Values-Based Involuntary Seclusion and Treatment

This chapter gives a reflective account of a values-based model of involuntary psychiatric seclusion and treatment (henceforth “involuntary treatment”) adopted in the training materials produced by the UK government to support implementation of its Mental Health Act 2007 and associated Code of Practice. Values-based involuntary treatment supports balanced decision-making on individual cases within a framework of shared Guiding Principles. A critical factor in developing the model was partnership between stakeholders representing the plurality of value perspectives embodied in the Guiding Principles. Values pluralism however has not been widely reflected in practice. Possible reasons for this include a fault-line in values-based practice. This has been focused on individual decision-making whereas the decisive influences on involuntary treatment have turned out to be social and political. Broadening the philosophical resources of values-based practice to include those of political philosophy may contribute to the development of more effective approaches to values-based involuntary treatment.