Fish, Rebecca Mary (2018) ‘Behind this wall’ – Experiences of seclusion on locked wards for women. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 20 (1). pp. 139-151. ISSN 1501-7419
seclusion_accepted.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial.
Download (898kB)
Abstract
Aim – To more fully understand the experiences of seclusion in a learning disability service for women. Background – This paper reports on one of the analytical themes, seclusion, from an ethnographic study exploring the lives of learning disabled women on locked wards. Method – Participant observation was used on three locked wards for women in a learning disability secure (forensic) unit in the United Kingdom. Themes from the analysis of field-notes were used to construct an interview schedule. Sixteen detained women and ten staff participated in interviews. Results – The thematic analysis produced four areas of relevance: the seclusion room environment, reasons for using seclusion, termination of seclusion and alternatives to seclusion. Conclusion – Detained women’s descriptions of seclusion portrayed a bewildering, distressing experience which violated their privacy. Alternative practices such as providing a space for anger and resolve, and time for discussion with staff were identified.