In response to this, we devised a peer-review process to address these needs at an individualand team level.Reflective peer-review process Peer review is often used in teaching and business and is seen as a way to reinvigorate staff as well as being beneficial to skill acquisition and competence (Baskerville and Goldblatt, 2009). Benefits include:
» Ongoing development via selfreflection;
» Providing a support system and networks; and
» Creating a cycle of continuous improvement in practice (Foulger, 2010).
All members of the staff team are invited to take part in peer review and it
can be undertaken at an individual level within clinical supervision or as a team training session. We facilitate the peer review along with the head of patient
safety (all have been trained in the peerreview process). The emphasis is on support
and reflection so the team or individual can recognise areas that require more thought, detail, explanation or improved documentation. The session commences with an explanation
of the process (the model for peer review is demonstrated in Fig 1). After this a member of the team presents a case,together with their suicide risk assessment and decision making about how the risk has been rated using the following format:
» Historical factors;
» Clinical factors;
» Situational factors;