At arms length: the development of a self‐injury training package for prison staff through service user involvement

Purpose
People who self‐injure present a serious concern for many healthcare providers and no more so than for those working in the female prison estate. Despite the prevalence of self‐injury and recent policy highlighting the need for staff training, misunderstanding and misinterpretation of self‐injury is rife within the healthcare professions often demonstrated by poor levels of service and care. This paper seeks to describe the development of a self‐injury training package for prison staff, through service user involvement, in order to address such deficits in care.

Design/methodology/approach
A participatory mixed methodological design engaged both staff and women in prison. Women offenders were involved in the development of training drawing upon their unique experiential expertise.

Findings
In total, 43 per cent of staff working directly with women recognised the need to develop their understanding of, and skills to manage, self‐injury. Key messages women wanted to convey to staff included how to communicate effectively and demonstrate empathy.

Research limitations/implications
Service user involvement in the training of staff is achievable in a prison environment. Women and prison staff identify the need for on‐going training in relation to the management of self‐injury. Limitations of the sampling strategies are acknowledged but not considered significant.

Practical implications
The authors assert that service user involvement is crucial in the development of meaningful training in the management of self‐injury.

Social implications
The involvement of service users in prison staff training empowers those involved and may foster improved prisoner‐staff relationships.

Originality/value
Service user involvement in prison staff training has no precedent in the UK.