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Factors affecting staff morale on inpatient mental health wards in England : a qualitative investigation

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Totman, Jonathan, Lewando Hundt, Gillian, Wearn, Elizabeth, Paul, Moli and Johnson, Sonia, 1964-. (2011) Factors affecting staff morale on inpatient mental health wards in England : a qualitative investigation. BMC Psychiatry, Vol.11 (No.68). ISSN 1471-244X

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-11-68

Abstract

Background: Good morale among staff on inpatient psychiatric wards is an important requirement for the maintenance of strong therapeutic alliances and positive patient experiences, and for the successful implementation of initiatives to improve care. More understanding is needed of mechanisms underlying good and poor morale. Method: We conducted individual and group interviews with staff of a full range of disciplines and levels of seniority on seven NHS in-patient wards of varying types in England. Results: Inpatient staff feel sustained in their potentially stressful roles by mutual loyalty and trust within cohesive ward teams. Clear roles, supportive ward managers and well designed organisational procedures and structures maintain good morale. Perceived threats to good morale include staffing levels that are insufficient for staff to feel safe and able to spend time with patients, the high risk of violence, and lack of voice in the wider organisation. Conclusions: Increasing employee voice, designing jobs so as to maximise autonomy within clear and wellstructured operational protocols, promoting greater staff-patient contact and improving responses to violence may contribute more to inpatient staff morale than formal support mechanisms.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Health and Social Studies Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Employee morale, Hospitals -- Employees -- Job satisfaction, Mental health personnel -- Job satisfaction
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Psychiatry
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-244X
Date:	21 April 2011
Volume:	Vol.11
Number:	No.68
Identification Number:	10.1186/1471-244X-11-68
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	National Institute for Health Research (Great Britain) (NIHR)
Grant number:	08/1604/142 (NIHR)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/35174