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| In 1991, a national Research
and Development Forum was developed by nurses engaged in research in the
three English Special Hospitals (Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton) and the
State Hospital, Carstairs, Scotland. Supported by the Special Hospitals
Service Authority (SHSA) the Forum was a sub-group of the SHSA's Nursing
Professional Development Group whereby the main intention was to inform
the leaders of nursing about key research issues. The forum's aims
included support for nurses undertaking research within these hospitals,
dissemination of research findings, establishing a research network and to
identify key areas for future research programmes. The forum was
successful in organising a regular Networking Newsletter to provide
communications about good practice and research. In addition the forum
were instrumental in facilitating two conferences on innovations in
forensic services celebrating good practice. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW
GROUP Whilst the Nursing Research and Development Forum networked to some extent within the wider NHS, the group's activities were mainly directed to promoting research and related issues within the Special Hospitals. The forum's final aim within the auspice of the Special Hospitals Service Authority were to integrate its activities within the wider NHS. It is perhaps important to note at this point that the new group was not seen as an extension of the Special Hospitals Service Authority's Research and Development Forum but as a new group which would represent all branches of forensic nursing on a national basis. Since the SHSA had completed its role and ceased to exist from the end of March 1996 it remained committed to facilitating the establishment of a new group. To do this key people were invited to a seminar to discuss some of the key issues in setting up a new national group. Prior to this and in order to offer some structure to the meeting, a small group of people formed a Pre-National Group for Forensic Research in Nursing. This group discussed how such a group could be developed and provide the impetus to start the initiative rolling. The Pre-Group therefore agreed some key principles for discussion at the proposed seminar. These included issues such as:
The seminar was therefore designed to discuss and debate the pre-group's ideas within which to shape up a new national research group. Approximately 50 people were invited to participate within the seminar. These included existing people within the Special Hospitals Service Authority Research Forum, representatives from the Department of Health, Royal College of Nursing, Nurse Researchers in forensic settings, Directors of Nursing and health care staff from a variety of settings such as forensic units as well as universities and other appropriate organisations. The full day seminar provided lively debate and discussions on a variety of issues which included reflections on the Special Hospitals Service Authority's Research Forum; current contemporary issues in research; and a series of workshop and syndicate activities. These included the future name of the new group; aims and objectives; organisational issues; success criteria; information management. In addition to providing key information and ideas on the establishment of the new group and its related activities the seminar was also extremely important in identifying potential members of the new group. The pre-group then commenced its final task in synthesising the information of the seminar day, identifying people who would be committed to being part of the new group and offering a series of key objectives on which the new group could start its discussions. It was extremely important that the new national group would represent key areas of the UK, e.g., England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Following successful identification and confirmation of members to the new group a series of meetings have been held prior to its official launch on Thursday 24 October at 6 p.m. at the Integrating Practice, Services and Professions: a Multi Professional Forensic Mental Health Conference in Nottingham. The new National Forensic Nurses' Research and Development Group includes people involved in research and related research activities. Members offer a wide range of experiences and representation from high security services; medium and low secure provision; psychiatric intensive care units as well as community settings. There is a vast range of experiences and commitment with strong links with Universities and academic programmes as well as three PhDs within the thirteen group members. The aims and objectives of the group are of particular relevance to nurses and other staff in generic and specialist settings who work with clients whose mental health problems result in disturbed or offending behaviour. The aims and objectives of the group therefore include the following: AIM: OBJECTIVES:
NATIONAL FORENSIC NURSES' RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT GROUP CONTACT LIST
Alyson Kettles (Deputy Chair)
Graham Durcan (Treasurer; Group Co-ordinator) Stephan Kirby
Carol Watson
Dr Richard Byrt
Mick Collins
Mary Gove Dr
Mike Doyle
Calum McDonald
Prof David Robinson Gavin Garman Geoffrey Dickens Anne Aiyegbusi Mary Addo Michael
Coffey This page was designed by
Dr Phil
Woods for the National Forensic Nurses Research and Development Group |
This page last updated 05 November 2003
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