I once sat in a child securing the case review, as a clinical psychologist, with a young woman with crucial mental health issues who was about to lose her child to the care network. However she knew on certain level that she could not cope with the claims of parenting, the meeting was yet devastating for her because she loved her child and had needed things to be different. She got upset and angry; she attempted to listen and she raised her voice. The experienced social worker who was chairing this meeting scolded her for being too emotional; she seemed cross that this young lady was making the meeting more complex. I was shocked at her deficiency of empathy and wondered how often the social worker got annoyed with vulnerable persons, but I did not mention it to anyone.
Years ago I worked with a nurse who was consistently unkind to sufferers with dementia, talking down to them like kids and dismissing them in an irritated way if they made demands on her time. I wondered whether I ought to say something to the ward manager but finally took it no further. As one off incidents these are not too bad but if they are indicative of more pervasive behaviors then this is worrying.
I am hopeful that at least my organization has acted on the suggestions of the review. I would like to consider it is possible to make a culture where we can support each other to do a better job by reflecting on our strengths – but also on our limits and mistakes. Turning a blind eye to poor practice assists no one; the staff member does not get the opportunity to observe if they can establish better qualities or they do not get the negative consequences that perhaps are fitting. Meanwhile sufferers do not get the chance to experience the good quality care they deserve and perhaps they sometimes suffer more. Speaking up is essential when safety and wellbeing are at stake and something we ought to be less afraid of doing in mental health services.
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