Workplace culture for forensic mental health services: a mixed methods descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Forensic Mental Health
• Organizational Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Workplace culture encompasses assumptions, beliefs, and values, aiming for safety and person-centeredness.
• Empirical data on workplace culture in forensic mental health settings is lacking.
• Effective culture enables staff to flourish and contribute optimally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe current workplace culture indicators and perspectives in forensic mental health services.
• To understand ideal workplace culture attributes for these settings.
• To inform strategies for improving forensic mental health workplace environments.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed.
• Surveys (N=482) assessed psychological health and teamwork.
• Focus groups (N=72) explored in-depth perceptions of workplace culture.

Main Results:

• Clinical staff reported lower psychological health than non-clinical staff.
• Teamwork was generally positive.
• Key themes included psychological safety, trust, siloing, passion, service structures, and staffing.

Conclusions:

• Forensic mental health services can strengthen culture by improving inter-agency communication.
• Recognizing employee expertise and achievements is crucial.
• Supporting reasonable risk-taking can foster a healthier work environment.