Covert participation observation in a secure forensic unit

The claims made by a mental health secure unit to be a therapeutic community were explored using participant observation over a period of six weeks. The findings revealed unresolved conflicts between two groups of staff known as 'carers', who saw their role as therapeutic, and 'controllers', who saw their roles as being custodial. These conflicts compromised the unit's aim of being a therapeutic community. The implications for clients are discussed. Ethical issues raised by this type of covert participant observation are also discussed.