With a wide variety of sector groups and clinicians asking for advice and guidance regarding restraint, Te Pou and the Ministry of Health consider this a priority document that will support the workforce and best practice direction, in inpatient settings.

Attached is Draft 2 of this important guideline for your consideration and comment. Draft 1 has been reviewed by a reference group made up of workforce representatives and we now release the second draft for wider sector comment.

To draft this guideline, Te Pou have reviewed the literature available on restraint practice and consulted widely with District Health Boards and their staff. A stocktake of current restraint training provided by DHB’s is close to completion and has also informed the guideline.

Consultation closed in June 2014