aggression) study team provide an update on how they are developing and testing their research within new settings. As well as publicising their findings to help improve and support other mental health/wellbeing services and teams.
Recently our DASA team has been involved in undertaking further work to develop and test their research, which has seen them rolling out their study initially within a dementia setting (Acorn Ward, Mossley Hill) and leading on from this, there are proposals to trial it within a community setting.
The initial trial at Acorn Ward has already reported positive results. For example following DASA training, staff on the site recorded 99.9% consistency in their scoring and inter-reliability in dealing with instances of aggression.
Results, which not only indicate the effectiveness and success of implementing an adequate training approach, but also illustrate the consistency of the DASA tool itself.
The DASA App also continues to work well within our high secure services division, which has enabled staff to input data easier, whilst also speeding up and preventing duplication of work by uploading reports directly to PACIS (our clinical information system).
The success of these pilots has also caught the attention of DASA author Michael Daffern, who has shown a keen interest in our teams work and how we can work together to implement DASA as a clinical tool. An interest, which has culminated in Mr Daffern linking up with our Perfect Care Program lead, Mark Thorpe and Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist Dr Panchu Xavier to write a book chapter around the background of the DASA and its clinical use, explaining how it has been utilised in clinical practice and as a case study.
In addition, the DASA team have also successfully submitted an abstract for oral presentation to the International Technology Enabled Care Conference and more recently put an abstract into the Northern Innovation Showcase and Networking Event for adoption and spread of Innovations.
Publications which collectively will help not only the staff within our Trust, but also employees in other organisations to continuously improve services, whilst addressing prominent mental health and wellbeing challenges.
If you’d like to know more about our DASA work, please contact our Perfect Care Lead Mark Thorpe via email: [email protected] or visit our Centre for Perfect Care website: http://www.centreforperfectcare.com/