What are Therapeutic Observations in healthcare?

Therapeutic Observations performs a pivotal role in healthcare in the UK, notably in mental health settings, care homes and hospitals. The observations, which are structured, are not only about safety monitoring, but also support with working in a person-centred way, early intervention and better outcomes.

Why is Therapeutic Observations of importance in the UK?

1. Safety and Risk Management

• Safeguarding Adults and Children: more important in psychiatric, dementia or learning disability settings.
• Protection of vulnerable patients: high risk patients and individuals require closer monitoring
• Prevention of harm: observations may assist to identify signs of self-harm

2. Understanding the Patient Behaviour

• Support diagnosis: real life data for assessments and planning
• Identify triggers: workers may spot environmental and emotional triggers
• Monitor patterns: enables staff to build a picture of a patient’s routine

3. Communication

• Documentation: precise record keeping supports accountability and legal compliance
• Team coordination: Observations are shared during patient handovers
• Family engagement: Update the family about the well-being of the patient

4. Therapeutic Engagement

• Not only surveillance: Observations involves engagement to build rapport and trust
• De-escalation: early interventions may prevent situations
• Emotional support: staff who are attentive may reduce anxiety

5. Information of Care Plans

• Evaluate outcomes: assess whether interventions are effective
• Adjust treatment: insights assist with adjustment of medication or therapy strategies
• Person-centred interventions: observations go directly into tailored care plans

Benefits of Therapeutic Observations and Engagement:

Patient Safety:  Observations are set and may help prevent incidents such as suicide, self-harm and/ or aggression.

Promotion of Recovery: Staff engages with patients; they build rapport and assist with the support of emotional regulation.

Person-centred Care: The NHS Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care (EOTC) programme was set in place to highlight dignity, compassion and focusing on individual needs.

Reduction of hospital stays: Effectual observations can be followed by faster identification of interventions and needs which will lead to shorter hospital stays.

Workforce productivity: Composed observation protocols can help staff deployment and bring the reduction of relying on temporary staff.

Who should conduct Therapeutic Observations in Hospital and Community Settings?

The list below is not limited, but it is important for these types of workers to be skilled in therapeutic observations and engagement:

• Registered Nurses
• Healthcare Support Workers
• Registered Mental Health Nurses
• Staff who are involved with community-based care
• Staff who does hospital at home service
• Nursing Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Paramedics
• Social Workers

Regulatory and Policy Compliance regarding Therapeutic Observations and Engagement

• NHS and CQC guidelines: Therapeutic Observations and Engagement form part of the best practice standards, particularly with delivery of care.
• The Mental Health Act: Under the legal frameworks, observations may be mandated.

Just a note:

By doing an online Therapeutic Observations and Engagement Module with Train Healthcare, which takes approximately 1 hour to complete, will earn you 1 CPD point. Once you have completed the course, you will receive a certification thereof.