Clinical Risk Management in Mental Health Services: 10 Principles for Best Practice

Risk assessment and management are a fundamental part of clinical practice globally within mental health services. In the United Kingdom (UK), the evidence to support the effectiveness of structured risk assessment and management remains limited, although the perception remains that structured management frameworks are effective in reducing risk in mental health care. Despite the importance of risk management within mental health services, the most recent UK wide guidance was published in 2009, while international guidance for the assessing and management of service user risks also appears sparse. This perspective paper reports on a consultation and co-production project to provide up-to-date best practice principles in clinical risk management to enhance the consistency, quality and safety of mental health practice in the UK mental health services, and for mental health services in other English speaking countries. A three-stage approach was used including literature review, referral to mental health experts for review and final evaluation and sign off by users of mental health services as experts by experience. Ten principles for best practice were confirmed as a benchmark for practice and are offered as a benchmark to improve the quality and safety of mental health practice.