Over the past few months, colleagues have told us that they want to see practical action to help them feel safer at work. We’ve heard the importance of consistent reporting, better visibility of risk and confidence that concerns lead to meaningful action.
One of the improvements being introduced is a review and enhancement of the violence and aggression markers used within Hive.
The changes have been developed through collaboration between Security Services, clinical colleagues and the Hive Digital team to create a more consistent and robust approach to identifying and communicating risk. The aim is to help colleagues access clearer information, support earlier interventions and improve how incidents are recorded and reviewed across the Trust.
What’s changing?
Previously, violence-related markers could be applied inconsistently and remain on records without a formal review process. The updated approach introduces stronger governance and links marker allocation to the Brøset Violence Checklist (BVC), ensuring markers are based on a recognised risk assessment process rather than individual judgement.
The revised markers include:
- Moderate Risk Marker (Yellow): Applied automatically following a BVC risk assessment where a moderate risk of violence or aggression is identified.
- High Risk Marker (Red): Applied automatically following a BVC risk assessment where a high risk of violence or aggression is identified.
- Exclusion Marker: A new marker that can only be applied by authorised senior colleagues, providing clear visibility where exclusion decisions have been made.
- Staff Alert Marker: Designed to support colleagues who may witness concerning behaviour during an initial interaction, allowing potential risks to be highlighted and shared with teams for a limited period.
Alongside the marker changes, new reporting functionality has been developed to improve oversight, help identify patterns of repeat behaviour and strengthen links between incident information and wider Trust reporting processes.
By providing clearer, more consistent information about potential risks, the updated markers can help colleagues identify concerns earlier, make informed decisions and prepare appropriately before interacting with a patient where there may be a known risk of violence or aggression.
This work forms part of the wider No Excuse for Abuse campaign and our ongoing commitment to listening to staff feedback, strengthening support for colleagues and taking practical action to reduce violence and abuse across MFT.
Further information and guidance on the updated markers, including staff education materials, will be shared ahead of implementation.
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