Research and Impact

Safe Steps is a meaningful, practical framework developed by mental health nurses, refined through co-production, and grounded in real-world application. It equips staff with tools to respond with care, clarity, and consistency – and supports systems-level efforts to improve safety, dignity, and relational practice across mental health services.

As part of a multi-site study, Safe Steps was implemented and evaluated in three acute mental health units, including de-escalation data from over 400 consumers and thousands of clinical episodes. Throughout the 12-month study, nurses used the framework to guide de-escalation. The research focused not only on practice outcomes but also on nurse reflections and real-time data that highlighted patterns in how distress was managed, and how relational approaches supported recovery and safety.

The results from the study confirmed that Safe Steps supports effective de-escalation, promotes more confident practice, and contributes to positive experiences of care for consumers. These outcomes are being further explored through staff feedback and evaluation of lived experience perspectives.

Conclusion

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