The recovery approach to care in psychiatric services: staff attitudes before and after training

Aims and method To investigate the attitude of staff towards the recovery approach in forensic mental health services and the impact of training on staff knowledge and attitudes. A specially constructed 50-item recovery approach staff questionnaire, which focused on the core components of the recovery approach, was completed by 137 members of staff in in-patient forensic services in Lambeth, south London. Results Staff were generally very positive about the implementation of the recovery approach in forensic services and those who had received training scored significantly higher on the questionnaire than non-trained staff. Clinical implications The great majority of staff agree that the recovery approach to care does have a place in forensic services. This is important and needs to be built into the implementation of this approach in forensic services.